Why He’s Interesting: Judging one of the most prestigious dog shows is an art, one that Weiss has been perfecting for decades both as a professional handler and a judge. The Novelty resident will be on hand to judge a variety of categories at the 146th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Presented by Purina Pro Plan in New York from Jan. 24-26.
Love at First Sight: The Westminster dog show was the first one Weiss attended at just 12 years old in 1956, and he was hooked. So much so that later he abandoned pursuing a business degree in college to take a job as an apprentice handler and never looked back. “It was love at first sight because I thought the dogs were beautiful. It’s an animated art form.”
The Ideal: Each dog is chasing the same goal: perfection. The breeds aren’t necessarily competing against each other, but against a specific set of standards that define the ideal dog for its breed. Whichever one comes closest wins. “There’s no perfect dog. The great dogs are the ones who live with those faults and you don’t even notice them.”
The Right Fit: “If you find a breed, you have to be passionate about it. There’s no one breed, just like there’s no one personality. Everybody has different needs and wants.”
Interesting Fact: Weiss practices sculpture in his free time.
