Baton Rouge’s best in show: AKC Judge Gloria Geringer

While many Baton Rouge families enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving feast last week, Gloria Geringer’s professional obligations took her half a world away, where dinner is more likely to include tuna tataki than turkey.

The former Louisiana Department of Transportation employee was in Osaka, Japan to judge a dog show. This year, Geringer has already traveled more than 125,000 miles to officiate at shows throughout the United States—including the prestigious Westminster—and internationally from Australia and Estonia to Korea, Russia and Sweden. “There are over 3,000 American Kennel Club judges,” Geringer says, “but 10% of the judges do 90% of the shows.”

The Detroit native never imagined the purchase of a pet-quality, parti-colored cocker spaniel puppy from a show breeder in 1963 would lead to a life of glitz and glamour center stage at AKC’s most prestigious events. However, once a groomer coaxed Geringer into the ring, she quickly advanced to professional handler and successful breeder. Twenty years ago, she received judge’s credentials and shut down her kennels to eliminate any conflict of interest in evaluating cockers and pointers.

She now spends nearly every weekend away from her Denham Springs home scrutinizing 119 of 175 approved breeds for the American Kennel Club, Australian shepherds and Catahoulas for the United Kennel Club and a host of breeds internationally.

So, in ring full of gorgeous well-bred dogs, how does a judge coronate a champion in less than three minutes? First, there’s an encyclopedic knowledge of the breed standard and the type of work the dog is bred to do. Dogs are the only animals bred to produce physical characteristics that help accomplish specific tasks. For example, a terrier with an underbite is disqualified in the show ring because the condition presents a distinct disadvantage in working as a ratter. Since their almond-shaped lids shield the eyes from sandstorms, Afghans with large, round eyes would have hard time negotiating desert conditions. Ditto for any dog in couch potato condition that’s not fit enough to perform the breed’s job.

To assess each dog efficiently, judges must have lightening fast reflexes to compile sensory information about the dog and measure it against the breed’s benchmark. “You have to quickly feel under the coat, the shape of the legs and the feet,” Geringer says. “Your concentration has to be strong as you watch how the dog moves and how it covers ground.” And, even if the crowd, handlers or owners disagree with the final ranking, judges’ decisions are always final.

Although few outside the show circles recognize it, Geringer asserts there’s much more to dog show competitors than being fluffed-and-buffed leash candy. “Breeders take a lot of pride in the health of their animals. They take every precaution to produce a good dog. These dogs are not just prim and proper. If they’re trained to show, there is a lot of intelligence in dogs.”

A particular favorite of Geringer’s is Uno, the first beagle to win Westminster. “That dog has such heart, and you can just see it. After the championship, he went on to become a therapy dog and visit VA hospitals.”

While Geringer routinely presides over the finest the dogs in the world, she maintains a soft heart for all canines and the belief that winners can come from the streets as well as the show ring. “A great pet-quality dog can certainly come out of a show litter,” she says, “but it’s important to realize a lot of good dogs need homes—not all of them have CH [champion] in front of their names.”

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