Three Local Judges—

Newtown’s Dog Savvy Was Highlighted At Westminster Show

By Kendra Bobowick

Joy Brewster of Cassio Kennels, Patricia Laurans, a longtime dog handler, and Terry Hundt, who has been involved in the sport of dogs since 1963, all consider themselves lucky. The three Newtown residents were judges this month at the 136th Westminster Dog Show held at Madison Square Garden in New York city, America’s “first and only champions-only dog show.”

A judge for the first time, Ms Brewster came back from the show saying it was “exciting, good, very good.” Describing the moments before she stepped into the Madison Square Garden arena, she said, “When you walk out there for your first time judging, the lights are dim, then The Star-Spangled Banner plays and then the lights go on.” That moment “has awe to it,” she said.

She quickly set her nerves aside. “Once I got into the ring and started judging I got into what I was doing, you have to get right to business,” she said. “You do what you do with conviction because of what you think is right and you do your job as best you can.”

Returning as a judge for the 12th time, Ms Laurans said, “It was fabulous, a wonderful experience.” She said, “To have judged there 12 times, I feel unbelievably honored.” The dogs were “excellent,” she said. “We had a good reception and great selection of dogs to choose from, they were just wonderful.” She said the dogs’ “quality was grand, their performance was superior.”

Noting the days prior to the show, she said, “The hard part is you keep on preparing and preparing and hope you don’t trip.”

Her role as a group judge was televised, which brought her some surprises. “A friend from high school that I had not seen in 50 years saw me on TV and contacted me.” The two met for lunch, she said. “A lot of people you know contact you. That was lots of fun.”

Ms Hundt, who judged the working breeds this year, has been attending Westminster shows for a long time and said, “It’s always a good time, wonderful time.” She enjoyed the judging and the dogs. The finalists “are always wonderful,” she said. “They all performed beautifully.”

The Lucky Three

In the days prior to the February 13-14 show, the women noted the unusually high number of judges coming from one town.

Ms Brewster said that a town with three judges is “definitely” a coup for Newtown. “There aren’t any other towns with even two judges, and there are three from Newtown.” It’s also a success for her. “You don’t offer” to judge the breeds in the show, she said, “you’re selected.”

First Selectman Pat Llodra also nodded to the judges, saying, “It’s unusual, given the prominence of the event, and we have three!” Westminster Director of Communications David Frei noted that three judges from one town is significant. A Westminster show committee makes the judging selections.

As she prepared to head into New York City, Ms Brewster said, “I treated myself to a new pair of earrings.”

She had judged breeds including a new breed, the American English Coonhound, which was in the show for the first time.

Ms Brewster has a long history of dog handling and as a judge of other shows “all over the country,” she said, “but never Westminster.” She had been involved with the show before as an exhibitor, handler, and steward, someone who helps with the show’s participants and events.

Ms Hundt, a retired dog handler, was also a judge this year for working breeds: Komondorok, Kuvaszok, Leonbergers, Newfoundlands, Portuguese water dogs, Samoyeds, and Tibetan mastiffs. This was her third time judging at Westminster. Remembering past shows, she said, the experience is “awesome.”

Her advice to first-timers such as Ms Brewster was basic: “Go in, relax, and have fun doing it.”

This was Ms Laurans’s third time judging in the hounds category.

“I am very fortunate,” she said. “Twelve is very high number.” She said, “To receive an invitation at Westminster is an aspiration, and a realization for very few who judge dogs. I guess I have been very fortunate and am truly honored,” she said.

Accepting the role is both a “wonderful opportunity and huge responsibility,” she said. “When you walk in there you’re faced with top dogs in the country.”

Ms Laurans said she loves dogs, and people, “and a combination of the bond between dogs and people is very important.”

She has bred and owned a variety of dogs and now lives with two Italian greyhounds. Thinking of all of her pets, she said, “It’s individual dogs that get to your heart.”

Terry Hundt

Ms Hundt has been involved in the sport of dogs since 1963 when she acquired her first Doberman pinscher.

After teaching school for several years and at the same time working for a professional handler, she launched her own successful handling career. She retired from handling in 1997 and began judging the following year. She is now approved to judge the Working Group, the Sporting Group, several Hound breeds, Junior Showmanship, and Best in Show.

Ms Hundt serves on the Doberman Pinscher Club of America Top Twenty Committee and is on the Board of Take The Lead. This was her fourth Westminster assignment; she previously judged the Junior Showmanship preliminaries in 2003.

Patricia W. Laurans

Ms Laurans began as a Doberman pinscher exhibitor in 1963 and eventually became an all-breed handler. Her Laurwyn line of German wirehaired pointers produced four national-specialty winners, three Best In Show dogs, and many top producers.

She has been an AKC delegate for 32 years, and a past AKC board member. During her time on the AKC board, Ms Laurans was instrumental in founding the AKC’s breeder education program and was involved in the Junior Scholarship program. Since leaving the board, she has chaired the AKC Parent Club Committee.

Ms Laurans has judged on five continents, adjudicated at many National Specialties, and fulfilled multiple breed and group assignments at AKC/Eukanuba and Westminster. She judges the Sporting, Hound, Working and Herding groups, and some toy and nonsporting breeds.

Ms Laurans is a founding member and vice president of Take the Lead, a charitable organization that provides direct services, support and care to people in the sport of purebred dogs who suffer the devastation of life-threatening or terminal illness.

A licensed judge since 1982, she judged the Herding Group in 1996 and the Working Group in 2006.

She is a retired guidance counselor from the Brookfield        school system.

Joy S. Brewster

Ms Brewster was born into the dog breeding and showing world. She worked with Anne Rogers Clark for ten years while learning handling and trimming techniques and then embarked on her own 35-year career as a noted all-breed professional handler.

In 1965 Ms Brewster established Cassio Kennels in Newtown, the name honoring her top-winning homebred Italian greyhound shown during the 1950s. Ms Brewster enjoyed much success with her breeding programs, as well as an advisor for many of her clients.

This provided a broad background in many different breeds. Her roots as a breeder-owner have influenced her handling and now judging career.

She is a multigroup judge and longstanding officer of Greenwich Kennel Club. This was her first Westminster judging assignment.