Judges

Growing up in Miami, Fl. I lived a typically simple life in the 60’s; with a devoted and loving extended family that enjoyed the love of all animals – pigs, horses, pet rates and even snakes, and of course multiple breeds of dogs. Although our first Great Danes, purchased from our good friend Linda Basquette, were not show quality; they were great companions, which led us to venture into the world of show dogs.

We purchased our first show Dane, BIS CH Leslie’s Thumper V Barnhardt for my father who had always wanted to a fawn Great Dane. Thumper introduced to us a whole new world of purepbred dogs and showing. I learned to handle Thumper in matches and early classes, but in actuality he trained me; and I quickly developed a passion for the fancy. As we grew more serious with his career, Houston Clark handled Thumper for us as a class dog, and then Lina Basquette exhibited him as a top special. Lina became my first true mentor in Great Danes. I went on to train and handle my first personal dane, Van Shrado’s BMW Tuff N Nuff out of BMW Ruffian, myself.

Professional handler Linda Springthorpe, whom I consider my actual mother and who literally raised me, was also instrumental in teaching me; and although Linda tried to dissuade me from pursing a career in handling, concerned that it was not an easy route, I was determined to follow in her footsteps. Seeing my love and determination, both my close and extended families became my biggest supporters in my breeding, training and handling career. I continue to surround myself with great breeders in the sport, as I am of the opinion you are never too old or too experienced to share knowledge or learn something new!

I’ve been mentored by some amazing Great Dane breeders over the years, from kennel names such as Honey Hollow, Honey Lane, Leslie Danes, BMW, Von Shrado, ThorDanes, Dixie, Raintree Erinwood, Rojon, FendanesSylcrest , to name just a few. I have been honored to handle for many of these kennels as well throughout my career as well. Along with co-breeders Gloria Bachelor and Kathleen Fennel, I bred the 2018 National Futurity winner, FundaneSylcrest Red Sails in the Sunset, aka Julian

Some of machievements in the breed include:

• Handling BIS BISS GCH Raintree Erinwood Dixie for Heaven’s Sake to Best of Breed at the National Specialty under breeder judge Linda Tonnancour.
• Assisting in the presentation of BIS, BISS GCH Rojon’s Say Yes! to a thrilling Best of Breed National Specialty win under the eye of renowned judge Eric Ringle.
• Exhibiting in the Top 20 National Competition over a dozen beautiful Great Danes.
• Handling and finishing over 200 Great Danes in my career.

I’ve been very fortunate to extend my experience with great success with other breeds such as Boxers, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Bullmastiff’s, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Shar Pei’s and Boston Terriers, but Great Danes remain first in my heart! Now I am enjoying retirement by showing and finishing my own dogs out of the Bred by Exhibitor class, which has been very rewarding and a true honor!

I applaud and respect the tremendous dedication and just plain hard work required of a true preservation breeder. From memorizing generations of pedigrees, focusing on responsible health testing and breeding and finally the exhilaration of seeing it all come to fruition in the whelping box; it truly takes a village. I am eternally grateful for all the amazing foundation breeders of the past for enriching me, inspiring me and filling me with admiration and knowledge.

I am trilled and humbled by my peers to be elected alongside an icon in Great Danes, Doug Toomey, to have the honor of judging the breeding stock of so many amazing breeders of our time. Best of luck to all competitors – I am beyond excited!

Great Danes have been my passion since 1992 when I purchased my first Great Dane, a black bitch named Abby, who later became my first Champion. In 2000, I Owner/Handled my first Champion “Cooper” (BISS CH Owlwatch Heir Ways). I’ve owner handled all my dogs since. I bred litters sparingly using the prefix Remo Great Danes”. I have Breeder/Owner/Handled Black, Fawn and Brindles to championships.

One of my most memorable moments showing Danes is when Benny (BISS GCHS Remo’s Inspector Clouseau) was awarded RWD and Best Puppy at the 2014 National Specialty and then competing with him in the Top 20 Invitational in 2018.

I’ve been a member of the GDCA since 2005 and Past President of the Hoosier Great Dane Club and a past member of the GDC of Oxford, CT. I am currently serving as a 2nd VP on the GDCA Board of Directors and as a Trustee on the GDCA Charitable Trust.

I grew up in Southwest Ohio and graduated from Miami University (Ohio) with a BS/BA in Math and Xavier University (Ohio) with an MBA. I recently retired from Rolls-Royce Corporation after 37 years in Aviation Management. I reside in Savannah, Georgia with my wife Angie.

Dogs have been a constant presence in my life for as long as I can remember. My very first dog, a mixed-breed terrier named Cookie, was already a year old when I was born. Cookie grew up alongside me and remained part of my life until I was in my teens. During those years, we also had several German Shepherds. I still remember my dad taking me to an obedience class with one of them so I could learn to handle him properly — he weighed more than I did at the time. That experience not only taught me how to manage a strong intelligent dog, but also gave me an early appreciation for training and communication between dog and handler.

As an adult, my journey into the world of dog training and competition began in 1995 with my first personal dog, a miss-marked toy poodle from a puppy mill breeder. At the time, I didn’t know any better, but that little dog turned out to be life-changing. We started in pet classes at the Staten Island Companion Dog Training Club in Staten Island, New York. After completing a nine-week beginner course, we moved into a novice compoetition class, and from there I was hooked. I continued training consistently and eventually earned a CDX (Companion Dog Excellent) title on that little poodle–an accomplishment that marked the beginning of my deeper involvement in dog sports.

While training him, I realized how much I missed having a larger dog. This time, with more knowledge and exposure to the dog show world, I approached things differently. I  began attending dog shows and speaking with breeders and exhibitors of standard poodles. I found the community to be welcoming and incredibly supportive, especially toward someone new who was eager to learn. After spending considerable time on a waitlist, I finally brought home my first standard poodle — a dog who would go on to shape my future in ways I couldn’t have imaged. 

That dog, Nick, was truly exceptional. Looking back, my only regret is that I wasn’t yet the caliber of handler he deserved, because he had so much natural ability. Together, we competed in conformation, obedience, rally, and agility, participating across multiple registries. I never set out with the goal of earning a large number of titles, but through years of training and simply enjoying our time together, Neck accumulated well over 100 titles. More importantly, he became the foundation sire of my line, leaving a lasting legacy that continues today.

Currently, I am showing a three-year-old standard poodle who is a son of Nick, conceived using 21-year-old frozen semen. It’s incredibly meaningful to see that legacy carried forward into the present. When I look at him, I don’t just see a young dog with potential — I see decades of experience, learning and passion, coming full circle. 

Little did Ben Gibbs know in 2005 when he picked up a fuzzy little German Shepherd Dog puppy, how his life would soon change. It was during a basic obedience class that the sport of Agility was introduced to Ben and Deacon… and a new passion was born. Deacon was the perfect agility partner, introducing Ben to a whole new world of people, friendships, and a shared love for an amazing sport, and in 2007 it also introduced Ben to the love of his life, Rhonda in an agility class, and they were married in 2011. Deacon went on to earn a PACH, several Obedience titles, and was a Therapy Dog.

Ben’s love of agility sparked an interest in judging, and he was licensed to Judge in 2015 and he says… “There is only one thing more thrilling than seeing a team run a course like it is a dance and working together to accomplish goals…and that is when I get to run!!!”

Ben has had the honor and privilege to have judged the Doberman Pinscher Club of America’s National Specialty, American Kennel Clubs National Agility Championship, American Kennel Clubs Agility Invitational, and the Westminster Agility Championship.

Ben is a 1983 graduate of East Tennessee University with a degree in Dental Laboratory Technology, and has owned Gibbs Dental Lab since 1994, a small dental lab specializing in Implant and Cosmetic Crown and Bridge. When Ben isn’t judging or showing he has a passion for music and enjoys playing guitar. Ben and Rhonda live in the beautiful foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in Kingsport, Tennessee and are currently sharing their home with 4 Toy Poodles and 2 Border Collies.