Ben as a Specialist Judge

Ben Taylor - 'Bernese Mountain Dog' Specialist Judge

Ben is an ANKC & FCI approved Championship Show Specialist Judge of the Bernese Mountain Dog. As such, Ben is the fifth Bernese Breeder in Australia to be able to Judge Bernese at a Championship Show level worldwide.

Ben got his first Bernese in 1999, registered "Malicloy" in 2004 and bred his first litter with the "Malicloy" pre-fix in 2008, but gained years of experience breeding Bernese for others prior.
Ben has given several Conformation Lectures on the Bernese Mountain Dog for the 'South Australian Canine Association' for Student Judges.
Ben has served as the President of the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of South Australia (BMDCSA). Prior to this Ben served for many years as the President / Vice President of the BMDCSA as well as other committee positions.

In June 2014, Ben had the privilege to be asked to judge the 'BMDCV Bernese Specialty Championship Show' in Victoria with a Breed Entry of 76. It was indeed an honour to be asked by one's peers to judge one of the largest yearly-held shows for Bernese in Australia.
In September 2014, Ben travelled to Poland to judge the Bernese Specialty in Warsaw, which was a huge honour! With an entry of 83 he saw some beautiful Bernese from Eastern Europe. Poland was a gorgeous country and he can't wait to go back and show Holly!
In August 2015, Ben judged the 30th Anniversary show for the North Coast BMD Club of Ohio in the USA. This was the pinicale of Ben's time in Bernese (so far) as he has always revered the Bernese from the USA and was so pleased to judge some of the finest Bernese in the country, including many of the top 20 Bernese in America. With an entry of 70 Bernese and in such a lovely location as Canfield (Steel Valley Cluster Shows) it was the most pleasurable feeling awarding a young 'up and coming' dog called 'Bing", who also won the Specialty the following day under Breeder Specialist Judge Joanne Gerowe.
As a favour to a collegue breeder/ friend who was judging the 2016 American National Specialty, I was Ring Steward for the BOB ring. A fabulous experience and one I enjoyed immensely. Thank you to Lisa Ebnet for letting me share your special day!
In June 2016, Ben judged in the Netherlands for the VBSH. After awarding the Bitch CAC, it was a great honour to jointly judge Best Of Breed with Frank Lorenz from Germany with an entry of 107. It was a spectacular show and I felt so privileged to be invited. I particularly enjoyed judging the Veteran classes!
June 2017 saw Ben judge an entry of 91 in the beautiful Provence of Quebec, CANADA. This Regional Specialty was held in conjunction on the same weekend with the Canadian National Specialty. To be invited to judge along with Mrs Dietling Stingl from Austria was an incredible honour!
Sept 2017, saw Ben judge in Krasnodar RUSSIA. A smaller entry of 47 Bernese was not without some outstanding quality. The bitch who won BISS was of outstanding quality. Ben will be forever grateful to his hosts who were so hospitable in a foreign country unfamiliar to him.
Oct 2017 saw another highlight in Ben judging Career. 91 Bernese were entered for the Watchung Independent Specialty held in Pennsylvania USA. The level of quality throughout the ages was prevalent but was especially clear in the Veteran classes.
June 2018, Ben judged the Regional Specialty for the Northern Californian Bernese Club with an entry of 50. Top honours I awarded to some lovely quality dogs that would be competitive anywhere in the world.
June 2018, I judged the National show for the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Ireland. It was a great pleasure to welcome newcomers to the ring and we had a great day even though the weather threatened to rain. With an entry of 44, I again found some lovely dogs and had the most wonderful time judging.

Malicloy Bernese Mountain Dogs are to date the most successfully awarded Bernese Kennel in South Australia. Ben & Holly pride themselves on presenting some of Australia's top-winning & producing Bernese Mountain Dogs. We are proud of our meticulous presentation, grooming and showmanship. We have been awarded Multiple All-Breeds Best in Show & Best in Specialty Show at National and Regional level with dogs that we've shown & bred, as well as numerous Best in Group (1st) with several of our dogs. We attained Best of Breed at the Royal Adelaide Show in 2017, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2007 & 2001 and R/U Best of Breed in 2016, 2014, 2012 and 2005. We have been awarded many other Challenge Awards at Royal Shows around Australia, including Best of Breed at Sydney Royal in 2016 & also Melbourne in 2016.

In the USA... Attending the 2007, 2011, 2012, 2014 & 2016 Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America "National Specialty Show" was a real pleasure and was not without its excitement! The only 4 dogs Ben showed over these Nationals have all placed on the "Pegs" for placement and prizes. Most notably, in 2007 at Louiville Kentucky, Ben showed
"Tschuggen" (Am/Can Ch Tschuggen V Sennenhof, Am/Can CD, Can DDX) through to winning Best Stud Dog of the American National against some stiff competition and in May 2012 it was a pleasure to show his son "Loui" (Am. Ch. Oleka's Kentucky Sky CD, RE, RDD) through to placing in the Versatility Class. In 2014, a young Bernese we co-own also won his class & was highly awarded in both Sweepstakes & regular Classes at the National Bernese Specialty in The Hamptons.