Espen Engh

Norway

A third generation Greyhound fancier, Espen Engh was born into a family where the breed has been part of everyday life since 1955. Espen was actively involved with the dogs from an early age, the first litter carrying the prefix Jet’s was bred in 1975 by Espen and his late mother, all-breeds judge Kari Engh. The Jet’s are the top champion producing Greyhound kennels of all time, having made up 226 individual homebred champions, including 108 FCI International champions. Still actively breeding, there are several more champions in the pipeline. The Jet’s bitch tail line includes a unique eleven consecutive generations of championship show Best in Show winning international champion bitches. Four homebred greyhounds have won Dog of the Year all breeds in Norway. More recently Espen has been breeding Griffon Bruxellois, producing a number of champion and being top breeder of the year in the UK. He has also owned and shown champions in Afghan Hounds and Whippets. Espen judged his first dog show in 1984 and was approved to judge at championship show level in 1987. He was approved to judge all-breeds by the FCI in 2011. He has officiated in more than 100 countries around the world, including Best in Show in 73 of these. Espen is among a select few judges who have officiated at both Crufts, Westminster and the FCI World Show multiple times. His 14th appointment at Crufts will be judging Best In Show in 2028. A veterinarian by education, Espen finished his Doctoral Thesis at the Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine. His work has been focused on promoting animal welfare and ethical science. Espen and Åge live with their Greyhounds, Griffons, Afghan Hounds and Poodles in Lier, south of Oslo, Norway.