The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Geauga County man to judge at dog show
Weiss has judged dog shows in national and international settings for more than 25 years. This is the 12th time he’s been summoned to assist at Westminster.
Elliott Weiss of Russell Township will be tapping into his extensive experience with championship canines next week as he will be one of the judges at the AKC Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
The prominent event, in its 144th year, is set for Feb. 9-11 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Weiss has judged dog shows in national and international settings for more than 25 years. This is the 12th time he’s been summoned to assist at Westminster.
Having professionally assessed a variety of breeds for various shows throughout his career, he notes that 2010 and 2018 were special due to the honor of being chosen to select the “Best of Show” winners at Westminster.
Weiss also considers his position as “Best of Show” judge at the 2018 AKC National Championship in Orlando, Florida, among his personal highlights.
There, he dubbed Whiskey, a 3-year-old white Whippet, to be a cut above the rest.
“Everything flowed together,” he said of the champion canine, which he likened to “a porcelain doll.”
This weekend, he’ll carefully study and select exceptional dogs from about 100 Westminster contenders within the herding, sporting, non-sporting and toy categories.
Approximately 2,500 pooches in all will vie for ribbons and trophies.
While growing up in New York, Weiss was introduced to the world of dogs by his aunt who owned a Borzoi, sometimes known as a Russian wolfhound. With his interest piqued, he took a job as an apprentice trainer and earned AKC-licensed professional handler status in 1969.
In addition to training others’ dogs for exhibition, he also owned and bred cocker spaniels, clumber spaniels, giant Schnauzers, pointers and English setters.
He earned the status of “judge” in 1994.
Asked what qualities set apart certain dogs from the pack, Weiss noted that “they have to be eye candy, structurally good to the hand, good muscle condition, skeletal condition and in good proportion with good character,” adding that “great show dogs are born.”
Although each breed has a specific set of written standards that are followed during the judging process, on a less technical note Weiss explained that “your heart skips a beat when you see the one. Certain things touch you more than others.”
With only a limited number of championship dogs accepted for competition at the show, Weiss compared the contest to horses gaining entrance to the Kentucky Derby.
“Maybe one percent make it,” he said.
However, for those who are interested in attending the event as a spectator, he claims that it’s a show where people can really learn something.
“For someone who is crazy about dogs…that’s the place to go,” he said.
Despite what the name “Westminster” might imply, the popular show has nothing to do with England, according to information from the Westminster Kennel Club.
Around 1876 a group of men who enjoyed hunting would gather at the Westminster Hotel in New York to chat about their hounds. With the purpose of comparison in an alternate setting, the first show was set up in 1877 and the group of organizers named themselves the Westminster Kennel Club.
The show is the second longest continuously held sporting event in the U.S., second only to the Kentucky Derby.
For those considering bringing a dog in to their own home, Weiss suggests doing plenty of research.
“Most people spend more due diligence in buying a necktie than they do in buying a dog that they’re going to live with 15 or 16 years,” he said.
For information on the AKC Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, visit westminsterkennelclub. org.