Herding (all breed, Belgians preferred) April 12 – Darlene Laurin
My name is Darlene Laurin, I am a second generation Belgian Tervuren owner/breeder of the past 50+ years of the Chateau Blanc kennels.
I have always owner handled my dogs. My successes have included Multi Best in Shows, National Specialty winners including a BISS, Multiple HIT in herding, obedience and tracking titles.
My many high in trials for herding have come from the C course, which is my first love in herding.
I started judging in the late 1990’s and have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I have judged many National specialty herding trials including German Shepherd, Belgian Tervuren, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Sheepdog and Briard. This will be my second time judging the Belgian Sheepdog National Specialty. So thank you for having me back! Belgians are one of my favorites to watch work, smart, beautiful and athletic!
It is a privilege to judge their beautiful dogs one more time. Here’s hoping for good dogs, good sportsmanship and especially good weather.
Herding (Belgians only X2) April 13 – Rachel Vest
Have owned Australian Shepherds since 1975. Began herding training with an Australian Shepherd in 1981. Joined Greater Atlanta Australian Shepherd Club and assisted with the start of ASCA working programs in the Southeast (GA, AL) late 80’s-early 90’s. Competed with my dogs in the first ASCA sanctioned trials held in Georgia, 1990. Active Course Director for The Greater Atlanta ASC for 10+ years. Course Director of ASCA Nationals hosted in 2000 at Gainesville, Ga. Winner of ASCA Finals Sheep at same event in 2000 with WTCH Vests Bell Star Gus Vest. Won Nationals 2000 Sheep class and High in Trial with HOF WTCH Vests Bell Star Kate. Stockdog Course Director for upcoming 2026 Stockdog Finals in Greeley CO. Still competing in ASCA, AHBA, and AKC when time allows.
Tracking April 13 – Betsy Baird
Betsy Baird has had a career in dog tracking and judging, marked by dedication and passion for the sport. She started dog tracking 25 years ago and developed a passion for it. Through years of experience and commitment, she achieved the honor of becoming a judge 19 years ago.
Residing in Michigan, Betsy is a respected figure in the judging community but also an avid owner and trainer of German Shepherds. Her expertise and love for these spirited animals shine through in her work and personal life.
In addition to her judging duties, Betsy maintains an active membership with the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Ann Arbor Dog Training Club. Her good standing with these organizations speaks volumes about her dedication, integrity, and professionalism in the field of dog training and judging.
Betsy Baird’s contributions to the world of dog tracking and her role as a mentor and leader within the community are commendable. She continues to inspire and guide new generations of dog enthusiasts and professionals.
Tracking April 13 – Michael Roehrs
Michael Roehrs has been training and showing dogs for over 40 years, initially with Golden Retrievers and now with Field Spaniels for the past 26 years. He has competed in many dog related events, including obedience, conformation, hunt tests, barn hunt, scent work, trick dogs, fast cat, dock diving and tracking. He and his wife Joanne have also bred Field Spaniels under the kennel name “Windward.” Their puppies have proven themselves by earning many titles in obedience and conformation, included Best in Show and Best in Specialty show. His passion over the last 25 years has been tracking, where he has not only obtained Champion Tracker titles on five dogs, but has become a tracking judge at all levels and presents seminars around the country. He has written a number of articles on tracking, including a feature article for the AKC Gazette on managing the stress of a tracking test using “Mindful Tracking.” He enjoys watching the bond as handler/dog teams work.
Michael supports his “dog habit” by working as a Clinical Social Worker in private practice, specializing in couple therapy, anxiety disorders and working with individuals with chronic and end stage illness. He and his wife live in Bowling Green Ohio, with their three Field Spaniels, a horse, a goat and a cat.
Agility (all breed) April 14 – Dr. Roger O’Sullivan
Dr. Roger O’Sullivan
I’ve run 38 different breeds in agility.
I have 61 MACHs with multiple breeds
AKC Invitational Champion 12” 2014 and 2016, 2nd place 2015
20” 2019 3rd place
16” 2022 7th place
16” 2023 1st place
Westminster Agility Champion 12” 2015 and 2016, first back to back champion
16” 2023 2nd place
National Agility Championship 2016 8” 3rd place 12” 8th place.
2017 8” 8th place
2021 16” Finalist
WAO USA World Team 2016 and 2017 5th place 2016 Biathlon Team Bronze 2017
USDAA National Steeplechase Champion 12” Overall Highest Individual Point Accumulation
UKI National Champion 2015
Pembroke Welsh Corgi National Champion 2015
Incredible Dog Challenge 2014 Regional 4th place
1st Conformation Champion to earn Agility Grand Champion
Scentwork April 14th – Debbie Thurston
I spent over 15 years in the AKC conformation show world as an owner handler with
English Mastiffs. Following my dog’s two rear leg surgeries in a six-month period, I
decided it was time to slow down and find something else I could do with my Mastiff,
June Carter.
In 2015, I started in the world of scent work. In 2017, I attended the very first AKC
Scent Work Performance Games event, where my Mastiff created history for her breed
by being the first to earn scent work titles and to later be the first for her breed to earn
SWM (Scent Work Master).
Now, ten years later, I can’t imagine life without being fully engulfed in the world of scent
work. I keep myself extremely busy with this performance sport. Every week, I have
training classes Monday to Thursday at two different locations and I judge AKC Scent
Work Trials throughout the year on weekends. Scent Work is the only performance sport that I am extremely passionate about, and I am so glad to have found my niche in life. I love it.
Scentwork April 14th – Edith Markoff
I have been involved with the sport of scent work since 2014 with my first Nose work dog Eli. Eli has his Elite-CH from NACSW, and his SWM and SWD from AKC. Since my first dog, I have started two additional dogs in the sport. One of those dogs also has his Elite-3 from NACSW and his SWM and SWD from AKC. I started judging CPE Scent Sport in 2019 and became a fully licensed AKC judge in 2023. I have been teaching Scent Work classes since 2021 and I became a certified Nose work instructor (with NACSW) in 2023. It is so exciting to watch the progress of new Scent Work teams and to see the evolution of experienced teams.
Scentwork April 14 – Mike Smith
I have been training and working K9s for over 50 years in the areas of police K9 (patrol, detection and tracking), search and rescue (wilderness air scent and disaster response), man trailing bloodhounds, working cattle dogs and service dogs. I served 20 years in law enforcement (16 years with a K9 partner).
While living in Virginia, I volunteered with the Culpeper Humane Society where I trained shelter dogs to help them become more adoptable and worked as an animal control officer. I also evaluated certain shelter dogs for the U.S. Customs Canine Division in Front Royal, VA. I am certified by the HSUS for emergency sheltering and disaster animal response.
I am currently an AKC CGC evaluator, AKC scentwork judge, NACSW nosework judge, farm dog evaluator and an AKC Canine Ambassador. I am also a member of Alliance of Therapy Dogs and volunteer with one of our Belgians, Akira.
My wife introduced me to the wonderful world of Belgian Sheepdogs in 2002. We currently have five Belgians and were recently awarded AKC Breeder of Merit recognition for our breeding program, Blue Moon Belgian Sheepdogs. I look forward to meeting all of you and having a great time at the BSCA Nationals!
Agility April 15 – Suzi Schmitz
Suzi has been competing in agility since 1997 and became an approved AKC Agility judge in 2011. She also competes and judges in other organizations such as UKI, and USDAA. Suzi also has qualified multiple years in a row for NAC Agility and USDAA nationals.
In 2023, Suzi became certified in Canine Fitness from North Carolina State University of Veterinary Medicine. She offers private consults and seminars teaching others about canine fitness.
She lives in Pickerington, Ohio with her husband Chas, retired border collie Kahlua, field Labrador Rum Chata, and border collie Rye. Rum Chata is currently competing at the Masters level and Rye is a work in progress with some beginning titles.
Her first agility dog was a rescued Labrador retriever that lived to be 15. Her current dogs competing are her 5th and 6th agility dogs. She hopes to continue judging and showing for many years to come.
Obedience April 16th – Tamara Woodrow
Tami got involved in dog obedience training when someone gave her a male Siberian Husky and the vet tech wisely suggested obedience training might be a good idea. Nikki went on to get a AKC CD and a Canadian CD. That was so much fun that Tami purchased a red and white female Siberian Husky named Alyeska who got her first leg on a CD on her six-month birthday with a 198.5. She finished her CD at 7 months,1 week with very nice scores. Alyeska did go on to get a CDX too. In 1980 Tami decided to purchase a Golden Retriever and has trained and showed Goldens since then. From the start of training and showing in Obedience she aspired to be an Obedience Judge and in 1992 she was approved to judge the AKC Novice class. Her approval to Judge all the AKC Obedience classes was approved in 1999. Tami has also bred Golden Retrievers with the Twincreek name since 2014.
Rally April 16th – Michael Scott
My name is Mike Scott from Dayton, Ohio and have been a Rally Judge for the AKC since 2021. For the last 30 years or so I have had Doberman Pinschers. Many people knew my previous blue dobie, Shiraz. Shiraz was a rescue and so enjoyed her competing. By the time we were finished we had earned many obedience and rally titles (RACH Manitou’s Shiraz With Blue Notes UD, BN, RM3, RAE3, CGCA, CGCU). She was Front & Finish’s #1 Doberman and #2 Working Breed in 2018/19 in Rally.
My current “puppy” is a red European named Sasha. She will hopefully be showing in the near future.
When not judging, I am an Ohio Real Estate Broker (Mike Scott Real Estate Services), a trained mediator for the Realtor community, sit on numerous committees at the state and local levels and volunteer at Dayton Dog Training Club as an instructor and am also currently the club’s Treasurer.
I want to thank the Belgian Sheepdog Club of America for their kind invitation to judge the Rally classes and wish all the exhibitor’s good luck in all their events.
Conformation Sweepstakes April 17 – Roxanne Chumbley
My name is Roxanne Chumbley and I am honored to have been selected to judge sweepstakes at the 2025 National Specialty. I have been actively involved in dog sports for over 40 years. I originally started with Keeshonden in obedience. I purchased my first Belgian in 1986 and bred my first litter in 1992. Since that time, I have been fortunate enough to be blessed by great puppy people and friends and have produced over 60 champions, many having performance titles. I have been fortunate to have raised children who also enjoy showing dogs and have had BISS and BIS Belgians both here and in Canada.
Once again, thank you for allowing me to judge your beautiful Belgian puppies and veterans.
Conformation Regional April 17 – Marcy Fine
I began my journey with Belgian Sheepdogs in 1974 when my future husband and I picked out our first puppy, Jaida, from Janet Mahalik. She became Champion Shawnee Sundown Jada, the foundation of our breeding program and the dam of 16 champions.
Over the years, I have been fortunate to attend national competitions across the country, showing and owning dogs that have won Best in Sweepstakes, Winners Bitch, Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex, and many other honors. Beyond showing, I have enjoyed helping new enthusiasts establish their own breeding lines by placing puppies in homes where they became foundation dogs.
I have had the privilege of judging the Belgian Sheepdog Club of America National Specialty as well as the Canadian Belgian Sheepdog Club, where I judged all Belgian varieties. I now look forward to judging the Trinity Valley Belgian Sheepdog Club event on the eve of the 2025 Belgian Sheepdog Club of America National Specialty.
Thank you for the opportunity and for your interest in my journey with this incredible breed.
Conformation April 18-19 – Michael Canalizo
Michael Canalizo has spent many years in the Dog Show World as a Breeder/Owner and Professional Handler turned Judge. His first exposure to his primary breed: the Afghan Hound came in 1961. He has owned, shown and lived with many breeds, including Salukis, Dachshunds, German Shepherd Dogs, Whippets, Border Collies, Parson and Russell Terriers among them.
He was the Breeder/Owner/Handler of the Top Winning Hound of All Time with 87 BIS wins until a daughter of his dog that he showed beat that record with 161 BIS. He has won two Top Owner Handler Awards and 6 Quaker Oats Awards with CH’s Triumph and Tryst of Grandeur. Tryst would be the Top Dog of All Breeds in 1995. Collectively he piloted over 100 Afghan Hounds to their Championships and had over 300 All-Breed Best in shows and nearly 1,000 Hound Group awards.
He is currently approved to judge BIS, All Sporting, Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding breeds plus breeds in the Working group.,
Michael is a member of the Afghan Hound Club of America, Westbury Kennel Association, the Morris and Essex Kennel Club and the Royal Kennel Club (UK).
Michael Canalizo’ s credentials include developing and presenting dog-related educational seminars worldwide, feature writing, and working as a contributing editor for numerous national and international publications. He has officiated at events in 40 countries to date.
Michael was one of the panelists of the first ever Afghan Hound World congress and been involved in many subsequent ones. He has judged or attended almost all the world’s top events, over his 60 years in the breed. Creating a broad and varied exposure to the Afghan Hound.
Michael joined the American Kennel Club as an Executive Field Representative in 2005 and held the position as Director of AKC Event Management until 2016.