Judge Details

Judge Image

ms. heather macdonald, sv

all breeds
country : scotland UK

About the Judge





Kennel Conbhairean was first registered in 1999. Since that time we have bred around 50 litters.


Following a lifelong involvement with GSD, I have been actively involved in the German Shepherd Breed as an exhibitor since 1995 and as a breeder since 1999. My husband and I have exhibited very successfully under the ‘Conbhairean’ affix both in the UK and in Europe.


I have been a fully active judge of GSD since 2002. Since then I have completed the full criteria of exams, seminars and assessment’s which is required of the UK Kennel Club’s judging programme to become a Championship Show judge of GSD’s and as well as judging regularly in the UK, I have judged in Ireland, Norway, Jamaica, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and previously in India. I very much look forward to judging in your beautiful country once again.


I have been a member of the South of Scotland GSD club since 1995, show secretary in 2003 and then as Secretary in 2009. In this time I have successfully organised and managed numerous championship shows as well as regular obedience-training where we encourage active participation in the KCGC Award Scheme. I am also a member of the German SV since 2003 and the GSD League of GB since 2000. I am also the chairperson of the Scottish Progressive Group, one of the founder groups of the GSDL/BRG, where we support the aims and objectives of the WUSV/SV. I also sit on the committee of the GSDL/BRG. I was one of the first WUSV Judges and I am now a fully accredited SV Foreign International Judge. As well as judging I was appointed as WUSV Continental Director by the WUSV Board in March 2019.


I am also an active member and secretary of Forth Sports Dog Club within the working dog branch of the GSDL. I take a very active part in the training of my dogs in the sport of IPO as well as competing at trials under both SV and FCI approved judges. I assist in all aspects of IPO dog sport and the organisation of events, to encourage participation by new people.


Since breeding our first litter, we have bred/owned 15 x UK Champion German Shepherd Dogs, with many other’s achieving high awards and top honours, including multiple group placings at all breed Championship shows. As well as exhibiting in the UK, we regularly compete in Europe where we have achieved outstanding results making several top 20 placements with Conbhairean homebred dogs at the prestigious German Sieger Show (BSZS) with some achieving top 5 placements in both young and working classes. To date we have achieved Korklasse with 30+ Conbhairean dogs and have others in training for next year.


At our own British Sieger Show we have achieved the highest achievable placements of VA1 multiple times, VA2 and vice Sieger twice with different males, Kennel Group winners several times and many more SG1 and V1 placements. I have also competed at numerous other Sieger shows across Europe with Conbhairean dogs and dogs we have owned.


In the breed’s annual top placements for the UK, we have achieved consistent top 10 placings and achieved the honour of Top Kennel, Top Breeder, Top Sire, Top Dam, Top GSD on numerous occasions.