The 151st Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Judging Panel
A third generation Greyhound fancier, Espen Engh was born into a family where the breed has been part of everyday life since 1955. Espen was actively involved with the dogs from an early age, the first litter carrying the prefix Jet’s was bred in 1975 by Espen and his late mother, all-breeds judge Kari Engh.The Jet’s are the top champion producing Greyhound kennels of all time, having made up 226 homebred champions with more than 820 champion titles. Still actively breeding, there are several more champions in the pipeline. The Jet’s bitch tail line includes a unique eleven consecutive generations of Best in Show winning bitches. Homebred greyhounds have won BOB 50 times at parent club specialties as well as top dog all breeds in Norway four times with four different dogs.
More recently Espen has focused on Brussels Griffons, producing a number of champion and being top breeder of the year in the UK. He has also owned and shown champions in Afghan Hounds and Whippets.
Espen judged his first dog show in 1984 and was approved to judge at championship show level in 1987. He was licenced to judge all breeds by the FCI in 2011. He has officiated in more than 100 countries around the world, including all-breed Best in Show in 74 of these.
Espen has judged extensively in the US since 1989, including numerous national specialties and a dozen Best in Shows, including Santa Barbara K.C. Centenary show, Del Valle and Kennel Club of Philadelphia.
A veterinarian by education, Espen finished his Doctoral Thesis at the Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine. He lives with his husband Åge Gjetnes and their Greyhounds, Griffons, Afghan Hounds and Miniature Poodles in Lier, south of Oslo, Norway.
Espen will judge Best in Show on his fourth appointment at Westminster followed by BIS at Crufts on his 14th judging appointment in 2028 to become the only active judge to award Best in Show at both of these iconic shows.
Sporting Group Judge: Mrs. Kathy Lorentzen
Hound Group Judge: Mr. Ken Murray
Working Group Judge: Mr. Dana Cline
Terrier Group Judge: Mr. Clay Coady
Toy Group Judge: Mr. Sei-ichiro Ishimaru
Non-Sporting Group Judge: Mrs. Patricia Sosa
Herding Group Judge: Mrs. Marilyn VanVleit
Visit Westminster Kennel Club Here for Current List of Breed Judges
Junior Showmanship Preliminary Judges: Mrs. Madeline Peterson & Dr. Tracie Laliberte
Junior Showmanship Finals Judge: Miss Lisa Gallizzo
Short URL: https://caninechronicle.com/?p=357943
Posted by Liz
on May 13 2026. Filed under Breaking News, Current Articles, Featured.
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