BLOOMINGTON — Local dog breeder and Judge Douglas Johnson of Bloomington has been selected as a judge for the 150th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Johnson will judge the Sporting Group at Madison Square Garden on February 2-3, 2026. This marks his seventh judging assignment at the prestigious event.
Johnson has deep roots in the world of purebred dogs, having grown up working at a veterinary clinic. He was first drawn to the sport after a Clumber Spaniel stayed at the clinic, prompting him to seek out a local breeder who became his mentor. Since then, his kennel has produced more than 250 Westminster Kennel Club champions. Two of his dogs have gone on to win Best in Show at Westminster: a Clumber Spaniel named Brady in 1996 and a Sussex Spaniel named Stump in 2009. Stump’s victory was particularly notable as he became the oldest dog to ever win Best in Show.
Johnson stated that his favorite memory is Stump’s Best in Show win, calling it “a dream come true” to share the honor with the owners and handlers. He also noted the rarity of the Sussex Spaniel breed, with fewer than 30 born in most years.
In addition to judging, Johnson continues to maintain his breeding program, which has produced dogs that have won over 175 Best in Show awards and 18 national specialty wins across four different spaniel breeds: Clumber, Sussex, Welsh Springer, and King Charles.
Breed competitions will be held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, with the Best in Show winner being crowned at Madison Square Garden on February 3. The Best in Show judge will be David Fitzpatrick, a two-time Westminster Best in Show winning breeder-owner-handler.
