Judges » Trish Andrews

After my top dog NZ Ch Kai of Syrajaani won a Reserve Best in Show at an All breeds Championship show under Hound Specialist judge Gwen Johnson here,  I then sent him to Australia to earn his title. He went on to win Runner up Hound of the Year in Australia -the first and only time a Finnish Spitz has achieved such a high award in Australia. Over the 25 odd years of showing and breeding I have handled Weimarers, Golden Retrievers and Boxers, Labradors, Whippets among others. 

While at the Melbourne Royal show a few years ago I was honoured to be asked to judge their Child Handler Heat- it was an awesome day with the best of the best handlers exhibiting and hundreds watching and I had a good class of approximately 14 exhibitors from memory -  I really had my work cut out as they were so good. It certainly was a highlight of my judging career. 

I later had a break from showing and breeding for a few years having no dogs at all, then approximately 7 years ago I was offered a Finnish Spitz from Canada who I then titled, then I made the decision to start up my breeding kennels again but needed no less than 4 unrelated bloodlines so I went on to import two more dogs from two of UK's top winning kennels and one from the top kennel in Australia. 

Since being back showing  and breeding again I have exported 6  Finnish Spitz to Australia - one is almost a Grand Champion - Australian Champion Triscole Edgar Allen Poe now living in  Sydney where just last year he was awarded Runner Up in the Hound group at the Sydney Royal out of over 500 hounds. This was a real milestone for our breed and my kennels to achieve of which I am very proud. His son also was placed 4th in Group this year at the Sydney Royal out of equally as many dogs. 

I have since exported to Canada (2 Finnish Spitz), USA (2 Finnish Spitz) - one is a Grand Champion now and have a more to go to USA  and a further order for Canada shortly. 

Recently our top winning Finnish Spitz NZ/US CH & Canadian Grand Champion Kunniakas Billy Whizz - IMP UK  is now back from Canada after winning many awards and earning final points for his Grand Championship under a NZ judge but an International Hound Specialist  - Kathleen Hardwick while she was judging in Canada. 

I very much enjoy the judging path I am now on and look forward to many more appointments in the future. My only regret is not starting much sooner than I have. 

I have recently gone onto the Open Panel and have accepted appointments for both CKA  in September  2018 & Hamilton in December in 2018 . 

Recently I purchased two Whippets and I am enjoying very much owning another Hound breed that could not be more different to the Finnish Spitz if I'd tried!