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| Biography Sandy was born into the dog show world, and teamed with her mother Virginia Withington in the late 60s to make Stormhill one of the top Afghan kennels in the world! As a breeder-owner handler, Sandy showed CH. Stormhill’s Who’s Zoomin Who to #1 Afghan in 1989, retiring her as the top-winning Afghan bitch of all time. She also handled two national specialty winners – CH. Panjhet of Stormhill (1973) and CH. Calais Sunrise at Stormhill (1999) and numerous other dogs of hers and her mother’s breeding to Specialty, Group and Best in Show wins. Most recently, she showed Multi-Group Winning and Multi-SBIS AM & CAN CH. Stormhill’s Spit N’ Polished (Pollymia). Sandy has been licensed by the AKC since 1981 to judge Afghan Hounds and in 1997 received regular status to judge Whippets and Junior Showmanship. She has achieved the rare accomplishment of handling two homebred AHCA National Specialty winners and judging Best in Show at the National in 1986 and 2002. Aside from judging many Afghan specialties and at prestigious all breed shows in the United States, she also had the privilege of judging in many different countries around the world – Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, France and New Zealand. In 1998, she had the honor of judging Afghan Hounds and Whippets at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club show. She has also judged whippets at the Northern California Whippet Club specialty, at the Hound show in Southern California and the Canadian Whippet National specialty show. Today she keeps busy breeding, exhibiting, judging and various projects for clubs of which she is a member. She just recently became involved with the Reading with Rover program with CH. Stormhill’s Look N’ Good in Red (Carson). Sandy is vice president of the Evergreen Afghan Hound Club, vice president of the Western Washington Hound Association, a member of the Seattle Kennel Club, Afghan Hound Club of America, Morris and Essex Kennel Club and Dog Judges Association of America. |
| Online Interview Questions 1. How did you first become interested in being a dog fancier and what fascinated you about it? I was born into the sport. My mother, got her first afghan when I was three. I dabbled in junior showmanship when I was younger then got involved with competitive figure skating for a number of years. Upon graduation from college I moved home to help my Mom out as my father had a stroke and had to go into a convalescent hospital. My boyfriend at the time had decided to move to Mammoth for six months to work and ski. So to fill my time I started going to dog shows to help her out and the rest is history. 2. When did you decide to become a judge? I started judging sweepstakes and matches in the early 70s. 3. How long have you been a judge? My first assignment was in 1981 at Santa Barbara KC. I put up Ch. Kabik’s the Challenger, Pepsi, with Chris Terrell handling. 4. Why did you want to become a judge? My mother got her license back in the late 50s. I have always liked judging. Actually, it was my ex-husband Dave who encouraged me to fill out the application. 5. What do you think makes a great show dog? A great showdog has to be a good representative of his/her breed and most of all has to have heart. They have what many refer to as the “it” factor. They are born with it. They make you look at them. 6. Describe the qualities of the best handlers in the ring, what impresses you? What impresses me is the handler who doesn’t over handle his/her dog. They have the ability to make the dog standout without making themselves standout. They are a team with their dog. 7. When it comes down to it, what makes you decide which dog you select in the ring that day? For me, it’s on the day. I want the dog that best represents the standard on that day. In afghans, I want to see a “king of dogs” that is balanced both standing and moving. 8. What advice can you give a novice coming into the show dog ring? Get mentored. Learn your breed. Read books on your breed. Educate yourself on the standard of your breed. Go to handling classes. Watch the best and ask questions. Join your local breed club. Have fun. 9. That advice can you give a “so called expert” coming into the show dog ring? There is always room to learn new things about showing dogs. Be open to it. Be kind to new people coming into the breed. Remember you were once a novice too. Thank you Sandy for spending the time with me giving your great insight about judging dogs. I enjoyed doing this interview with you and I know everyone who reads it will appreciate all your great knowledge. Mark Burhart Editor |
| We also asked Sandy some questions about her judging and what she looks for the day of the show: |
| September 2010 |
