2026 National Specialty Judges | The American Brittany Club

Independent Specialty · Wednesday, November 18

Beth Rosener

Sweepstakes Judge

I have owned dogs for most of my life and acquired my first show dog in 1982 while I was in college. Our family started our journey with Brittanys in 2001 when we found Valerie and Richard Dombrowski of Rival Farms. We were looking for a well-bred companion and family dog that could keep up with our outdoor adventures and our three young daughters. We told the breeders we would show him to his championship. One thing led to another, and with my sister Susan Markley showing him very selectively, he earned multiple Group wins and placements, Best in Specialty wins, an Award of Merit at Nationals, and a Best in Show by age three. He ranked in the Top 10 during the two years he was shown. CH Rival’s Lucky Shamrock JH—Rocky—was a great introduction to owning a Brittany.

In 2002, I became part of the San Diego Brittany Club and learned a great deal about hunt training from its members. I soon began running in Hunt Tests and served briefly on the board before moving back east.

We acquired more Brittanys as each of our daughters wanted to show, and soon my daughters and I became Shamrock Brittanys, whelping our first litter in 2006. Over the next few years, Shamrock produced four litters and collaborated with Rival Farms on several more. Our first litter produced champions, Hunt Test titleholders, Group placers, and an Award of Merit winner at Nationals. Later puppies earned titles through Master Hunter, Best of Opposite Sex at Nationals, Awards of Merit at Nationals, Best of Opposite Sex at Westminster and the AKC National Championship, and numerous Group placements and wins.

A puppy from our second litter brought us together with Mike and Julie Lee, who later established Brigadier Brittanys. We have collaborated ever since. Together, our breeding program and our stud dogs have produced multiple No. 1 Brittanys; Westminster breed winners and Group placers; AKC National Championship breed winners and a Group placer; a National Best of Breed winner; Top 20 and Top 20 People’s Choice winners; and multiple Best in Show winners.

One of my favorite pastimes is talking with breeders around the country about history, pedigrees, and future breeding possibilities. I truly love our breed—their athleticism, their incredible nose for birds, and their joy of life. I thank Show Chair Joy Crisler and the National Show Committee for the opportunity to judge Sweepstakes. I am honored and excited to bring my knowledge and experience to this assignment.

ABC National Scent Work · Wednesday, November 18

Erica Wells

Judge of ABC’s inaugural National Scent Work Trial

Container & Buried: Novice | Advanced

I live outside Seattle, Washington, in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, and I’m a 20-year transplant from New Orleans. Since moving to Seattle, my life has quite literally gone to the dogs. I blame my first Brittany—a “failed foster” named Mimi—who introduced me to my gateway dog sport, K9 Nose Work. Mimi went on to earn her MACH, Elite 2 NACSW, and many other sport titles.

I was one of the first CNWIs in the country and one of the first AKC Scent Work judges. While I have done very little judging because of an exceedingly busy work and dog-sport schedule with my own crew, I have almost 20 years of full-time Scent Work teaching and trialing experience. I still love watching dogs figure out puzzles.

I am currently trialing my 10-year-old Brittany, Gator, at the NACSW Elite level as we close in on our championship, while also dabbling in AKC. My 3-year-old, Delta, is trialing at the AKC Excellent and Master levels, has just started agility, and also dabbles in Rally. We are showing toward her GCH and concentrating heavily on field. Gator introduced me to field trials and hunt tests, and Delta has me hooked. I hope we join her dam in the TC group one day. We also dabble in lure coursing and barn hunt. I train dogs to hunt truffles, and we have even pointed a few grouse while out there.

I love seeing new people get into Scent Work with their Brittanys. Our bird dogs need to use their noses—whether it’s on birch, birds, rats, human scent, or any of the other great new sniffing sports. Cost is low and dog enjoyment is high. Brittanys are amazing sport dogs, and this sport was designed for them. This is my first National, and I’m excited to judge the inaugural Scent Work Trial and see dogs I’ve admired up close.

National Obedience & Rally Trial · Thursday

Sarah Schroeder

Obedience & Rally Judge

I became involved with dogs when my husband told me I needed a hobby, and it has grown into a passion. With each dog came more events we could do, and now I am busy doing something with my dogs all the time. I have made countless friends along the way and love spending time with my dogs.

My first love will always be obedience, but I also enjoy competing in conformation, Scent Work, hunting, and tracking. I am a hobby breeder of Irish Setters and believe in producing dogs that can—and will—do anything you want to do with your dog. I believe the most important attributes are health, conformation, and performance so that they can excel in any venue.

I am an AKC Obedience, Rally, and Scent Work judge and an AKC Scent Work Field Representative. I am also a UKC Obedience, Rally, Nosework, and Conformation judge. I have been involved with dogs since 1991 and have competed in conformation, obedience, rally, tracking, Nosework, agility, hunt tests, and therapy work.

Remember, it is about the journey with our dogs. We will never forget spending the day with our dog. It is about having fun together. If you put the work into your dogs, you will be successful.

National Specialty Show · Thursday–Saturday

Helen Riggle

Sweepstakes Judge

My journey with Brittanys began in 1998, when I was asked to show a dog named Rip—a big, raw-boned liver dog who was a Field Champion of record and an all-age contender in his day. Rip, better known as FC Mo-Kan Powerglide, was my introduction to the world of bird dogs. That experience set everything in motion.

In 2000, I was given a puppy I named Dutch, sired by Rip’s own sire, FC Mo-Kan Playboy. Dutch became my first Brittany, my first show champion, then my first field champion, and ultimately my first Dual Champion: DC Mo-Kan Wild Mtn Im Justa Gigolo, ABC Dual Champion No. 516.

With Playboy as my foundation, Wild Mtn Brittanys was born. That was my kennel prefix from 2000 until 2019, when I headed west and made my home in Southern Arizona—true wild-quail country. From 2019 to the present, my portion of the breeding program has taken on a new identity: Copper Canyon Brittanys.

I am an AKC Breeder of Merit at the Advanced Silver level, with numerous field champions, show champions, and dual champions to my credit as a breeder, owner, and handler. From 2005 through 2018, I campaigned dogs professionally alongside my then-husband, Brian Riggle. He trained and handled in the field while I served as his scout, and I trained and handled in the show ring. That partnership earned many accolades and dual champions over the years and left a lasting stamp on the genetics and gene pool of the American Brittany.

I consider this judging assignment the culmination of my career and the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a Brittany breeder. Thank you for this incredible honor and the opportunity to judge the future stars of the American Brittany breed.

National Specialty Show · Thursday–Saturday

Jerome Elliott

Junior Showmanship & Conformation Judge

My first show dog was a Brittany I showed in Juniors in 1973 in the Seattle area. I completed his championship, won a Specialty, and was hooked. I later added a finished bitch and bred her to my original dog, producing my first homebred Champion. My retired show dogs became my father’s best hunting dogs—better than the Irish Setter and English Springer Spaniel he had owned before the Brittanys.

In 1982, after college, I began breeding Afghan Hounds, Salukis, and Brittanys in partnership with John Wood Jr. of Cheri-A’s in Oregon. Best in Show and Specialty winners followed. In 1986, I added English Toy Spaniels, the breed for which I have become best known. Cheri-A English Toy Spaniels have earned numerous Best in Shows with seven different all-breed Best in Show winners, two National Specialty wins, many other Specialty wins, and thousands of Group placements across the country. I still own English Toy Spaniels, although my focus today is judging.

I was proud that my final two Afghan litters produced 17 Champions, including three or four Dual Champions and several Group-placing dogs—the only Dual Champions in the breed at that time. My current English Toy Spaniel stud dog, living with Doug Johnson and Jamie Hubbard, is an ROM sire with more than 10 American Champions and two UK Champions to his credit.

I have lived and worked in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, since 2012. In 2025, I was pleased to judge the Oregon Brittany Club Specialty 51 years after winning it with my first show dog—a full-circle moment for me.

I am honored to judge the American Brittany Club National Specialty in 2026. I can’t wait.

National Agility Trial · Friday–Sunday

Kristine Schmidt

2026 ABC National Agility Judge

I want to thank the American Brittany Club for the privilege of judging its National Agility Trial. I have seen many wonderful American Brittany dogs run agility, and it will be amazing to see them all in one place.

Currently, I am an owner, handler, and breeder of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels whose primary sport is agility. I started agility with my first CKCS, Daisy, in 1998 and immediately loved the sport. My agility journey expanded with my second CKCS, Denzil—CH MACH10 Wystar He Got Game CDX RAE TQX MXF—who took me to several Invitational and National events and made the Invitational finals twice. That journey continued at the Invitationals with Denzil’s daughter, Summer.

I have earned 50 championships with eight Cavaliers I have had the pleasure of sharing life with. As a breeder, I bred the first MACH × MACH, CH MACH × CH MACH, and AGCH × AGCH pairings in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, producing Cavaliers who have exceeded their sire or grandsire, Denzil, at Invitational and National events. I enjoy hearing about the achievements of the 56 Cavaliers I have bred, and I am currently breeding the fourth generation of Daisylane Cavaliers.

In 2015, I took the next step and became an AKC Agility Judge. I enjoy watching amazing agility teams run and seeing the teamwork of every team—especially those who express their joy in the run. I always say that the run may not go as planned, so concentrate on the good things that happened in the ring. Agility is about teamwork, and it takes time and a great deal of training to perfect a team.

Today, I continue to run Cavaliers and a Border Collie whom I direct around the ring. Good luck to all the American Brittany agility teams, and enjoy every run with your teammate.

Additional judge biographies and photographs will be added as they become available.

Meet the 2026 Judges