26/01/2024
MEET OUR JUDGES 2024
Ivan Sandoval
Ivan Sandoval is a civil engineer, working in the private sector. Has been involved in the canine world since 1977 when his parents purchased an Airedale Terrier to show. This is where he developed his great appreciation and love for dogs. In 1987 purchased his first Airedale Terrier bitch to show, obtaining his first Colombian championship on her and this is what definitely involved him in the dog show world. Several more Airedales followed this bitch, then, in 1994, he imported his first Welsh Terrier, multiple BIS Ch.Co.VAyC.Int. Ledge Rock's Welsh Prince. Later he imported his first Welsh Terrier brood bitch, Ch.Co. Ledge Rock's Emma. After his last Airedale Terrier passed away in 1997, he dedicated himself exclusively to the Welsh Terrier breed until 2020, when he managed to convince his wife to breed again her beloved breed, the Labrador Retriever, and they raised together their first two litters under the kennel name "Embrujo de Sadigua". After his wife died, he has continued breeding Labradors.
All of his Welsh Terriers have been group winners achieving multiple Best in Show wins. Dogs of his breeding and ownership have achieved important wins locally and internationally, both in specialties and all breed shows. In the 2011 Welsh Terrier Club of America national specialty at Montgomery County Kennel Club, the Best of Breed, Best of Opposite S*x and Winners Bitch were all sired by his home bred multiple BIS and multiple Ch. Merlin Embrujo de Brujas, who was also great grand sire to the Winners Dog and Best of Winners. With Labrador Retrievers he has started on the right track, the female from his first litter J.Co. Embrujo de Sadigua Almojabana was No. 1 Junior Labrador Retriever in 2021 and she is a BIS Junior winner, in 2022 his imported male was No. 1 Labrador Retriever and in 2023 a male bred at home was No.1 Junior Labrador Retriever.
Former President and Honorary Member of the Asociacion Club Canino Colombiano (Colombian National Kennel Club), has been a member of its board of directors in which has also served on different chairs for several periods, and, also has been member of the Judges Committee. He is an active member of the Asociacion Colombiana de Labrador Retriever & Demas Razas Puras of which he was Vice-president and treasurer. He is past President of the Colombian Terrier Association, being also one of its founders. He is also an active member of the Welsh Terrier Club of America and former member of the Airedale Terrier Club of America for more than 25 years.
He is an FCI all breed judge since 2002, and has judged in Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba, Peru, Canada, Costa Rica, USA, Argentina, Mexico, Sweden, Chile, Bulgaria, Japan, El Salvador, Uruguay, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, China, Philippines, Rumania, South Africa, Australia (Melbourne Royal) and Dominican Republic.
In October 2008, he had the honor of judging the Welsh Terrier Club of America Sweepstakes in the National Specialty at Montgomery County Kennel Club, an assignment voted by the members of the Welsh Terrier Club of America.