Judge's Background & History

Ms. Betty Regina Leininger
Home: Frisco, TX

Was born in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. Her experience in purebred dogs began with the breeding and exhibiting of German Shepherd Dogs. She co-founded the Newfoundland (All-Breed) Kennel Club in 1962 and has been active in many kennel clubs over the years. She served as a Board Director of the Atlanta Doberman Pinscher Club in the late '70's, was a member of the Waukesha Kennel Club in the mid-80's and has been a member of the Doberman Pinscher Club of America since 1971. Upon moving to the United States in 1970, Betty became an AKC licensed Professional Handler and a member of the Professional Handlers Association. During her extensive handling career she guided the show career of many top winning dogs. Throughout the 1970's Betty also guided the breeding programs of many of her showdog clients. After a highly successful multi-breed career in handling she became a judge in 1983. As a respected judge of Working and Non-Sporting breeds she has judged widely both domestically and internationally. Betty has judged the Doberman Pinscher Club of America National Specialty on two occasions, the Doberman Pinscher Top 20, the Akita Club of America National Specialty and the Rottweiler National, to name a few. Her international judging has taken her to Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Taiwan, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. In the late 1970's Betty co-authored a book entitled, Preparation and Presentation of the Show Dog, under the name of Betty R. Brucker. She has conducted handling seminars throughout the continental U.S., Hawaii, Alaska and New Zealand. Betty is currently approved to judge all Working breeds, all Non-Sporting, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Miscellaneous, Junior Showmanship and Best in Show.
Betty was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Her interests in pure-bred dogs began at a very early age beginning with the breeding and exhibiting of German Shepherd dogs. She was a co-founder of the Newfoundland ‘All-Breed’ Kennel Club in St. John’s during the early 1960s.

After moving to the United States in 1970, Betty became an ‘all-breed’ professional handler under the name of Betty Regina Brucker and for many years guided the show careers of many top-winning dogs. She co-authored the book Presentation and Preparation of the Show Dog. During her handling career, Betty also conducted numerous seminars throughout North America and abroad on the handling, conditioning, and presentation of the show dog. Betty was also active in numerous kennel clubs over the years; and was a member of the Doberman Pinscher Club of America for 32 years. Additionally, Betty was an active member of the Atlanta Doberman Pinscher Club during the '70s and served as Hospitality Chairperson at the National Specially held in Atlanta in 1976. During her thirteen-year handling career, Betty exhibited in approximately 100 shows annually and was recognized for her professionalism and competitive spirit.

After a successful handling career, Betty retired from showing in 1983 and embarked upon her judging career. Some of the highlights of Betty’s judging career to-date include judging the Doberman Pinscher Club of America’s national specialty on three separate occasions. Other national specialties include the Akita Club of America, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club, the Standard Schnauzer Club of America, the Alaskan Malamute Club of America, the American Rottweiler Club, the Finnish Spitz Club of America and the Anatolian Shepherd Dog Club of America. Betty has also judged numerous ‘supported entry’ and specialty shows for Toys and Non-Sporting breeds.

She has been privileged to judge at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club on several occasions having judged the Non Sporting Group there in February of 2004. She is once again honored to be a part of the 2011 judging panel. Judging at the AKC Eukanuba Dog Classic in December of 2003 in Long Beach, California was indeed another highlight of Betty’s judging career.

Betty has also been an active international judge with many assignments abroad including Taiwan, Beijing, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, Trinidad, Columbia, El Salvador and her native Canada. In April of 2004 she was honored to judge at the World Show in Rio de Janiero and again at the World Show in Mexico City in May, 2007.

In addition to judging Betty enjoys playing bridge, reading, cooking and taking long walks. She shares her home in Frisco, Texas with her Long-Coat Chihuahua Beau. She has one son, Geoffrey.

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