Judge Info - Andy Astor

Showdog.com Judge Since Sunday, June 5, 2005
Retirement Announced 7/31/2008

Shows a slight bias toward dogs over bitches. Has a tendency to use dogs handled by certain handlers but isn't overt in it. Moderate level of breed bias. Thinks dogs should be compared to how good they are vs the rest of their breed rather than overall quality vs all dogs.

Traits

Each judge on ShowDog.Com gives a different amount of weight to each trait of the dogs that they judge in each show.  Below is a table of which traits Andy Astor looks for.

Trait Importance
Head Normal
Forequarter High
Hindquarter Normal
Gait Normal
Top Neck and Back Very High
Coat Normal
Size/Height Very Low
Feet Normal

Favorite Handlers

Each judge has a preference for certain handlers.  These preferences may be based on past experiences, showing style, or just plain old dirty politics.  This preference is completely separate from the quality of the exhibitor, which DOES come into play in the show ring.  Andy Astor has been known to prefer the following handlers.

Rank Exhibitor
1 Patrick Sayforth
2 Ellen Schroeder
3 Rusty Walter
4 Doug Mavroulis
5 Kelly LaFoy
6 Geor Board
7 Mike Schneider
8 Martha Woodson
9 Angela Fletcher
10 Sam Tacker
11 Marry Anne Bryant
12 Kim Coleman
13 Clan Melby
14 George Anderson
15 Reberol Pattison
16 David Scott
17 Joey Allen
18 Sylvia Tejeda
19 Alejam Zapien
20 Kate Dalton
21 Annee Lino
22 Bruce Creel
23 Chrise Elleberee
24 Aarthom Rapier
25 Shael Parramore

Only the top 25 are listed for the sake of brevity.

Recent Judged Shows

Below is a list of the shows recently judged by this judge. 

Show Date Best in Show
September 2025 Alaskan Klee Kai Nationals 9/19/2025
TNT 341st All Breed Show 8/24/2025 Agamede Tarzan
August 2025 N.S.D.T.R. Nationals 8/16/2025
August 2025 Standard Poodle Nationals 8/12/2025
July 2025 Flat-Coated Retriever Nationals 7/25/2025
Purple 82 7/2/2025 STORMBRINGERS PROMISES KEPT
April 2025 Saint Bernard Nationals 4/26/2025
South Florida 349 4/16/2025
Purple 62 3/30/2025 Agamede Yannic
DanAlan 115 2/4/2025


Did you know?
A specialty show may be regional or national. A "Best in Show" win at a national specialty show is tremendously prestigious, indicating that the winning dog or bitch triumphed at a contest which attracted entries from the most serious fanciers of that breed in the country or continent. Some specialty shows attract international entries.