Melanie Harwood

United Kingdom

I was born into a successful poodle kennel under the affix ‘Minarets’ which was established over 50 years ago by my late grandparents Muriel & Fred Harwood and mum Carol. This is a family hobby which I share with my mother, Carol. Over the years we have produced over 60 Champions worldwide. The most successful dogs to be campaigned by us are Ch Minarets Secret Assignment J.W, who not only won BOB at Crufts 4 times, each with a Group placing including winning the Utility Group in 2006, he is also the UK’s Top Winning Miniature Poodle of all time and Top CC Winning Poodle with 65 CC’s. His grandson Ch Minarets Best Kept Secret was Top Dog all breeds in 2017 and won Reserve Best in Show at Crufts in 2017 and 2020.
I was judging Poodles at Open and Championship Shows without CCs by the time I was 14. I also had my first overseas judging experience at this time as my mother judged the adults and I judged all the puppies at a Specialty show in Sweden. I am approved to award C.C’s in the UK in each of the three sizes since 2006. I have had the pleasure of judging this wonderful breed in the following countries – Japan, Australia, the USA, Hong Kong, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, the Czech Republic, The Netherlands and Ireland. I also judge breeds in the Utility, Toy and Gundog Groups at Open show level.
Outside dog shows my passion is photography and gardening.
 I am really looking forward to judging your wonderful Poodles in Finland