Dr. Michael Woods has been involved with Labrador Retrievers, under the Waterdog prefix, for over 50 years. He and his wife, Lynn, have bred and/or owned many Canadian and American Champions as well as Best in Show and Specialty winners. They have also exhibited Border and Smooth Fox Terriers. Michael is a CKC All-Breed and All-Obedience Class judge and has officiated extensively throughout Canada and the United States, as well as in Southeast Asia. Europe, North America and Australia.
Dr. Woods has published on the Labrador Retriever, Conformation Judging, Retrievers, and Ethics in the dog fancy, has written a regular column, “ Ethics”, for Dogs in Canada and has given seminars throughout the world on judging and evaluating the Labrador.. He is scheduled to again judge the American National in 2025. He has served as a member of the Canadian Kennel Club’s National Appeals Committee , the Ethics Committee, and the Events Officiating Committee. He is now retired from his position as a University Professor of English and divides his time between Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and Charlestown, Rhode Island.
I was born in London, England. My parents emigrated in 1972 and I grew up in Zimbabwe amongst a household of Briards, Griffons and Pomeranians. My earliest association with dog showing was through Junior Handling and I handled numerous breeds to Championship status. I started Ring Stewarding at 16 years of age and secured my first judging appointment in 1994. My judging qualifications were earned in Zimbabwe and South Africa and I am now an All Breeds Judge.
Over the years I have served as Club Secretary for both specialist Group clubs as well as All Breeds Clubs, and have served on the executive of the Zimbabwe Kennel Club and as a member of the Kennel Association of Zambia. I moved to Chester, England with my partner of 30 years; Grant for our son, Michaels’ education. I have judged at National and International Shows in Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Cyprus, Ireland, Thailand, Norway, France, Denmark, Lebanon and Malta.
I have been actively involved in pure-bred dogs since 1972, when I purchased my first American Cocker Spaniel for show and breeding. From then until 1997, I bred and co-bred many AKC champions under the Dur-Bet and Kittcar prefixes, as well as handling some top winners.
I have been approved as an AKC judge since 1997, and currently judge the Sporting, Toy and Non-Sporting groups, as well as Miscellaneous classes, Junior Showmanship and Best in Show.
Some of the most memorable events in my judging career have been judging abroad in Great Britain, Europe, Scandinavia, China, Russia, South Korea and Australia, and I have had the honor of judging my own breed at the American Spaniel Club National event seven times.
My approach to judging has always been to put overall breed type above any single attribute. It is important to investigate all the points addressed in a standard when evaluating an exhibit. However, I feel that, too often, the overall picture can be ignored in the final analysis. General unity of structure, harmony of proportion, functioning of the structure in movement, and correctness of all features for the breed’s intended purpose is of greater importance than any factor considered separately. Of course, as a judge, I want it all!
My wife and I started breeding and exhibiting shih-tzu under the Lotus prefix in the early nineties and eventually acquired our first Pekingese from R. William Taylor and Nigel Aubrey Jones of St. Aubrey Elsdon.
We found it challenging to manage two breeds so decided to focus exclusively on Pekingese which we still own, breed and exhibit.
As breeders and exhibitors we have the honor of being the owners of Canada’s Top Winning Toy dog of all times as well as the breeders of Canada’s Top Dog of all Breeds for 2011.
I am qualified in six of the groups, and permit in Group Four.
Glen’s love of purebred dogs began over 65 years ago with family German Shepherds. In the 70’s decided to breed & show for 30 years Belgian Tervuren. Producing more than 60 champions with both American and Canadian titles in both conformation and performance under the Gemfire prefix. Along the way winning 45 BIS and 11 BISS with Group wins at the Tournament Of Champions and Show Of Shows.
He has been President of the Kawartha Kennel Club and Belgian National Club. Handling occasionally in all seven groups for 15 years. 2014 became the president of the Shetland Sheepdog Association. He was show chair for the 2012,2014 and 2018 National Specialty Shows. Judging career started 2003 and currently CKC all breed judge. Have enjoyed assignments in the USA, Japan, Australia.
Together for 25 years with his wife Cheryl Pike, they have bred Shetland Sheepdogs under the Maclaren prefix and have finished multiple CKC and AKC champions. Glen is dedicated to the sport in many areas not exclusively in Shetland Sheepdogs but also through judging, education, clubs and more.