Sue Bird

United Kingdom

I have been involved in the world of show dogs for 50 years, having started as a junior handler showing my Mother’s Miniature Poodle, then Shih Tzus. Tibetan Terriers joined our family in 1979 and we concentrated more on showing these than the Shih Tzus. The Tibetan Terriers were owned in partnership and from approx.1990, the Shih Tzus were too.
We have bred and/or owned both UK and overseas Champions and numerous UK Kennel Club Stud Book qualifiers in both breeds. I have also handled dogs for others to their titles.
My first judging appointment at Open Show level was Shih Tzu’s in 1984. I award CC’s in Tibetan Terriers, Shih Tzus, Lhasa Apsos and Tibetan Spaniels and have had the pleasure of judging in the UK, France, Sweden and Australia. The pinnacle of my judging career to date was judging an entry of 236 Tibetan Terriers at Crufts in 2018. I am excited to be judging Shih Tzus at Crufts in 2025. I am really looking forward to judging Tibetan Terriers in Finland for the first time.