Judges | SCA 2021 Nationals

OUR JUDGES

What would a dog show be without our judges? Representing many decades of experience among them, our judges hail from many areas of the country: Arizona, Ohio, Tennessee, Washington, and of course, Colorado.

Diane Garcia

Intersex / Best of Breed

I have never been without a dog. Since I was a young child, I have always loved animals, in particular dogs and horses.
Luckily I married a man who also loves dogs! Or maybe that was a requirement.

Having a special attraction to sled dogs, I started first with a Siberian Husky at the age of 25. I was bitten by the dog show bug, bred a few Siberian litters and finished several Champions. My claim to fame in Siberians was my special girl "Cybil" who I showed to a SHCA National Best of Opposite win in 1982. My Siberians came from the late great Tommy O (Tom Oelachlager - Kontoki) and the Innisfree line which is still active today.

My dear Cybil passed in 1994. After she passed, my heart was broken and I needed another puppy. Having always loved Samoyeds, I decided it was time I find a new puppy and that was my beautiful Maliy that started it all for me.

Maliy was bred one time and that gave me my Glacier (Ch Arctic Fox Glacial Epoch ROMX). Glacier was my Once in a Life Time Dog who acquired 8 Best in Specialty Show wins, was a multiple Group Winner/Placer, a Top 5 and Top 10 Samoyed from 2001-2006, SCA Top Stud Dog in 2008 and 2009, a multiple National AOM winner and SCA Best Veteran in 2009. Always owner handled, we had a ball. Today we presently have 7 dogs here at Arctic Fox, all descending from Glacier.

I have served as the Buckeye Samoyed Club President for the past 6 years. I am active in SCA on different committees, most notably the Illustrated Standard Committee. I also am the McKinley Kennel Club Show Chairman for the past 3 years. I obtained my AKC license to judge Samoyeds and Junior Showmanship in 2017. Currently I am applying to judge Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes.

My husband (Michael) and I have been married for 42 years. We have no children but have always had dogs. I also owned horses for a number of years and enjoyed western pleasure riding. My favorite horse was a purebred gray dapple Arabian named Eryn. I am a retired Registered Nurse of 38 years, specializing in cardiac care.

My other interests beside the sport of dogs include maintaining our home on 12 acres, sports cars, watching the Cleveland Browns and Cavaliers, Samoyed collectibles and classic rock and roll music.

My passion is the Samoyed breed. I am humbled and honored to be chosen by my peers to judge Best of Breed at the 2021 National Specialty. Thank you so much!

Diane Garcia
Arctic Fox Samoyeds

Darla Cassidy

Dogs

My husband Doug and I have been involved with this lovely breed since 1974. That was the year Doug went on a “dog disturbing the peace” call and found a sad little female dog tied to a tree in someone’s front yard with a towing chain. The owner said the dog was trouble and didn’t want her, so Doug said he would come back after work and pick her up. That sweet female became our “Girl” our first Samoyed that showed us how the breed is sweet, kind and forgiving. Girl had absolutely no hair, was filthy and had just had a litter of mixed puppies. She was in bad shape. Girl joined our family at the time of a mixed German Shepherd female named Lassie (I know, I know). It took almost a year but in that year Girl blossomed into a beautiful snowy white dog.

Now Lassie on the other hand was my foray into performance work. I trained her in obedience all the way to trying for her Utility degree. While at training class one day I asked what the people over on the other side of the park were doing, I was told they were practicing conformation. So uniformed me brought my “Girl” to conformation training only to learn she needed to be registered etc in order to show her. What else to do but acquire a registered Samoyed!

Still novice at the idea, Doug and I purchased a sweet female from the newspaper ads. Her name was “Nakia” and Nakia became our first champion! Ch.Nakia’s Summer Promise CDX and it was from Nakia’s name we decided on Promise as our kennel name so she would always be included. We eventually bred Nakia to Ch.Sulu’s Karbon Kopi
O’Baerstone and off we went into the world of Samoyeds.

Here we are 47 years later with years of finished champions, nationally ranked dogs, winning the national, multiple regional specialties, group placing, becoming an AKC judge and most important of all to me… multiple performance titles. Performance has always been close to my heart because that is where it all started for us, as well as I
firmly believe in keeping a dog’s mind and body busy. And besides, the dogs just LOVE it! I’ve spent years studying and learning, I’m still learning! Do any of us really ever stop? Those who know me know I’m an advocate for correct structure and movement.

I’m looking for that balance. Type, clean front and rears with well timed sidegait. One little side note: Length of leg from the ground to the elbow should be approximately 55 per cent of the total height at the withers. Just sayin…..

I would like to thank the membership of the Samoyed Club of America for this honor of judging your 2021 National Specialty!

Cheri Hollenback

Cheri Hollenback

Bitches

Cheri has owned, exhibited and bred Samoyeds under the “Cascade” kennel name since 1991. She has always appreciated the versatility and beauty of the Samoyed breed, enjoying their enthusiasm and antics in all settings. She started judging in 2008. As a member of the Samoyed Club of Washington State and the Samoyed Club of America since the late1980’s, she has served in a number of club offices and roles. She is incredibly honored to be judging for the Samoyed Club of America National Specialty and wishes to thank the hard-working show committee for their efforts and the exhibitors for sharing their marvelous dogs with her.

Robin Clark

Working Sweeps

I am honored to be selected to judge Working Sweeps at the 2021 SCA Nationals. I have owned and bred Samoyeds since 1996. Before that, I owned and showed Great Danes. Growing up, I owned, trained, and showed horses in various events. As you can see, I’m downsizing from horses, to Great Danes, to Samoyeds. However, I think I’ve found the size I will stop at. I have competed and finished titles in conformation, obedience, rally, agility, weight pull, coursing, nose/scent work and herding with Samoyeds. I am a part of the Working Samoyed Committee, as well as other SCA committees, and strongly support their work. I serve as judge at several weight pulls each year, in various organizations. My dogs and I have participated in excursion sledding and dog sled racing which is where our heart lies. Further, I have done therapy work with Samoyeds in hospitals and nursing homes. I consider myself committed to and convinced of the versatility of our breed. I work hard to promote and preserve it with each of my dogs. Preserving the working abilities and work ethic in our breed is essential to preserve the breed we all love.

Cindy Faucette

Puppy and Veteran Sweeps

It is an honor to judge at the SCA National, and I would like to thank the SCA 2021 National Specialty Committee for asking me to judge Puppy and Veteran Sweepstakes! My love of dogs started as a little girl attending Beagle Field Trials with my dad. I purchased my first Samoyed in the fall of 1984 and have been involved in Samoyeds ever since (originally under my maiden name Cartwright).
I have been active in conformation since my first Samoyed, with an interest in pack hiking and short-distance sledding. I have also attempted herding and lure cursing with my dogs. Along with my husband Bill, we bred our first Samoyed litter in 1995 and have bred 10 litters under the kennel name Moonsong Samoyeds. Our philosophy is “Breeding quality, not quantity.”
I became a member of the Samoyed Club of America in 1985, the Potomac Valley Samoyed Club shortly thereafter, and was a founding member of the Antietam Creek Samoyed Club, serving in the roles of Treasurer, Secretary and Board Member. I have served on the SCA Futurity Committee and I have been active over the years with the National Specialties, serving in multiple capacities: in 2000 and 2012, I served as the Hospitality Chair; in 2002 and 2010, I served as both the Live and Silent Auction Chairs; and in 2018, I served on the Chief Ring Steward Committee. I have attended every National since 1995 with the exception of the SCA 2011 National (had to stay home with a litter).
Currently, I work for the Maryland Judiciary as a Regional Alternative Dispute Resolution Program Director and am a certified mediator. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Virginia Tech and a Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies from the University of Maryland.
I am extremely honored to judge Puppy and Veteran Sweeps at the National and I wish Good Luck to All!

Pat Maynard

Obedience

I’m Pat Maynard and I have been judging obedience and rally since 1989. And for those of you who think your breed is difficult to train. . . my original Utility Title was on a male Akita!

I really enjoy watching teams having fun doing the exercises in the obedience and rally rings. The teamwork and special bond created is very rewarding to see. I see small successes for every team; and it is great when all the training comes together for a qualifying score or even a placement!

I live in Longmont, Colorado, with my significant other (Jeff), a Golden Retriever and an Australian Terrier I compete in conformation, obedience, rally, tracking, barn hunt, and agility. I also enjoy yoga, hiking, travel, and Tai Chi.

Geoff Teare

Agility

Judge Geoff has been training and competing in agility since 2000. Getting his start in Southern
California with his Papillons Solo and Sheena, he managed to put 3 MACH’s and qualified in 1 st Place with
Sheena for the 2010 Invitational before moving to Grand Junction, CO in August 2010. Geoff started his
K9 Powersports Dog Agility training business in the spring of 2012, and built his indoor training facility
during the winter of 2012-2013. It is now the largest agility training facility between Denver and Salt
Lake City, and he has worked with almost every breed imaginable from Chihuahuas to Great Danes.
After being encouraged to take the AKC Agility Judges Seminar, he did so and passed in 2014 and since
then has been judging across the country from the East Coast to Alaska. Geoff considers it an honor to
be asked by the Samoyed Club of America to judge their National Specialty, and plans to have some
really fun and fast courses to contribute to the annual party! Geoff says “Get ready for the fun
everybody, we are going to have a great agility trial!”

Louis Thompson

Anita Ramsey

Sherry Webster

Beginner Puppy 4-6 months
PeeWees

The first Samoyed came to our home in 1970. We have enjoyed the company of Samoyeds since then. Other than Samoyeds, we have owned and shown Pembroke Welsh Corgis.

My show career started in 1979 as Peppermint Samoyeds. Over the years we have enjoyed showing our dogs with our two daughters, Amy and Holly (both former Junior Handlers), and now with our two grandchildren, Brandon and Kaylee. Amy recently exhibited our current group winning special, CH GCHB Frostyacres Peppermint Rokete Rexann (Tapit). We have enjoyed finishing several Champions with group placements over the years.

I became an AKC approved judge in 1997 and am currently approved to judge the Working Group, herding and sporting breeds. It has been an honor to judge various breed specialties and internationally also.

A founding member of the Greater Shelby Kennel Club in the Memphis area, I am currently serving as a board member and a member of the judge selection committee. I have been a member of the Samoyed Club of America since 1980 and have served on various committees including Board Member and Treasurer.

So proud to have co-founded the Showcase of Dogs, a large multi-canine event with proceeds benefitting St. Jude Children’s research hospital for children with cancer.

Professionally, I work as an accountant and a software engineer with a focus on business solutions.
Personal interests include art, sewing projects and as a private pilot. I have a great love for the dogs and dog show people, having met so many wonderful people during the years of dog show involvement. Thank you very much for inviting me to be a part.

Kathy Mackai

2020 Puppy Sweeps

I received my first Samoyed in 1970 as a Christmas gift from my husband. I have been enthralled with them ever since. Over the years my main concentration has been conformation but have had fun doing sledding, herding, weight pull, agility, and obedience. A Sammy will do anything you ask them to, as long as you are doing it with them.

I have bred two Top Winning and 2nd Top Winning SCA bitch, owned a Top SCA Brood bitch, a BIS male, and a Grand Futurity Winner. Right now we have a 15 year old, a 13 year old, a 5 year old Samoyed as well as co-owning a couple others and a 7 year old Tibetan Spaniel.

The Samoyed is a beautiful working dog. They should be a balanced, sturdy dog with the type and size described by the standard. They should have the Samoyed expression, which hints of their delightful temperament. They should be friendly and not shy. When I judge, I look for all of this, as if I was going to take somebody home. I love it when I find a lot of them!

I am very excited to have the chance to judge these “Covid Puppies” from the 2020 specialty. It was a bright light in the closings and cancellations of 2020 to look forward to 2021!

Robinette Dunahugh-Ralston

Robinette Dunahugh-Ralston

Darlene Rautio

Bob Sencenbaugh

Bob Sencenbaugh

Weight Pull

I got involved with Samoyeds in 1984, I immediately discovered dog working activities including ski-
jouring and dog sledding and weight pull. I was hooked. Over the years our Samoyeds have competed in weight pulls and sled racing, and have done many miles of excursion sledding and ski-jouring. As we got
more involved in weight pulling, I became an IWPA judge and Organizer and began putting on weight
pulls. I organized and judged my first SCA Weight pull in 1998, since then I have organized and judged
many SCA Nationals.

Debbie and I were charter members of the Denver Samoyed Association, and I served on the board and
as president, I have served on the board of SCA and as its President. When SCA needed its own set of
weight pull rules I chaired the committee that wrote those rules.

I have campaigned many weight pull dogs and have been able to medal with IWPA both regionally and
Internationally, I strongly support working activities for our Samoyeds, and always try to encourage
others to get involved in working their dogs. I have found that you can achieve a better bond with your
dogs when you work together.

Julie Yamane

Rally

I've been showing dogs since I was a teenager and have been judging Rally since 2007. I've always owned herding breeds, and have competed in all the performance venues as well as conformation. (I borrowed the Russell Terriers for the photo!)

I was honored to judge the AKC Rally Nationals in 2016, and love judging specialties. I'm looking forward to seeing all your lovely dogs. Thanks for inviting me!