10 Questions ...

Profession: Forensic consultant

Dog-sport involvement: Breeder, licensed professional handler, Master of Foxhounds, all-breed club president, show chair, conformation judge, earthdog judge, field-trial judge, author, breeder-owner-handler, JEC

Hometown: Syracuse, New York

Astrological sign: Sagittarius

1. Do you have any dog-show superstitions? 

Never wear red. Ever. When judging I wear the stone from my mother’s engagement ring with the hope that it will impart just a wee bit of her wisdom. (It also keeps me out of trouble.)

2. TV-show guilty pleasure?

“Jeopardy!” of course.

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

Award a grant to explore the cloning of Mari-Beth O’Neill. (It simply can’t be done.)

4. Most valued material possession?

A miniature painting of Simon, my house-pet red fox, done by Stephen Hubbell.

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

I won a Westinghouse Science scholarship for original research on optic interpretation in frogs.

6. Who would you compare yourself to?

The late Dr. Theodore Kjellstrom DVM. He judged the Hound Group and nothing more, hunted Foxhounds and marched to his own drummer. I always envied him … still do.

7. What are you famous for? 

Being an international ratcatcher. (Mother would be so proud!)

8. What web site do you visit most often?

Facebook, followed closely by AKC.org.

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

 Actually, it was neither. It was the first time as a very young man that I set foot on the green magic carpet that was the Westminster group ring. Neither the many wins that have followed, nor the few bitter defeats can hold a candle to that feeling and memory.

10. What do you wish someone would ask you?

“Can I take you and your dogs hunting next weekend?”