Don Sturz of the Westminster Kennel Club explains why dogs are a gay man’s best friend

Like many queer people, Don Sturz has had a long love affair with dogs. As a boy struggling with his sexuality, Sturz found solace and self-esteem in training his pups to compete. Decades after his first appearance at the legendary Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, founded in 1877, Sturz served as a Best in Show judge at the 2022 event, crowning the first Bloodhound (Trumpet!) the winner. Then last year, Sturz became president of the Westminster Kennel Club, and the first openly gay one at that. A former educator and mental health expert, Sturz often speaks of the positive relationship between dogs and humans, particularly how the former can bring joy and meaning to the latter. We spoke with Sturz ahead of this year’s Kennel Club Dog Show, held in May at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, NY. Sturz explained the LGBTQ+ community’s special relationship with dogs and what we can learn from Kristi Noem.

You had already had quite a career before you came to Westminster as President. What brought you there?

I actually grew up in the sport. I showed my first dog when I was 8 and showed for the first time at Westminster when I was 10. After that, I never missed a year. I went on to become a judge at Westminster; I judged there 10 times. I judged Best in Show there in 2022 and became a member this year. It’s been quite a whirlwind. I became president last year and now I’m here. Westminster is a big part of my life.

There’s more to the Westminster Kennel Club than just the dog show, right?

The Westminster Kennel Club is one of the oldest dog organizations in America and the show itself is the second oldest continuously running sporting event in America, surpassed only by the Kentucky Derby, which is pretty cool from a historical perspective. It’s a club that is known for its annual dog show, but we also do a lot of philanthropic work. We donate to veterinary scholarships and to breeder rescue organizations, we provide scholarships for our junior competitors, and this year is the 90th anniversary of the Junior Championship competition – and we provide college scholarships to the youth who win and place in that competition each year. We are also involved in the Purple Leash initiative, which was created by Purina Pro Plan and Westminster to fund shelters for abused individuals to go to with their pets. Very often shelters will not let people come with their pets, which can be a reason they stay in abusive or dangerous situations.

Are LGBTQ+ people overrepresented in the professional dog world, or is that just a stereotype that came out of the movie? Best of the Show?

Growing up in sports, struggling with my own sexuality, and being one of those kids who was bullied badly at school, (dogs) became my escape, which happens a lot of times for a lot of people. People find something that takes them somewhere else to escape…or to feel good. Every day I looked forward to escaping the hard school day and coming home to my dogs to train and groom them. My family went to dog shows on the weekends; my parents were very supportive because they saw what an important role it played in me as an individual.

So that was one aspect, but yes, the LGBTQ+ community is also very strongly represented in dog sports. For a young gay man growing up in a sport where some of the most respected, successful and respected participants were members of the LGBTQ+ community, that representation was very meaningful… Some of the most successful judges and professional dog handlers represent the LGBTQ community. I am proud to be the first openly gay President of the Westminster Kennel Club.

A reporter examines Sage, this year’s winner of Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show, while (left to right) Chef Daniel Boulud, handler Kaz Hosaka and WKC President Don Sturz look on. Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club

Tell us about your history with dogs.

Our first dog was a Golden Retriever named Sheriff. My family bought this dog because my sister was terribly afraid of dogs. My parents thought the best way to help her overcome this fear would be to bring a dog into the family. The breeder invited us to what was called a puppy competition, something like a dog show. Sheriff was a really great dog, a great pet, but not suitable for shows. So my parents also looked for a show quality Golden Retriever. That really saved me.

Dogs are like living art to me and I am fascinated by them and having the opportunity to learn about these different breeds. It’s one thing to look at them and admire them; it’s quite another to live with them and have them be part of your life. Currently, my husband and I have an interesting menagerie – a bull terrier named Lola, a French bulldog named Emmett and we just got a Pekingese puppy named Fiona. And they all get along!

As an avid dog lover, what did you think when South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem announced that she had killed her puppy?

I don’t know all the details, so it’s hard for me to formulate a complete answer to this. There are so many other ways to handle this situation in a much more humane way, and it seems like this solution would have been completely inhumane.

Do you think there is a special connection between LGBTQ+ people and dogs?

I think so. The bond between a human and a dog can make up for a lot of things that may be harder in society… It’s more common now for queer people to have kids and families, but it can still be challenging. Pets sometimes become a substitute for the need to have a family and to have something that matters to you. Just that living, breathing being that thinks you’re the most important and wonderful thing in the world when you come home after a long day. It’s a pretty amazing thing.