2024 BREED JUDGES
for several years .
MR . GERARDO BERNARD of México City , México . Mr . Gerardo Bernard has been involved in the dog world since he was 12 years old , with Labradors and German Shorthaired Pointers . He competed as a Junior Handler ( with several Sporting breeds ) from the moment he started in the dog world .
Along with his aunt , he has bred Labradors and German Shorthaired Pointers under the FCI kennel name : ALGERLAND . He has also owned a Weimaraner , German Wirehaired Pointers , Vizsla , and American Cocker Spaniels .
Gerardo has exhibited dogs and has made up , Mexican , American , International , Pan-American , Latin- American , and FCI-World championships . He has placed his dogs as Number 1 in the group in Mexico
In 2003 , Gerardo was granted his Judge ’ s license and has since been appointed by the FCI as one of the founding members of the FCI Youth Commission , an initiative proposed to encourage children and young adults to participate in cynological activities . He has judged shows in America , Europe , Asia , and Australia .
MRS . GAYLE BONTECOU of Clinton Corners , New York . Mrs . Gayle Bontecou has been involved with dogs and horses for many years . Scottish Deerhounds have been raised and shown under her Gayleward prefix since 1960 . Many titles , including Best in Show , Specialty wins , etc ., came throughout the years . Her judging career commenced in 1974 , and she has traveled throughout the U . S ., Canada , Europe , and Australia , judging the Hound Group , Labrador Retrievers , Parson Russell Terriers , and Best in Show .
Gayle is involved with many dog organizations and is a proud Board member of Morris & Essex , as well as Vice President of the AKC Museum of the Dog and the Mid-Hudson Kennel Association . She is also a club delegate to the AKC . In 2004 , she received the honor of Hound Breeder of the Year .
MS . PAMELA BRUCE of Welland , Ontario , Canada . Ms . Pamela Bruce is a fourth-generation fancier . She finished her first champion Maltese at age four alongside her parents who bred Maltese and Lhasa Apso .
Pam has handled and appreciates all breeds . Her expertise is coated breeds , conditioning and presenting numerous Top Hounds , Terriers , Toys , all varieties of Poodles , Giant Schnauzers , and Bearded Collies . She has also owned and exhibited Doberman Pinschers and bred and exhibited top winning Weimaraner .
For over 40 years Pam specialized in the breed she is best known for , copiloting numerous recordbreaking hounds under the Afghans of Grandeur prefix with her mentor Michael Canalizo . She has bred top winning Airedale Terriers under the Accolade prefix for over 25 years . Pam is an all breed judge , and has traveled the world .
MR . MICHAEL CANALIZO of Mill Neck , New York . Mr . Michael Canalizo has spent many years in the dog show world as a breeder-owner and Professional Handler turned judge . His first exposure to his primary breed , the Afghan Hound came in 1961 . He has owned , shown , and lived with many breeds , including Salukis , Dachshunds , German Shepherd Dogs , Whippets , Border Collies , Parson , and Russell Terriers among them .
He was the breeder-owner-handler of the Top Winning Hound of All Time with 87 Best in Show wins until a daughter of his dog that he showed beat that record with 161 Best in Show wins . He has won two Top Owner Handler Awards and six Quaker Oats Awards . Collectively , he piloted over 100 Afghan Hounds to their Championships and had over 300 All-Breed Best in Shows and nearly 1,000 Hound Group awards .
He is currently approved to judge Best in Show , all Sporting , Hound , Toy , Non-Sporting and Herding breeds , plus breeds in the Working Group . This will be the second WKC assignment for Michael .
28 THE WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB 2024