Neil has been honored to judge The National Dog Show ( 2021 ), The AKC National Championship ( 2022 ), and the International Kennel Club of Chicago ( 2023 ). In 1986 , he exhibited at his first Westminster Kennel Club Show . This is his first judging assignment at Westminster .
MRS . KAREN MCFARLANE of Kearny , Missouri . Mrs . Karen McFarlane has been a Preservation Breeder of Samoyeds for 50 years under the Frostyacres prefix , where she has owned and bred numerous top winners and producers . During her time with the Samoyed Club of America , she served as the Judge ’ s Education Chair ( 20 years ), Futurity Chair ( 10 years ), and Show Chair for multiple National Specialties .
She is a founding member of the Jesse James Kennel Club and a member of the Board of the Greater Emporia Kennel Club . She has proudly served as the Jesse James Show Chair for 16 years .
Karen began judging in 1987 and is AKC-approved to judge the Working , Non-Sporting , Toy , and Terrier Groups . She is also approved for Best in Show and Junior Showmanship . Judging assignments have taken her abroad to England , Spain , Russia , Indonesia , China , New Zealand , and Australia . This is her first Westminster judging assignment .
MR . DESMOND “ DESI ” J . MURPHY of Monroe , New York . As a third-generation dog fancier , Mr . Desmond Murphy comes from a family with many Westminster accomplishments , including the first Whippet to win the Hound Group at Madison Square Garden in 1958 . He has been judging since 1976 , with recent assignments like Best in Show at the AKC National Championship in 2022 and at the legendary Morris & Essex Kennel Club Dog Show in 2021 .
Judging has taken Desi to 6 out of 7 continents and has included three assignments at the World Dog Show . He feels it is his great honor to accept his first-ever Westminster assignment .
MR . SHAWN JAMES NICHOLS of Calgary , Alberta , Canada . Mr . Shawn Nichols ’ journey with purebred dogs began in 1985 when he acquired his first show dog , a white Toy Poodle . Since then , he has shown a diverse range of dog breeds , although his true passion has always resided with Poodles . Under the prefix Typecast , he has bred primarily Toy and Miniature Poodles .
Beyond breeding and exhibiting , Shawn ’ s contributions to the dog show world expanded into journalism . From 2007 to 2012 , he had the distinct honour of serving as the editor / owner of Terrier Type .
In 2012 , Shawn embarked on a new venture as a judge , starting with the Toy Group . Since then , he has had the incredible pleasure of adjudicating competitions not only in the US and Canada , but also in countries like Chile , Colombia , Mexico , Korea , and Australia .
A dream come true for any breeder was the opportunity to preside over the judging at his own National , Poodle Club of America in April 2023 .
MRS . ABIGAIL “ ABBY ” PATRIZIO of Clinton , Connecticut . Mrs . Abby Patrizio and her husband welcomed their first Bernese Mountain Dog to their farm in 1989 . For more than 30 years , she has been an active member of the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America and the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Nashoba Valley . She is currently the president and show chair for the Elm City Kennel Club , where she has been a member since 1990 . She is also the secretary and show chair for the Connecticut River Working Group Association . Abby recently retired as an officer at a community bank to spend more time with her dogs , dog clubs , and family .
Abby is approved to judge the Working Group and Junior Showmanship . This is her first judging assignment at Westminster .
MS . LORI PELLETIER of Exeter , Rhode Island . Ms . Lori Pelletier purchased her first Norfolk Terrier from Elizabeth Sweigart ( Yarrow Kennels ) in 1994 . Since that time , Lori has owned , bred , and exhibited Norfolk Terriers , Norwich Terriers , Border Terriers , and Golden Retrievers . She is best known for her owner-handled Best in Show Norfolk Terriers . She has won the National Specialty in Norfolk , Norwich , and Border Terriers .
Lori has been a member of the National Norfolk and Norwich Terrier clubs since 1995 and is the current President of The Norfolk Terrier Club . She is also a member of the Ladies Dog Club , South County Kennel Club , the Northeast Border Terrier Club , and the CT Valley Vizsla Club .
Lori is approved to judge the Border , Norfolk , and NorwichTterriers , and Junior Showmanship . This is her first judging assignment at Westminster .
WESTMINSTER . There ’ s only one ® 31