75th Anniversary Championship Show 2026
Our next shows are on Sunday 8 January 2017
Come and join us for an Open Show & Ribbon Parade held at our lovely venue
Our next Championship Shows celebrates the Club's 75th Anniversary on 5th & 6th September 2026
In Conjunction with Waikato Gundog Club & The Hound Club Auckland
Introducing the Judges
Steve Dainard
Steve Dainard’s roots in the dog show world run deep. As a second-generation dog enthusiast, he entered the ring in the late 1970s, following in the footsteps of a family passionate about purebred dogs. While his early years began with flat- coated retrievers, the English Springer Spaniel truly captured the family’s heart— and became their breed of choice.
Alongside his wife, Kelly, Steve bred under the KAS prefix, a name recognized for excellence in the Springer community. Their legacy includes campaigning the top-winning Springer in Canadian history, achieving an impressive all-breed #1 ranking, and breeding the top-winning Springer female. His judging career has seen remarkable highlights, including the ESSFTA National Specialty in 2014 and the flushing spaniel breeds at the Westminster Kennel Club in 2018.
A skilled all-breed handler in his prime, Steve had a particular talent for Sporting and Herding dogs. His kennel experience extends beyond Springers—he has also bred and owned group-winning Australian Shepherds and is currently active in the ring with his beloved Russell Terriers.
Steve is a strong advocate for education within the sport. He serves on the Executive of the Canadian Dog Judges Association and currently holds the role of Vice President of Administration. In addition to his hands-on experience, Steve brings academic credentials with a Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management.
Since earning his judging license in 2004, Steve has become an All-Breed Judge with the Canadian Kennel Club, judging across Canada and internationally in the U.S.A., Mexico, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Steve’s professional background outside the ring includes a successful career with the Toronto Transit Commission, where he managed administrative and financial operations. 2014 he launched a second career as a Mortgage Broker, earning his Accredited Mortgage Professional designation.
Steve and Kelly live in Niagara Falls, Canada, where they enjoy life with their three grown children and four energetic grandsons.
Tempest Deptuch has immersed herself in the world of dogs since 1974, beginning her lifelong dedication as a junior handler showcasing Standard Poodles, Miniature Poodles, and Afghan Hounds bred by her parents. Tempest continued with breeding and exhibiting poodles and her sister Laurel continued to breed and exhibited Afghan hounds.
Her journey as a breeder commenced in 1979, leading to the presentation of over 100 Canadian and American Champions, including numerous Best In Show and Specialty-winning dogs. Among her cherished achievements is "Buddy," Am Can Ch Diplomats Single Sensation, her first homebred poodle, who won an impressive 13 all-breed Best in Shows, establishing him as one of Canada's top show dogs. Since then she has bred and shown many top Best In Show poodles.
In partnership with her late husband, Sandy Russel Fletcher, Tempest also showcased their talents with Whippets, Afghans and Manchester Terriers. Their collaboration produced notable successes like "Chatter," Am Can Ch Solitaires Can We Talk, who had a remarkable 25 all-breed Best in Shows and held the title of Top Toy Dog and number two dog in Canada for consecutive years. Additionally, they expertly handled top specimens of Old English Sheepdogs, English Setters, Bouvier des Flandres and Petit Basset Griffon Vendéens for fellow breeders.
Tempest's dedication extends beyond the ring, as she has actively served on the executive boards of All Breed and Specialty breed clubs, earning life memberships in organizations such as the Canadian Kennel Club and the Tyee Kennel Club. She has also assumed leadership roles, currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Kennel Club as the Vic-Chairman, Past President of the Kamloops Kennel Club and maintaining active membership in the Poodle Club of Canada.
In 2019 Tempest achieved her all breed judging licence. Her judging career has taken her across the globe, culminating in the honour of presiding over the Poodle National in Brisbane, Australia.
In addition to Canada and the USA she has had the privilege of judging in many countries, including, Australia, South Korea, Thailand, Mexico, South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, Dominican Republic, Panama, Puerto Rico, Buenos Aires, Chile and Japan. Complementing her judging, Tempest runs a judges' education group and has conducted seminars on Poodles, Afghan Hounds, Bulldogs, and Boxers, as well as topics related to canine structure.
Tempest's enduring passion, unwavering dedication, and extensive expertise continue to enrich the world of purebred dogs, leaving an indelible mark on both the ring and the community at large.
Laurel Deptuch has been involved with purebred dogs since her family purchased a boarding and grooming kennel in the early 1970s. She has bred Afghan Hounds, Standard and Miniature Poodles under the Swiftwind prefix for over 50 years.
Over the years she has owned and bred many top producing and top winning dogs both in conformation and performance.
Laurel is currently Secretary/Treasurer for The Afghan Hound of BC, Field Coordinator/Vice President for The Vancouver Island Coursing Association, life member/2nd Vice President of The Tyee Kennel Club and long time member of The Afghan Hound Club of Canada, The Canadian Dog Judges Association and The Canadian Kennel Club.
She lives on Vancouver Island with her husband, Ross and two zany Afghan Hounds. Laurel is licensed to judge the Hound group, the Working Group, the Herding Group, the Sporting Group and on permit for the Toy Group. She is also an apprentice Judge for Lure Coursing.
Laurel says: “For me, form follows function and that is how I assess dogs. I have judge numerous Specialties and All Breed show throughout Canada and the USA. I am very honoured to judge in New Zealand.”
Wendy has been involved in the purebred dog fancy since the early 1990's. Breeding and showing primarily Shih Tzu and more recently Pomeranians under the Winterholme prefix, her dogs have been consistently awarded at the highest levels of Best in Show, Best in Specialty Show and National Specialty Best of Breed.
Her dogs have been ranked #1 in the breed in Brazil, Poland, Russia and South Africa and the #1 All Breeds in South Africa.
Very early in her involvement in Shih Tzu, her homebred dog MBIS MBISS AmCanCH Winterholme's Hollywood Award was Best of Winners at the American Shih Tzu National, Award of Merit at Westminster Kennel Club and was the #2 Shih Tzu in the US.
A few years later found "Jax" MBIS MBISS AmCanGCHG Winterholme Any Way U Want It, #1 Shih Tzu in the US, Top 7 Toy Dog in the country and the Westminster Best of Breed winner. Jax has currently produced 4 Best in Show kids in 4 different countries.
Wendy is currently President of the Canadian Shih Tzu Club and is a member of the American Shih Tzu Club, the Newfoundland (All Breed) Kennel Club and the Canadian Kennel Club from which she is a licensed All Breed judge. In addition to Canada she has judged in Argentina, Mexico, Philippines, Russia, Sweden, Poland and the USA
Nicole Pearson has been actively involved in the dog world since the early 2000s. Prior to this, she was a dedicated equestrian, and her transition into exhibiting and breeding dogs followed naturally after lifestyle changes led Nicole away from the horse arena, this transition she has embraced and never regretted.
Her enduring passion lies with the Shetland Sheepdog, a breed with which Nicole has achieved significant success, including multiple Best in Group awards at Royal Shows and 14 Best In Specialty show wins.
In 2015 she commenced her journey towards becoming a licensed judge, initially qualifying to assess Shetland Sheepdogs. Driven by a strong commitment to broadening her knowledge across a wide range of breeds, Nicole continued her development by obtaining my Working Dog licence and has remained actively engaged in the judges’ training scheme to further refine her expertise.
Nicole is currently licensed to judge Terriers at Open Show level, and Gundogs, Hounds, Working Dogs, Utility, and Non-Sporting groups at Championship level.
She says: ‘I remain committed to continuous professional development, with the ultimate aim of achieving All Breeds judging status.”
We look forward to seeing you there.
Please Note:
Online Entries will be available through your DNZ Log In
Note: This schedule appears in the November NZ Dog World magazine.