2027 Great Pyrenees Club of America National Specialty

The first time I saw a Great Pyrenees was in 1990 skiing at the Whistler Resort in British Columbia. I immediately fell in love with this huge, white dog that was gentle and serene. When we decided to add a dog to our family we immediately started looking for one of these gentle giants.  Our first dog, Gimlet, introduced me to the dog shows and I never looked back.  Gimlet ended up breaking the record for the Top Winning Great Pyrenees of all time in breed points – a great way to start in the dog show world!  I had my first litter in 1993 and started using the Impyrial prefix. In 1994 Darcy, a Gimlet daughter, came to me and I have 6 generations down from her.  In the past, I’ve kept around 20 adults at my home, but now I have 6.  As an AKC Breeder of Merit, I have bred over 85 Champions and have bred, owned and/or co-owned the #1 Pyrenees in the country for 7 years and a Top Twenty Working dog for 4.  I am also the breeder and/or owner of 3 of the top 10 winning Great Pyrenees of all time in the breed and 3 of the top 15 winning Great Pyrenees of all time all-breed. Impyrial has produced Specialty Winners, National Specialty Best of Breed, Winners Dog, Futurity, Sweepstakes, Top Twenty, Puppy Invitational, Veteran and Award of Merit Winners.  We have bred multiple hall of fame show, producers and most recently Dino has entered the newly formed GPCA Owner-handled show dogs Hall of Fame.  Our dogs have won All Breed Bests in Show around 35 times in the United States, Japan and Australia!

I am a member of several local Great Pyrenees clubs including a founding member of the Garden State Great Pyrenees Club, of which I am currently the President and Show-Chair.  I am on the judges education committee for the GPCA.  I co-chaired the 2012 and 2024 National Specialties.  I am a member of two All-Breed Clubs:  Rockland County Kennel Club, where I serve on its board and past AKC Delegate; and the Wallkill Kennel Club, where I serve as President and Show Chair for their two all-breed shows. In 2010 I was honored with the AKC’S Outstanding Sportman’s Award, which I also received from the GPCA in 2013.  I am an AKC Judge of several working breeds and in the process of working toward the working group.

 

I consider it a great honor to be voted by the membership to judge the 2027 National Specialty and am looking forward to it with great anticipation!