MRS . PATRICIA A . SOSA of Madisonville , Louisiana , and her family have bred , owned , and shown Bullmastiffs under the Bandog prefix since she was seven . She bred Rottweilers in the early 1980s , and since 1985 , she has also bred and shown French Bulldogs . As a breeder , she has bred over 100 AKC champions , including French Bulldogs that have won 43 all-breed Best in Shows and 5 National Specialties . Several of those wins were breeder-owner handled .
Mrs . Sosa is approved to judge the Working and Non-Sporting Groups , Junior Showmanship , and Best in Show . She has judged at the French Bulldog National Specialty and in many countries worldwide . This is her first assignment at Westminster .
MR . ROBERT L . VANDIVER of Simpsonville , South Carolina , has been continuously involved in dog shows since he won his first dog show ribbon in 1967 . Since that time , he has bred and ownerhandled many champion Doberman Pinschers . He has been actively involved in Dog Clubs as an officer in the Doberman Pinscher Club of America and Chairman of Judges Education . He has been involved in many other all-breed clubs as an officer , Show Chair , or working member . In addition to conformation , he has participated in performance and working dog sports .
Mr . Vandiver retired as a member of the Executive Management Team at one of the US ’ s largest
Engineering and Construction companies and is approved to judge the Sporting , Working , Non- Sporting , and Herding Groups . In addition to judging across the US , he has also judged in China , Japan , India , South America , Europe , Australia , New Zealand , the Philippines , Mexico , and Canada . He judged the Working Group at Westminster in 2013 and the Herding group in 2018 . This is his fifth assignment at Westminster .
DR . MICHAEL J . WOODS of Dartmouth , Nova Scotia , Canada , has been involved with dogs as a breeder , exhibitor , and judge for over 45 years . His original breed is Labrador Retrievers , and he has also owned Border Terriers and Smooth Fox Terriers .
He was Vice-President of the Judges Education Committee for the Dog Judges Association of Canada . He has served as a member of the Canadian Kennel Club ’ s National Appeals Committee , Ethics Committee , and Events Officiating Committee . Dr . Woods has published articles on the Labrador Retriever , Conformation Judging , Retrievers , and Ethics in the dog fancy and has presented numerous canine-related seminars .
Dr . Woods is a Canadian Kennel Club All-Breed and All-Obedience Class judge and has judged extensively throughout Canada and the United States , as well as in Japan , Korea , China , France , Thailand , Indonesia , Bermuda , Brazil , Peru , Ecuador , Argentina , Colombia , Ireland , Finland , Holland , Mexico , Puerto Rico , New Zealand , and Australia . This is his first judging assignment at Westminster .
STEVE SURFMAN
36 WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB 2023