Judging

Admirer, owner, breeder, judge

Dimitry Alexander Van Raamsdonk

Since I have been in touch with French bulldogs since the day I was born I was also ‘infected’ by the “Frenchie virus” . During my youth I have followed my parents during long travels and numerous dog shows. I was fortunate to spend so much “quality time” with great breeders and owners of French bulldogs but also other breeds.

Since “junior handling” did not really exist I “showed” dogs during the so called “Junior fancy dress show” where you had to “dress up” in a personality which had some kind of connection with the breed or its origin.
Later during puberty I chose to stay at home and care for the dogs while my parents were away traveling, showing or judging. I loved to work with my four legged friends: to take care of them and be there for them to play and train. They were always great company and good fun to be around at.

A bit later I also started to show interest in showing dogs and I guess the rest “is history”. I travelled all over the world with French bulldogs and enjoy(ed) very minute of it. I especially enjoy the tight bond with the dog(s) in question and I love the challenge to try and get a solid connection and the so called “special click” which makes it able to achieve great results together. Since I and meanwhile, my wife, Chantal as well were so involved with breeding, showing and taking care of the dogs I thought I wanted to follow my parents footsteps and continue the kennel with them together. Meanwhile we have completely taken over the daily care of the dogs for already many years and logically the decision was made that I also wanted to become a breed judge.

I am a F.C.I. approved show dog judge for the following breeds:

• French bulldog
• Pug
• Boston Terrier
• Chihuahua Long coat & smooth
• Brussels Griffon
• Belgian Griffon
• Brabancon
• Bulldog
• Bullmastiff
• Shih tzu
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Furthermore I am allowed to judge the following breeds at a national level only:

• American Staffordshire Terrier

I am extremely proud with what I have achieved so far and I look forward to develop myself as breeder, handler and judge in order to serve our beloved breed even more and better in the near future.

Chantal van Raamsdonk-Blatter

Chantal also ‘took up the books’ and started studying. With her background as physician assistant she already had a ‘heads up’ in regards some contents of he course. She passed her theoretical and practical exams and judged the French bulldogs on national and international level in Belgium and is now also an approved F.C.I. dog show judge for the French Bulldog. She also passed her exams for the Bulldog but still awaits the approval      of the Judges Committee. As soon if she received this she has to judge them at national and international level in order to be approved by the FCI
Furthermore she is allowed to judge the following breeds at a national level: not applicable

Victor Alexander van Raamsdonk

At a given moment many long-time breeders, exhibitors and handlers, become a dog show judge. It is a way of giving back to the sport which has given them so much enjoyment. Judging is a major responsibility that should only be undertaken by the very experienced fancier. It requires a detailed, secure knowledge of not only breed Standards and type, but canine anatomy, physiology as well.

My father became a FCI approved show dog judge in 1997. At te moment he can judge all breeds in Group 2 and almost all breeds in Group 9. Until today he bred, owned and showed several Best in Show French Bulldogs and bred/ (co)owned hundreds National and International Champions World Wide.

His judging was a natural development from breeding and showing dogs. Together with my mother they always handled their own dogs. His dog activities developed from his lifetime involvement with dogs in general. His judging activities have taken him to both all breeds and specialty dogs shows in Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Russia.

Riki Hendrika Weber – Van Raamsdonk

Being the “driving force” behind such a successful kennel did not stay unnoticed. After some years club committees realized that my mother had to have quite some knowledge of the french bulldog and started to invite her to judge at their event(s). Although she’s not an official FCI judge she’s been asked to judge at several occasions in different countries.

“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not”

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)