Judges: Gyn Gerhardt

I consider myself a caretaker of the breed since getting my first cocker in 1960, showing mainly in obedience. In 1970, my children went off to college and I started a career designing and programming computer software systems. Coming home to an empty house prompted me to persue a hobby of companionship involving my true love of showing and breeding the Cocker Spaniel. Breeding under my kennel name of Shenanigans, I produced 58 AKC champions, 12 Canadian champions, and 3 international champions. Three of these dogs have been Specialty BOB winners in the United States with one being an All Breed Best In Show winner. Two others have been Best In Show in foreign countries. I also bred the ASC summer 1982 Futuity winner as well as both her parents and have enjoyed many ASC Futurity Variety wins with my breeding. I'm currently in the ninth generation of my line devoted to the developement of a quality winning line free from hereditary defects. I have also bred and showed some English Cockers to their title. I began the privelege of judging in 1982 with the Cocker Spaniel and currently am approved to judge 17 of the sporting breeds. As with my breeding program, I am dedicated to form following function for each breed I judge. I have had the opportunity to judge in other countries and to judge Specialities of breeds I had not seen before. If you can recognize type and understand form and function, you can appreciate most breeds that have a working purpose. While on a consulting contract in Alaska, I took the opportunity to drive a team of dogs into the bush for a three day mushing experience. This excursion allowed me to observe the importance of dog construction principles in practice. No matter what breed, if they're not put together properly, they won't be able to do their job.