We live in an age of dog shows best described and defined by the day of the week — like the Thursday show, the Friday show, the Saturday-morning and Saturday-afternoon show — instead of dog shows that were original in thought and execution with a personal touch, like Westminster, Woofstock and Montgomery. That last one is a show many of us will attend this weekend. The uniqueness of Montgomery is legendary. In keeping with its storied reputation, this year’s Best in Show judge (yes, it is a Best in Show, as you know Montgomery is an all-breed dog show that only offers classes for all Terrier breeds) is a legend in her own right: Lydia Coleman Hutchinson, a second-generation Cairn Terrier breeder with the world-famous Wolfpit prefix. We don’t often single out a judge on a particular Best in Show judging assignment, other than to congratulate him or her. Lydia has been an active breeder-exhibitor for more than 70 years, and can still be found exhibiting in the show ring. We marvel at her dedication and continued love of the sport, an amazing lady who will have the spotlight on her Sunday afternoon. How better to describe her life in the sport of purebred dogs than with her own words, taken from a short bio she wrote for the Show Dogs of the Year Awards Dinner partnered with Dog News:
Lydia Coleman Hutchinson of Middletown, Maryland, is the breeder-owner-handler of Wolfpit Cairn Terriers. She attended her first dog show with her parents on her 10th birthday and was encouraged to show their dog. After 15 minutes of instruction from a family friend, the result was a fourth-place ribbon and the start of a lifelong passion for showing dogs. Lydia’s proudest achievement in Junior Showmanship was placing second at Westminster. More than 70 years later, Lydia continues to actively breed and show her Cairns. She is thrilled that Wolfpit has finished nearly 300 champions bred and/or owned by her and her parents. She encourages those who have acquired show-potential puppies from her to handle their dogs themselves, and many have done so successfully. As a teenager, Lydia was invited to show-train puppies from the famous Hollycourt Miniature Poodles. In lieu of monetary payment, Lydia acquired and finished her first Mini. That “job” evolved into her becoming an employee at Hollycourt Kennels and learning to train, groom and show Poodles. Along the way, Anne Rogers Clark noticed Lydia and asked for her help preparing and sometimes handling Poodles at shows. After 15 years in Cairns, Lydia became an AKC judge in 1964.
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