WENTZVILLE, Mo. — In the world of dog shows, few wield as big a leash as James Moses. With a tug here or there, his influence can be felt among the people who spend much of their time, or all of it, in the quest for ribbons and silver bowls.Moses, who has been in the business for more than 50 years, is considered the dean of German shepherd enthusiasts. He has been a handler, breeder and owner of champion dogs, most recently one named for a breakfast cereal. The laudable Captain Crunch, the top herding dog at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 2012, is the No. 1-ranked German shepherd in the country.Dog World magazine has described Moses as one of the industry’s best-known handlers, with “an inherent ability to pick one winner after another.”Moses has been to the altar with two dog lovers and estimates he has attended more than 7,500 dog shows, forging deep ties not only with people who share his interests, but also with those whose dogs he judges. And when he takes center stage this week in New York as a judge at the Westminster show, his role and connections will exemplify everything that is both cozy and conflicted in this close-knit and potentially lucrative sport.

In addition to assessing which German shepherds stand out the most, Moses is scheduled to judge border collies and Australian shepherds. Though the names of the dogs Moses will be sizing up at Westminster will not be announced until Monday, Moses is connected with many of the owners and handlers of the dogs who have qualified to show in front of him this year. Among his close associates is Jamie Clute, a handler who has worked and lived with Moses. Clute confirmed he would show at least two dogs in front of his mentor at Westminster.“Everyone in the shepherd world has ties to Jimmy, so it takes the conflict away,” Clute said.Separately, other dogs expected to show this week have bloodline connections to shepherds Moses has bred. One dog Moses showed to victory, Margarita Rose, prequalified to compete and was also scheduled to be in the Westminster ring, said people briefed on plans for the dog. “There are few German shepherds in the country that are not connected to me,” Moses said during an interview at his house, on roughly 125 acres here, less than an hour’s drive from St. Louis.He and his wife, Janet Lange Moses, live with more than 20 dogs, including Millie, a Shih-poo, a mix between a Shih Tzu and a poodle, whom they bought from a pet store.

The couple’s home, replete with dog-themed wallpaper and mounted deer heads from hunting expeditions, is a shrine to animals. The reading material in their bathroom: The Canine Chronicle, a monthly magazine.In a sport like figure skating, the judges might have a past in the sport but are not competing. Labrador Retriever Puppies For Sale In Knoxville TnThe power players in the dog world typically make money breeding as well as handling and judging dogs in the same year, although not at the same show, creating conflicts that draw criticism from rivals. Greek Revival Homes For Sale ScIn the case of Moses, he is a divisive figure among German shepherd enthusiasts, and his detractors say he often plays favorites, giving a win to a friend when a better dog should have won.Homes For Sale In Asbury Park Louisville Ky

Moses, 67, dismisses the criticism about him, saying people who think his connections have influenced his judging are “crybabies” with inferior dogs.“I know 90 percent of the people who show under me,” he said. “How can you remember all that? If your dog licks you in the face every day, how can you be objective?”Westminster judges commonly have breeding experience and deep connections within their breeds, the Westminster show chairman Tom Bradley said. Judges can and do eliminate dogs from competition if they feel they have a conflict, Bradley said. But he added, “Those situations rarely exist.” The Westminster Kennel Club selects its own judges, but they are governed by standards set by the American Kennel Club. “A conflict of interest exists when a judge is influenced by any relationship or factor other than the merit of the dog,” according to the club’s guidelines, which also say judges should “advise” relatives, employees and dog co-owners not to show in front of them because it “might give the impression of unfair advantage.”

The rules prohibit Moses from showing Captain Crunch. Another dog, Lakota’s Hitman of Cantar, qualified to show but will not be at Westminster because Moses’ former wife, Sheree Moses, is one of his breeders. Suzanne Berhony, one of the dog’s owners, said that no rule prohibited her from showing the dog, but that she spoke to James Moses months ago and they agreed in this instance that there could be the “appearance of a conflict.”Although the dog show scene has been the butt of many jokes, parodied perhaps most famously in the 2000 film “Best in Show,” it is a high-stakes game for competitors like Moses.During some years, he has spent almost 250 days on the road, he estimated, hoping to win enough local championships to qualify a dog for Westminster, a year-round effort called campaigning. Owners pour tens of thousands of dollars into the care, keeping, marketing and travel of elite dogs. Puppies sired by champions like Captain Crunch can sell for more than $2,000 each. This does not include payments to handlers, which can reach $125 per dog a day in addition to bonuses and expenses.

Top handlers have been known to show more than 20 dogs a day. Some judges make $350 a day. Shetland sheepdogs or Shelties are known for their gentle and sweet personality. This popular family pet likes to keep busy, functions well in small homes and is content to lie around alone all day, but still needs to be exercised. Shetland Sheepdog At a glance Often mistakenly called miniature collies, the Shetland sheepdog is a distinct breed. Male: 14-20 lbs. Female: 14-20 lbs. Exercise Requirements: 20-40 minutes/day Energy Level: Very energetic Longevity Range: 12-14 yrs. Tendency to Drool: Low Tendency to Snore: Low Tendency to Bark: High Tendency to Dig: Low Social/Attention Needs: Moderate Length: Long Characteristics: Double coat, straight Colors: Black with white and or tan, blue merle with white and or tan, sable with white and or tan Overall Grooming Needs: High AKC Classification: Herding UKC Classification: Herding Dog Prevalence: Common Shetland sheepdogs look like a smaller version of the rough collie.

They are strong and compact yet agile. The head is wedge-shaped, although not as refined as the modern show collie. The small, high-set ears are erect with the tips falling forward slightly. The thick, double coat of the Sheltie provides excellent protection from bad weather. The outer coat is long and straight. The dog has a generous mane and frill and feathering on the legs and tail. The undercoat is dense and woolly. Shelties are either black, blue merle or sable, and are marked with white, tan or both. Shelties range in height from about 12 to 15 inches and weigh from 14 to 20 pounds (six to nine kilograms). They live about 12 to 15 years. Shetland sheepdogs are known for their gentle, sweet, pleasing personality. They are also playful and affectionate, all traits that have made them a popular family pet. Breed experts often comment that Shelties like to please; coupled with their intelligence, it is no wonder they excel at obedience training. Shelties are leery of strangers.

As a result, they are good watchdogs, likely to greet outsiders with lots of barking. They also bark when excited. While not usually aggressive, some Shelties may nip at people they do not know, whether the strangers are adults or children. Others may be somewhat timid with strangers. Because they are active, working dogs by nature, Shelties like to be kept busy and want the company of their guardians. They are not dogs content to lie around alone all day. Many Shelties bark excessively. Shelties can, however, do well in small homes or apartments as long as they are exercised in a fenced-in yard or walked on a leash. Their ample coat requires a good brushing at least twice weekly; the coat sheds heavily in the fall and spring. Shetland sheepdogs, known affectionately as Shelties, look at first glance like miniature rough collies. In fact, they are often mistakenly called Miniature collies; however, although they may share the same ancestors, the Shetland sheepdog is a distinct breed developed under unique circumstances.

Shelties hail from the Shetland Islands of Scotland, also known for Shetland ponies and other small breeds of animals. The area's harsh conditions, with sparse vegetation, favored smaller breeds of livestock and thus, smaller dogs to herd them. Shelties are probably the result of crossing the larger rough collie of the time with other island dogs including small herding breeds and spaniels. Some historians believe that the Sheltie was developed by 1700. The breed was refined after it was imported to mainland Scotland in the 20th century. Shelties were first recognized in England in 1909 and first registered in the United States in 1911. The Shetland sheepdog was bred to herd sheep and was considered a kind, smart, hardworking animal. The Shelties we know today are somewhat larger than their original ancestors, but they retain a reputation for intelligence, willingness to work, and good humor. The same qualities that made them exemplary helpers and herders combine to make them popular family pets.