The 2026 Barbet Club of America National:
Saturday November 14th, 2026

Judges

WAYNE CAVANAUGH - 2026 BCA National Specialty Judge

Wayne Cavanaugh is a third-generation dog fancier. His grandfather, John Cavanaugh, bred Kerry Blue Terriers. Along with his father, Raymond Cavanaugh, Wayne bred English Setters and Beagles. Wayne and his wife Cheryl bred and exhibited top winning and top producing Pointers. He finished his first beagle as a young child, competed in Juniors with English Setters, won his first Pointer National in 1980 and owned the Top Producing Pointer and Sporting Dam of the Year in 2001. He has also owned English Toy Spaniels, an Irish Wolfhound, Clumber Spaniel, American English Coonhound, and Border Terrier. Wayne has judged sporting and hound breeds in the USA, Canada, Ireland, Japan, and Mexico. Assignments have included Westminster, the AKC Irish Setter, English Setter, and Gordon Setter National Specialties, and the AKC Pointer National. In addition to AKC events, he’s judged the Irish Kennel Club Saint Patrick’s show, the Irish Gundog Field and Show Society show, UKC’s 50 th Anniversary Autumn Oaks bench show, the largest in Coonhound history, and the Bryn Mawr Hound Show, the most prestigious foxhound event in America which has been held at the Radnor Hunt Club since 1914.

Wayne served as a Vice President of the American Kennel Club and President of the United Kennel Club. He was a Charter Board Member of the AKC Canine Health Foundation and presented for the AKC at the World Congress of Kennel Clubs in Bermuda and Ireland. For more than 35 years, he appeared as a television commentator in the USA and England at major dog events including Crufts for the BBC and the Animal Planet National Dog Championship television series. He wrote and consulted for several dog-related television series, including Animal Planet’s Breed All About It. Wayne currently writes a monthly column, and hosts a podcast, for The Canine Chronicle. He and his wife Cheryl live in Michigan with a beagle and an English Toy Spaniel. Their son, Brody, represents the fourth generation of Cavanaughs with his Onsage Pointers.

Juniors Judge: Daniel Fabelo

My name is Daniel Fabelo, I have been showing dogs in the AKC for over 20 years. I got my start in showing because my father shows, and introduced me to showing. I began showing in Junior Showmanship and competed until I aged out. Some of my accomplishments were being a top English Setter Junior Handler, a top overall Junior Handler and qualified a number of times for both the Westminster Dog Show and Royal Canine Dog Show as well as making the finals at Royal Canine back when it was still sponsored by Eukanuba. Since getting involved in this sport, I have not only continued showing, but have become a breeder as well. On top of my breeding accomplishments of breeding champion English setters and dachshunds, I have continued to handle dogs all as an owner-handler. I have owned and handled breeds from all seven groups.

Premium

Logo Wear

Junior Prize donated by:

Skolflower Show Leads

https://www.facebook.com/skolflower

Trophy Donations

• $175 — Best of Breed — Lynn Vogt-Kinsey - Anam Chara — In memory of Bric & Micah, the best boys ever

• $100 — Best of Winners — Will Zollman - Boathouse

• $100 — Best of Opposite Sex — Justin Smithey - Pinnacle

• $75 — Select Dog — Michelle Charters

• $75 — Select Bitch — Carol Newberry

• $60 — NOHS Best of Breed — Susie Rohr — In celebration of all Owner Handlers

• $50 — Award of Merit 1 — Lisa Campbell

• $50 — Award of Merit 2 — Rebekah Kreig — In honor of Tux, not a Barbet, but a good boy

• $75 — Winners Dog — Elizabeth Smith — Congratulations from Canine Everlasting

• $75 — Winners Bitch — Margaret Dozier — In honor of my beautiful Georgia, Pinnacle Midnight Train

• $50 — Reserve Winners Dog — Sheryl Steele — In memory of Murphy

• $50 — Reserve Winners Bitch — Judy Descutner - Hickory Tavern

• $60 — Best Veteran — Stacy Able - Ginkgo — In memory of Cinna

• $60 — Best Bred By Exhibitor — Donna Forte

• $60 — Best Puppy — Stacey Empson — In memory of two of the best puppies ever, Watson & Olive

• $25 — 6-9 Puppy Dog — Pauline Mohler — In memory of my best friend, Angel, who loved all dogs

• $25 — 9-12 Puppy Dog — Whitney Walker

• $25 — 12-15 Junior Dog — Micahel Baldus

• $25 — 15-18 Junior Dog — Paula Coats - Blue Bayou

• $25 — Bred-By 6-12 Puppy Dog — Sherilyn Smith - Bluespruce

• $25 — Bred-By Adult Dog — Sherilyn Smith - Bluespruce

• $25 — American Bred Dog — Eleanor Cantrell

• $25 — Open Dog — Tiffany Patrella

• $25 — 6-9 Puppy Bitch — Maisie Theobald — In loving memory of Martha, Reeds Fowling Alexia

• $25 — 9-12 Puppy Bitch — Whitney Walker

• $25 — 12-15 Junior Bitch — Caitln Ewing Mohan

• $25 — 15-18 Junior Bitch — Sherilyn Smith - Bluespruce

• $25 — Bred-By 6-12 Puppy Bitch — Liana Brennan — In honor of Bijou

• $25 — Bred-By Adult Bitch — Jean Nelson — In memory of Ginkgo De Cleo Grantham Gaia

• $25 — American Bred Bitch — Jean Nelson — In memory of Ginkgo De Cleo Grantham Gaia

• $25 — Open Bitch — Becky Van Houten — Cheers to the future!

• $25 — Veteran Dog 7-9 — Lisa Campbell — In loving memory of Odin “Odie”

• $25 — Veteran Dog 9+ — Lori Heckman — In honor of Finn

• $25 — Veteran Bitch 7-9 — Judy Descutner - Hickory Tavern

• $25 — Veteran Bitch 9+ — Stacey Empson — In memory of our sweet Olive

• $25 — Stud Dog — Dana Heckler — In honor of GCH CH Neigenuveaux Merveilleux

• $25 — Brood Bitch — Claire Davies - Barbamor

General Donations

• $100 — General Donation — Lori Labian

• $10 — General Donation — June McLoughney

• Best Junior— custom lead Skolflower Show Leads