10/13/2025
This week on "Meet The Judge Monday" we have Carla M. Holt
I am a second-generation dog show exhibitor & breeder. My parents, Carl & Ramona Cantrell, were professional handlers in northern California from the early 1960’s through the early 1980’s. Their kennel name was “Seenar” – during those years, my father bred Dachshunds & my mother bred Cocker Spaniels. Hence, the “world of dog shows” came naturally to me!
I officially bred my first litter (wire doxies, with the help of my mom of course) at the age of 6. I finished my first champion out of that litter by age 8 & later finished my own Cocker by age 10. After attending high school & college, I did follow in my parent’s footsteps & became an all-breed professional handler. I moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1994 & started handling dogs with Bill Mathies. We were blessed in 1999 with the birth of our daughter & in that same year, I applied for my AKC judging license.
To date, I’m licensed to judge the entire Sporting Group, Dachshunds, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels & All-Breed Junior Showmanship. I’ve had the honor of judging many Specialties of various Sporting breeds (including at the American Spaniel Club Flushing Spaniel show & ASC Cocker Spaniel Summer Nationals & Regionals), Cavaliers & Dachshunds in the U.S. & Canada. I’m a designated Lifetime Member of the American Spaniel Club (25+ years) & also a member of the American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club for nearly 20 years. I’ve served as a judge’s mentor for both parent clubs & 14 years on the ACKCSC Judges Education Committee. In addition to judging, I bred & exhibited my own “Creekside” Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in Lakewood, WA. In 2022, I moved from WA state out to the Louisville, KY area to be with my high school sweetheart - now husband, Randy Holt.
I was delighted to receive the Harvest Moon Cluster invite to judge and be a part of the 2025 panel. I look forward to my assignment and seeing my extended dog show family!
