Two Pleasant Hill Residents Will Be Judges In The Westminster Dog Show

Out of the 43 judges that will participate in the 2013 Westminster Dog Show this February in New York City, two are from Pleasant Hill.

Florence Males will judge the Non-Sporting category, and Kimberly Meredith-Cavanna will judge the Akitas, Alaskan Malamutes, Anatolian Sherpard Dogs, Komondorok, Kuvaszok, Neapolitan Mastiffs, Siberian Huskies, and Tibetan Mastiffs.

Both have been devoted dog owners for many years, and have both shown and judged many shows.

Males got her first dog – a Silky Terrier – in 1970. She entered it into a show that year and was hooked. Meredith-Cavanna bought her first Alaskan Malamut in 1971 and entered it into a show that year as well.

Their devotion and expertise has landed them both judging duties in what is inarguably the world’s most prestigious dog show.

“We as judges are looking for everything we do at any show,” said Males, “but you are judging the cream of the crop. It’s all against their breed standard of perfect, which includes everything from the top of the nose to the tip of the tail.”

Males said she is honored by the invitation to judge the Non-Sporting Catetory.

“I think I hyperventilated for two weeks when I received the invitation,” she said.

“We look for the same things we do at any dog show,” said Meredith-Cavanna. “There is a written standard for each breed that describes what each breed should look like, how it should be built, how it should move, etc. When we are evaluating dogs, in our minds we are comparing each animal to what we perceive is the closest to that standard.”

Both women said purebred dogs and mutts are no different in terms of their behavior, or their desirability as companions or pets. The difference between mutts and show dogs is knowing what kind of behavioral temperament you are likely to encounter with purebred breeds. For instance, Dobermans and German Shepards are known to be good protection dogs, while terriers and border collies are more active.

It is the first time Males has been asked to judge at Westminster, and it will be Meredith-Cavanna’s second time. But she said the most memorable moment she has had as a judge was at a small show where a woman who was disabled was showing her dog on crutches.

“She obviously had a very difficult time getting around the ring,” she said. “Her dog looked up at her with understanding eyes and moved perfectly with her. Her dog finished its championship that day and everyone was in tears, including me.”

With two Pleasant Hill women judging at Westminster this year, do they think it is a dog-friendly town?

“I believe so,” Males said. “There are certainly many wonderful breeders in the area and several nice places you can walk your dogs.”

“That is an interesting question,” Meredith-Cavannah said. “I do attend a lot of the music activities in PH (I am thrilled PH is becoming known for its music entertainment and its concerts) and I try to attend as many as I can. Many people, including me bring their dogs and no one seems to mind. I see lots of dogs in downtown and they are all well behaved.”