Meet Your 2024 Cynosport Officials

Judges bring wide range of experience to the ring.

We're pleased to introduce the judges for the 2024 USDAA^® Cynosport^® Dog Agility World Games Presented by Purina^® Pro Plan^®, scheduled for November 6-10, 2024, in Tucson, Arizona. Supporting the judges will be chief course builders Carol Voelker and Randy Holford.

Ken Boyd

A judge for USDAA for eight years, Ken Boyd loves watching handlers and their dogs having fun on course, no matter their skill levels, goals, or how they perform that day. The Vista, California, resident and his wife have always been involved in dog-related activities, including obedience and flyball. When Ken started to compete in agility 31 years ago, he was hooked.

Ken has judged other national events and world-team qualifying events, but this will be his first time judging at Cynosport. He loved competing in Cynosport tournaments with his own dogs, and he enjoys every opportunity he has to give back to the community.  

“USDAA is the premier dog agility organization, and Cynosport is the premier agility competition in the U.S.,” he said. “My greatest dream was to be invited to judge at Cynosport.” 

Although he no longer competes, Ken occasionally helps his wife run her 2-year-old and 4-year-old Border Collies, Cooper and Rio. He is a retired electronics engineer whose hobby is also agility-related: building their at-home practice ring, which currently includes two shade awnings, artificial turf and solar-powered lights in their backyard.

Janet Gauntt

Janet Gauntt of Columbia, Maryland, has competed in many dog sports over the years, including agility, rally, obedience, flyball, disc dog, barn hunt and herding. She was first exposed to agility through the club Kynologischer Verein Oberwil while living and working in Switzerland in 1988; when she returned to the United States in 1989, she helped start the Artful Dodgers Agility arm of the Oriole Dog Training Club to continue training agility with her Shetland Sheepdogs. She continues to participate in that club and others, currently serving in a volunteer capacity as Oriole’s club president and one of many agility instructors.

Janet has worked with various dog breeds during her journey through the sport, from her own Shelties, Border Collies and a Swedish Vallhund, to a borrowed Papillon, Kerry Blue Terrier and Rottweiler. With Border Collie Sequel, she worked their way up to 8th place overall in LAA rankings with many firsts and seconds in the Top Ten before COVID put the sport on hold for over a year and he retired a year after trials slowly resumed. As a competitor, she made the Cynosport semi-finals and finals with several of those dogs, and she attended the event as a judge in 2014, 2016 and 2018.

“I like to see a balance of skills and physical ability in both the dog and handler at a championship event like this,” Janet said. “Remember to focus on your mental game as the handler, and never assume your team is out of the running in the Team classes if you make a mistake. Additionally, be sure to take some time to enjoy what else the event and the local area have to offer.”

Outside of agility and other sports, Janet designs and implements computer software for large-scale manufacturing processes.

Bernd Hüppe

Bernd Hüppe of Kaumberg, Austria, started his agility journey in 1991 with a Siberian Husky. For more than 30 years, he has competed successfully with dogs of various breeds through the international level, including being part of the 2015 Vice World Champion Team at the FCI (International Canine Federation) World Championship in Bologna, Italy.  

Bernd became a judge 27 years ago as a way to contribute to the sport. A self-employed marketing consultant and agility trainer, he has judged events around the world including three FCI World Championships and two European Opens. This year’s Cynosport marks his first time judging for USDAA, and he is excited to be part of such a prestigious event.  

“I love seeing the common joy in the faces of each dog and handler,” Bernd said. “Our dogs don’t think in titles and glory; they just want to have fun together with us. Sometimes, we should learn from our dogs and keep that in mind.” 

Stephen Routh

Since 1998, Stephen Routh’s love for USDAA has steadily grown. The Savannah, Georgia, resident started competing with his wife after they adopted an incredibly shy dog from a local shelter. Not only did their dog’s confidence grow with each class, but the couple enjoyed the sport so much that they added another dog to the family so each could have their own partner.  

Stephen became a judge in 2014 to give back to the sport that brought his family so much joy. “Judging has allowed me to travel to different parts of the country, where I’ve had the pleasure of seeing new teams compete and witnessing the incredible bonds between handlers and their dogs,” he said. “Each event brings unique experiences and challenges, and I am continuously inspired by the dedication and passion of the participants. The camaraderie and support from this community have enriched my life in countless ways, making my journey in USDAA even more rewarding.” 

Stephen is thrilled to judge Cynosport this year, saying it is at the top of national dog competitions, with its unparalleled excitement and generally electric atmosphere. He looks forward to having a front-row seat to watching some of the most talented agility teams compete.  

With his Aussie, Reacher, now retired, Stephen has begun competing with his newest dog, a 2-year-old sports mix named Titan. Outside of agility, he teaches at a STEAM magnet school, loves hiking and explores new cultures and landscapes with his wife during their annual summer travels.  

Dave Visniski

This year marks Dave Visniski’s third time as a Cynosport judge. The Tyler, Texas, resident has competed in the sport for 19 years and became a judge 14 years ago to give back to the community and help new competitors feel welcome and appreciated.  

Although Dave has yet to compete in Cynosport, he looks forward to seeing how each dog-and-handler team tackles the courses. He always aims to balance the safety and flow of a course with appropriate challenges and welcomes any competitor questions. “I want everyone to feel relaxed and enjoy the experience,” he said. “Even if it’s the finals, it’s supposed to be fun!” 

Dave currently competes with his 4-year-old Dutch Shepherd, Nemesis. Outside of agility, he is a beginner mountain bike racer and longtime musician, singing and playing guitar and bass for several local artists and bands.