Luis E. and Maria J. Aizcorbe

Luis has been licensed by the American Kennel Club to judge Poodles since 1985 and American Cockers since 1987. Maria obtained her Poodle and American Cocker licenses in 1987, and she later became licensed for Bulldogs and Lahsas. Luis and Maria have judged most major poodle specialties, and many of the biggest all-breed shows in the USA. Luis has also judged four PCA Regionals and three Nationals, while Maria has been invited to officiate at four PCA events. Most recently, Luis judged Best in Show at the 2007 Regional, Maria, at the recently held 2008 National. Additionally, both have

judged in Canada, and several times in South America. Both officiated at the 2005 World Show held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Luis has also judged The Miniature Poodle Club of Great Britain and Maria judged at Tampere, Finland three years ago.

Luis had been critical of those that campaigned their champions extensively and took advantage of the opportunities that judging provided to aid their dogs' chances. Although Luis, and Maria only showed their dogs modestly, they thought it best to stop breeding and showing their dogs when Luis started judging. Their last top winning dog, Am. Ch. Aizbel The Heir Apparent, was in his prime at the time. He did remain at public stud.

Luis and Maria got involved in the sport of dogs as children in Habana, Cuba when Luis and his mother started showing Miniature Poodles and Maria and her mother, American Cocker Spaniels. In 1959, after Castro's Communist Revolution, both families emigrated to the USA and got established in Miami. Luis was enrolled at the University of Miami and obtained his degree in Business Administration from that institution. During October, 1960 Luis and Maria were married and they are the proud parents of three daughters. Their six grandchildren range from two to twenty five years of age.

Due to the circumstances of their departure from Cuba, the dogs had to stay behind …with one exception: In 1955, while still in Cuba, the elder Mrs. Aizcorbe and Luis had purchased the highly regarded jet black Miniature Poodle bitch, Am. Ch. Chriscrest Jubilee. Under the Aizcorbe's ownership, while handled by Luis' mother, Jubilee became an International Champion and an All- breed Best in Show winner in three countries, including the USA. More importantly, Jubilee became a Top Producer, the dam of multiple group and Best in Show winners in the USA and the sole foundation bitch for the renowned AIZBEL line of black and brown miniatures.

The AIZBEL dogs became highly regarded for their exceptional type and style, outstanding heads and sound, fluid movement under Luis' and Maria's guidance after Luis' mother lost interest in the sport in the early 1960's. In addition to Jubilee, six AIZBEL dogs owned by Luis and Maria became, not only, multiple group, specialty, and all-breed Best in Show winners in the USA, , but also Top Producers. Maria and Luis have also shown different dogs to Best in Show at The Poodle Club of America and Best of Variety at Westminster. All this in spite of the fact that their dogs were infrequently shown, almost always owner handled in a country and breed dominated by professionals, and never advertised in all-breed publications. These achievements are even more surprising considering that as hobby breeders, the Aizcorbes never had a kennel and never kept more than six adults at one time. AIZBEL dogs also left their mark in other countries. Many finished their championship abroad and several became Best In Show winners in Canada, Argentina, Brazil and other South American counties, Spain and Australia, where a champion bitch they exported went Best in Show at a couple of the Melbourne Royal shows in 1984.