Sussex Spaniel
Club of America
2025 National
Judges
Karen Cottingham
National Judge
Karen Cottingham
National Judge
Karen hails from Salisbury, Maryland and began her journey in the dog world with Newfoundlands and English Cocker Spaniels under the kennel prefix Eclipse. She “Fell in Love” with Sussex Spaniels when she saw her first Sussex Spaniel in Salem, Virginia, while on the end of a show lead shown by Bobby Lewis. Shortly thereafter she met Betty and Michael Coltham showing their Sussex Bob. Karen then saw an ad for an adult show-quality Sussex Spaniel bitch and bought Eadweard’s Golden Bonanza (Annie) from Linda Shannon. Soon after Annie was bred to Pluis Davern’s Sussex male, Sand Creek’s Up to Snuff (Snuffy) and her illustrious career with Sussex took off. That breeding produced Karen’s foundation bitch, Eclipse’s Blossom, and foundation sire, Eclipse’s Snuffalupagus (Gus).
In 1994, Karen visited Ann Findlay in Sussex County, England, and acquired Oldholbans Lucy Lastic, a five-year-old Sussex bitch in whelp by Roanne’s Espirit at Oldholbans. Just a few weeks after arriving in Maryland, Lucy whelped four Sussex pups. In 1995, Karen was making big changes in her personal life and changed her kennel prefix to Primetime to reflect Karen’s lifelong career in Broadcast Media, most of which was spent in Television & Radio Marketing. Some Primetime Sussex Spaniels were given supporting roles in local TV commercials and represented AKC Purebred dogs in promoting local AKC all-breed dog shows.
What ensued over the next three decades was Karen’s Primetime breeding program that has produced over 50 titled Sussex Spaniels including Conformation, Obedience, Rally, Trick Dog, Fast CAT, Master Hunter, and Junior & Senior Hunters. Her efforts and achievements culminated in her being awarded the Sussex Spaniel Club of America’s prestigious “Breeder of the Year” award for 2016 and 2022. In 2023, Karen was honored with the SSCA’s Lifetime Membership for her cumulative decades of tireless contribution to the preservation of this rare old breed.
Karen, along with her husband Pat (Paddy) Cottingham, were jointly awarded the AKC 2024 Outstanding Sportsmanship Award. This award honors those individuals who deserve special recognition that have made a difference in the Sport of Purebred Dogs and embodies the AKC Code of Sportsmanship. Karen and Pat, along with other SSCA members, including Primetime co-breeder Georgia Perdue, have consistently represented the breed and SSCA at the AKC’s “Meet the Breeds” in NYC.
Karen also serves as the AKC Delegate for her hometown all-breed AKC Club, the Salisbury Maryland Kennel Club. She does Therapy Dog visits for Canines4Christ with her Sussex Spaniel, CH Primetime Handsome Johnny Prine BN RA DCAT CGCA TKN. Karen and Pat also volunteer for Maryland Sporting Dog Association, supporting the versatility of all Sporting Dog Breeds.
We’re pleased and honored to have Karen as the SSCA’s 2025 National Specialty judge.
Georgia Perdue
National Sweepstakes Judge
Georgia Perdue
National Sweepstakes Judge
Georgia Perdue hails from Salisbury, Maryland and has been active in the conformation world of dog showing since the 1980s. She has a long history of conformation showing of multiple champions of multiple breeds.
Georgia got her start in Sussex Spaniels in 2016 when she showed Sussex for Primetime Sussex Spaniels. Shortly thereafter in 2017, she got her first Sussex. She has been a member of the Sussex Spaniel Club of America since 2017 and is currently a Director on the SSCA’s Board of Directors and is serving her second 2-year term in that position. Additionally, Georgia is the Chair of the SSCA Awards Committee and is a committee member for the Club’s Purebred Preservation Bank Committee. She co-chaired the SSCA’s 2021 National Specialty. Georgia is recognized as an AKC “Breeder of Merit,” co-breeder and co-owner of several Sussex Spaniels with Primetime Sussex Spaniels. In Georgia’s own words, “I am currently owned by two Sussex Spaniels at home and co-owned by several others.” She also has a Standard Poodle.
Georgia is active with her local All-Breed Club and has held positions of President, Secretary, and Director for multiple years. She was recently re-elected as President of the Salisbury Maryland Kennel Club and the Charitable Trust Board.
Georgia is a qualified instructor and performs Canine Good Citizenship (CGC) certification testing, and conformation/handling chair; enjoying her work with new dog owners. She is currently working dogs in conformation, therapy, FastCAT, obedience and rally. Each year you can find Georgia working at her Local November Cluster as Co-Chair along with helping with show-n-go’s, conformation/handling classes and other activities of the club. She’s also the Website Manager and works closely with the Treasurer on fiscal matters.
Not that she’s already busy enough, Georgia is a Nurse Practitioner with a doctorate in nursing working full-time in the medical field. She is widowed, has a son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.
We’re so excited to have Georgia judge our Sweepstakes this year. Her extensive background and poise make her a perfect fit to perform this assignment for the SSCA.
Clyde Shaw
Heart of Ohio SSC Juddge
Clyde Shaw
Heart of Ohio SSC Juddge
Clyde hails from Denison, Texas. He and his wife of 50 years, Barbara, began showing dogs in 1980 and it changed the very trajectory of their lives. They began their journey showing cocker spaniels under the Our Gang kennel name, bred and finished champions in all three varieties with a special interest in blacks. We also have had Dobermans and have finished two of them along the way.
Clyde had not thought much about Sussex Spaniels until he started judging them in 1997. But as soon as he was around them, he couldn't understand why everyone didn't want one. Clyde confessed his desire for a Sussex to Barbara, and the hunt was on. It took two years of waiting, but they finally found their Sussex CH Hiland's Black Watch at Our Gang, call name “Jack” from the Hiland kennel of Sam and Brenda Folsom. Clyde groomed and showed Jack all the way to his championship starting with a Best of Breed win over specials for a 4-point major the very first time in the ring at 10-months of age. Jack was finished with another 4-point major at one of the American Spaniel Club's flushing spaniel shows. Jack is now a happy and healthy 15-year-old retiree, and Clyde followed him into retirement in 2017, after 40-years of private practice as a board-certified pediatrician.
Clyde's involvement in the world of dog shows includes more than a decade as president of their all-breed club, as well as 3 years as show chairman. He also served on the board of the American Spaniel Club (ASC) as first vice president and 2 years as president, as well as 20 years on the standard committee for cocker spaniels. While all this is going on, Clyde also managed to become a judge of the Sporting Group and the Toy Groups. He has judged Dobermans, Juniors, as well as Best in Show. Clyde has judged the Cocker Spaniel National Specialty twice and has judged Best in Show for the American Spaniel Club's flushing spaniel show.
Clyde's life as a judge has not only included domestic assignment, but also includes global assignments in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Slovakia, Russia, China, Thailand, Japan and Australia. He has combined his love of dogs with his other hobby of building-stained glass windows. Some of his cocker windows have been auctioned at Spaniel Club events for as much as $3,750 donated to the ASC Foundation. Additionally, Clyde has built 34 windows of cockers for trophies at the Cocker Spaniel National.
The Heart of Ohio Sussex Spaniel Club is grateful for the opportunity to have Clyde judge their regional specialty. In his own words, "I would never pass up the chance to play with more LBDs."
Alda Morris
HOSSC Sweepstakes Judge
Alda Morris
HOSSC Sweepstakes Judge
Alda Morris resides in North Royalton, Ohio. She began her AKC journey with her first of many Irish Setters in 1973, initially as a pet owner. In the late 80s, she made the transition into conformation, and eventually expanded into obedience and agility competitions.
Alda’s path took a new direction when she met Debbie Miller at a training club meeting, where Debbie spoke about the importance of health in both dogs and people. Shortly after, Alda visited Debbie’s home and met her first Sussex Spaniel, Jasper. That visit sparked Alda’s love for the breed and became a defining moment.
From Debbie Miller's litter came CH Remedi's Amethyst OA OAJ, "Tootsie", the first Sussex Spaniel in breed history to earn an agility title. Over the years, Debbie became Alda’s mentor, helping her develop a thoughtful and intentional breeding program. Alda has bred nine litters, always with a focus on improving the breed’s health, structure, and temperament—what she considers the hallmarks of a truly good Sussex. Her dedication has brought notable success. Two of her girls have earned top honors at Westminster: Storm won Best of Opposite Sex in 2005, and Belle won Best of Breed in 2015, along with Best in Specialty Show (BISS) at the first Heart of Sussex Spaniel Club (HOSSC) specialty.