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She who makes the decision: BIS judge Sari Tietjen
By Kim Campbell Thornton
February 10, 2009
She’s the epitome of the phrase “growing up in dogs.” Sari Tietjen, tonight’s Best in Show judge, finished her first breeder/owner/handled champion when she was 7 years old. She continued that early start by breeding, showing and handling more than 14 different breeds by the time she was a young woman. She’s best known, however, for her Japanese Chin, a breed she’s had for more than 50 years. Tietjen no longer actively breeds or show but still keeps several Chin from her line. I interviewed her about the breed once, and she takes a philosophical and accepting attitude toward their imperial but impish manner: “They let you live with them as they run your household and everyone in it.”
Most recently, we briefly discussed her upcoming judging assignment for Westminster. Here’s a transcript of our interview:
Kim Thornton: When were you approached about judging Best in Show and how did you feel when you were asked?
Sari Tietjen: I was asked in March 2007. Needless to say, as someone who grew up in the sport and who has attended more Westminsters than I care to admit, I was thrilled and deeply honored.
Kim Thornton: Is there anything one can do to prepare to judge something like Westminster?
Sari Tietjen: Pray a lot! Seriously, at that level, you know you’re going to have some beautiful dogs in the ring. You have to keep your wits about you, judge each dog against its breed standard and then how it measures up against the other dogs in the ring. I expect it will be a very close, very difficult and very challenging assignment, but one that I will treasure for the rest of my life.
Kim Thornton: Are there any restrictions on what/where/when you can judge once you’ve been invited to judge BIS?
Sari Tietjen: The only restrictions are that you cannot judge whatever you are assigned at Westminster anywhere in the United States four months prior to the show. Also, as BIS judge, you are completely sequestered. You cannot attend any parties, other than the official Westminster dinner, nor the show until just before you step into the main ring.
Kim Thornton: How many other times have you judged classes or groups at Westminster?
Sari Tietjen: I have been fortunate to have judged Westminster nine previous times: six were breed judging assignments and three were groups–the Toy Group in 1984, Non-Sporting in 1996 and Toy in 2008. To say that I am thrilled is an understatement. To say that I, who believe so much in tradition and everything Westminster represents, am honored does not do it justice. It means so much more than that to me, a child of everything good about the sport and the dogs we love so much.
Tietjen is approved to judge all Sporting, Toy, Hound and Non-Sporting breeds. She has been writing about dogs for more than 25 years and is working on her fifth book. No, we didn’t talk about PETA protesters or the state of dog breeding or the decline of the AKC empire, but it would be interesting someday to see if she–and the other breeder/exhibitors/judges I speak to monthly if not weekly–would address them. But that’s a topic for another day.
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Be that as it may, she clearly needs new glasses. Pfft.
Comment by Christie Keith — February 10, 2009 @ 9:02 pm
Perhaps a blessing in disguise - did you really want your breed thrust into the spotlight? (Not that I should talk considering how hysterically excited I got the night Kirby the Papillon took it! LOL!)
Comment by The OTHER Pat — February 10, 2009 @ 9:10 pm
I gotta say, Tiger looked fantastic!! Talk about light on his feet, he was absolutely floating! I’m really sorry he didn’t win. There were a few others in the BIS lineup I really liked, but Stump (as great as it is to see a Veteran doing so well) just wasn’t one of them.
It was also disappointing that only 2 or 3 of the Sporting group dogs had performance titles. That is a real shame. Although, it’s probably more than in some years past.
Comment by Barb — February 10, 2009 @ 9:23 pm
Not that I really care deeply, but how is it that she’s allowed to judge BIS and is not approved to judge the herding breeds?
I know these breeds simply do not win BIS (only 3 in the entire history of the show) but isn’t it a little slanted to stack the deck from the start?
The ironic thing is that the pastoral group is actually still the closest to the ideal of what they are supposed to be… but then again, that’s not really what the shows are about.
Comment by Christopher — February 10, 2009 @ 11:42 pm
Did anyone catch that moment in “the winners circle” when Stump - looking up at all the excited people surrounding him - appeared to be thinking “Hmmm . . . they all seem to expect something from me, but I’m not sure just what . . . . . How about THIS?” whereupon he sat up on his haunches and started “pattycaking” with his front paws.
Adorable!
Comment by The OTHER Pat — February 11, 2009 @ 7:29 am
As I watched last night, I found that I really, really liked the idea that, before getting to a big conformation show like Westminster, each dog would have to have a title in whatever Frei and the announcer said the dog’s job/skill/purpose was.
And-how come a 10 year old dog can waltz into the show on 5 days notice on the owner’s whim?
Comment by Susan Fox — February 11, 2009 @ 8:12 am
I believe Stump was entered but they didn’t decide for sure to take him until just before the show. There are so few Sussex Spaniels that they can probably all enter. LOL.
Comment by Kim Thornton — February 11, 2009 @ 8:19 am
Just for fun, while I waited for it to be 8:30 so I could call someone, I went to the WKC site to see how many of the invited dogs had working or sport titles. Sporting dogs are the winners, with 31, Hounds and Herding each had 13, Terrier had 3, Working had 2, Toy had 1 (a CKCS with a rally title—this breeder is known for doing sports with her Cavaliers), and Non-Sporting dogs had none. Only the Gordon Setter was a dual champion. And I thought it was sad that none of the Plotts or Border Collies had working titles.
Comment by Kim Thornton — February 11, 2009 @ 9:28 am
I LOVE Gordon Setters.
Comment by Lori — February 11, 2009 @ 9:39 am
You know, there was a Deerhound DC who won the breed TWICE at the Garden, and they never mentioned it or explained it. And Rory’s DC is not in the catalogue where he’s listed as Tiger’s sire.
Sometimes the dogs have performance titles, even field championships, and we never know.
I emailed David last night and told him about Tiger’s sire being the top field deerhound in history as well as a conformation champion. He either didn’t get it or didn’t have time/desire to use the info when Tiger showed in the BIS ring. Too bad.
Comment by Christie Keith — February 11, 2009 @ 10:07 am
Comment by Christopher — February 10, 2009 @ 11:42 pm
Not that I really care deeply, but how is it that she’s allowed to judge BIS and is not approved to judge the herding breeds?
I emailed AKC to ask about this since I couldn’t find anything on the website. I did receive a response, but was declined permission to post it here. Others with questions are directed to email them to:
judgingops@akc.org
Comment by The OTHER Pat — February 11, 2009 @ 1:27 pm
Had the same question myself and I’m sure there are many others. What’s the purpose of the “All-Breed Judge” designation then? It’s too late if there was an oversight - there won’t be a replay. Or will there?
Comment by Nadine L. — February 11, 2009 @ 1:41 pm
Stand by; I’m waiting to hear from a dog judge what the requirements are.
Comment by Kim Thornton — February 11, 2009 @ 3:30 pm
If I remember correctly - I’m not a judge, but we show in conformation and I’ve got a few friends who are judges and I’ve asked about this - once a judge gets approved for all of the breeds in one Group (i.e. Working, Herding, etc.) then they are also qualified to judge BIS. However - especially at large shows - it is preferred that the BIS judge be qualified to judge several Groups. When a judge takes an assignment to judge BIS, I guess they just study up on the other breeds.
Judges who are qualified to judge every breed, in every group are called “All Breed” judges and there are very few of them.
And of course, no judge will have actual, real life experience with more than a few breeds - the ones the judge has actually owned, lived with, bred and/or handled. Judges who are approved to judge a lot of breeds do most of it based on “book learning” rather than real experience.
A judge who has a history of actually owning, living with, showing and breeding the breed that he or she has been hired to judge is called a “breeder judge” and they are greatly preferred for breed specialty shows.
OTHER Pat, does that agree at all with what you were told? Or am I just blowing smoke? :-)
Comment by Barb — February 11, 2009 @ 10:24 pm
I’m not sure I’m allowed to answer that, Barb. The disclaimer at the end of the emails I received reads “This email is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed. Neither the AKC nor its writer authorizes you to disseminate, distribute or publish this e-mail in any form.” (and hopefully I won’t get in trouble just for quoting the disclaimer!)
She was quite clear that anyone else with questions needs to email them directly to:
judgingops@akc.org
Comment by The OTHER Pat — February 12, 2009 @ 7:08 am
Yes, Barb is correct. Once a judge is qualified to judge one group, he or she may apply to become a Best In Show judge—which is not the same as an all-breed judge.
Comment by Kim Thornton — February 12, 2009 @ 9:15 am