Unity Township couple spend more than 25 years as dog show judges
Since retiring from careers in education several years ago, Gerard and June Penta of Unity Township have lived out many retirees' dream. They have traveled extensively, throughout the United States and abroad, their bags packed closely on the heels of regularly arriving invitations.
The Pentas travel with a well-heeled crowd, a four-legged variety of reasons for their steady departures from the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport near Latrobe. Both longtime dog lovers and breeders, they are also American Kennel Club dog show judges.
Gerard Penta, 62, is president of the American Dog Show Judges. He judges the terrier, non-sporting and most of the working breeds, while his wife judges hound, toy breeds and some of the herding breeds.
June Penta, 60, received a creme de la creme assignment last year, when she was invited to judge the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. She judged seven categories of hound breeds.
The couple actually met in the ring, at a 1975 dog show at the Kirk H. Nevin Area in Greensburg. Because of their travel schedules, they have agreed not to raise any dogs of their own for now.
"We miss having them," June Penta said. "It's one of the things that people find most funny about us, that we don't have dogs."
"For the immediate future, I don't see it," Jerry Penta said, "because of how busy we are."
But what's missing at home is found on the road, where the Pentas can surround themselves with all types of dogs and socialize with breeders, owners and handlers who all love dogs as much as they do.
Jerry Penta has been judging dogs for 30 years, and June Penta for 27 years. They have been married for 25 years.
While still working full time, he as a professor of education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, she as an art teacher with the Hempfield Area School District, the couple often flew out of town for the weekend, judging shows here or there before returning to their classrooms on Mondays. At that point, they were judging about 20 shows a year. Now, they point to winners 30 or more times a year.
"One of the neat things about retiring is that we have the ability to tack on a few extra days to sightsee," Jerry Penta said.
The couple has traveled to dog shows in South America, Central America and Asia, as well as coast-to-coast in America.
"Ninety-five percent of the time, at least, we are asked to judge together," Jerry Penta said. "Once in a while we go in separate directions."
They can pick and choose from the invitations they receive, but lobbying to judge specific shows is not considered good form. "Soliciting is a no-no," he said.
He explained that becoming accredited to judge requires commitment. One prerequisite is 15 years of experience in the sport, either as a handler, breeder or exhibitor. Judges must have bred at least five litters and finished four champions.
"It takes a long time," June Penta said, especially for those who want to judge more than one breed.
And judges are expected to make quick decisions. If they are asked to judge 25 dogs per hour, they have only minutes to observe a dog before the next one comes before them.
Judging a show can be a daylong event, depending on its size. Judges may review a maximum of 175 dogs per day, in a breed category, then judge perhaps dozens more in the group category.
Every breed has a written standard, Jerry Penta said, from head shape to ears and teeth and basic construction.
First place is awarded to the animal who comes closest to that standard.
Sometimes judges choose not to make any awards, not finding any animal close to its breed's definition of perfection among the entrants.
"You are not real popular, but you do it," June Penta said. "There are more unhappy than happy people at the end of the day."
But most people are good sports, they said, citing bulldog breeders as being particularly good sports, applauding each win.
Jerry Penta said he sometimes agonizes over judging decisions.
"Some wins are very obvious," he said. "Others are close calls. Sometimes I wonder, 'Did I penalize too much, or give too much credit here?'"
The couple have judged long enough that they can travel to any dog show and know somebody, June Penta said.
They have enjoyed many humorous moments while on the judging circuit — and while simply attending other events. Last Thanksgiving, they stayed at a newly renovated hotel in Washington, D.C., while attending a show for bulldogs. What the hotel manager failed to realize was that there would be 300 bulldogs traipsing through his hotel. He was apparently under the impression that the event was for workshops and seminars, and would not include real dogs.
"They laid plastic in the ballrooms, hallways and elevator," Jerry Penta recalled, laughing.
One coveted invitation they enjoy during Westminster, which they attend every year, is a party at New York's Tavern on the Green in Central Park, hosted by gossip columnist Liz Smith and archaeologist Iris Love, dachshund breeders. Guests, including some celebrities, arrive with their own dogs in arms.
When not traveling, the couple stays busy with other interests.
June Penta is involved in Greensburg's cultural scene, having co-chaired many events for the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra.
Jerry Penta still manages a small real estate firm. He is also director of the American Dog Show Judges Advanced Institute, based at IUP. He began the program in 1995 for group and multiple breed judges interested in expanding their breeds of expertise.
Showing dogs is not exclusively for the wealthy, the couple said, noting that both the rich and the poor are dog lovers.
"It's a great family sport and hobby," Jerry Penta said.
But it takes a certain type of personality for a dog to be a good show competitor.
"If they don't like it," June Penta said, "they are not going to be any good at it. They hear the applause and they all think they won."
