10 Questions ...

Profession: Retired from the Colorado attorney regulation department, where I investigated attorney misconduct

Dog-sport involvement: Ridgeback breeder and dog-show judge (Hound Group plus Border Terriers, going for Non-Sporting). I belong to many clubs!

Hometown: Glassboro, New Jersey

Astrological sign: Pisces 

1. Do you have any dog-show superstitions? 

None. It should be the best dog on the day!

2. TV-show guilty pleasure? 

“The White Lotus” and “Only Murders in the Building.”

3. If you were president of AKC for one day, what would you do?  

I would make the time one applies for new breeds and the time one is interviewed much shorter. (Self serving, I know.)

4. Most valued material possession? 

A portrait of my family done by an artist in 1961. It is very 1961! 

5. What is something no one would guess about you? 

I was a sniper on the Austin, Texas, SWAT team.

6. Who would you compare yourself to?  

That depends on whether I'm comparing looks or personality. I've been told I look like Keri Russell (when I was younger). Personality wise, Catherine O'Hara (Cookie Fleck).

7. What are you “famous” for?

I try to forget losing my slip in the ring at the 2000 national. But those who were there won't let me.

8. What website do you visit most often? 

Infodog.

9. What was more memorable, your most satisfying win or disappointing defeat? And what was it? 

Early on I received a second Group 1st on my first special, who was just nine months old. The judge gushed over him: "Best Ridgeback she had ever seen. He was going to go far, he was just beautiful." Well, she was judging a specialty in three weeks in California, and although I couldn't afford it back then and couldn't get much time off from work, I drove the 16 hours straight to show to her — AND WE DIDN’T MAKE ONE CUT! This taught me early on to trust myself and not to take everything a judge says as gospel.   

10. What do you wish someone would ask you?  

“Would you like to join me at The French Laundry, my treat?”