Peter was born in 1966 in Vienna, Austria. His family has always had dogs with his parents initially breeding Dobermann and Flat Coated Retrievers from 1994 to present day. In 1980, Peter got his first dog, a Dobermann bitch to make his first steps into cynology. When returning home after some years abroad in Africa as a school boy, Peter has two English Setters for showing and training in the field during his years at University.
Balancing his professional life in the management of Austria´s top player in residential developments, he selectively bred Labrador Retrievers under the ‘Starchant’ prefix. Together with his wife Eva he owned Golden Retrievers, two Bullmastiffs having some litters in Spinone Italiano and Pugs under her ‘Waterfairies’ prefix. They made up several Champions in Show & Work. Peter currently owns a Spinone Italiano and two Pugs – all of them homebred females.
On the judging scene Peter obtained his license for Retrievers in 1998, some 23 years later he reached FCI All-Breed International Judge status in 2021. To date Peter is approved to award CCs in the UK for Bullmastiff, Irish Red Setter, Labrador Retriever and Spinone Italiano.
Peter´s passion has actively taken him around the world. He officiated at various prestigious events including his first World Dog Show 2011 in Paris awarding Best Of Breed (BOB) in Labrador Retrievers. In Brno he first judged BEST IN SHOW at an All-Breed Show in 2017.
A special given to him was the assignment as first ever Non-Italian judging at the “RADUNO DEL TRIENNALE 2017” of the “Club Italiano Spinone” in Tuscany. Another highlight of his judging career has been his appointment at the Championship Show of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club in South Africa. In 2021 Peter awarded Labrador Retrievers and BOB at the World Dog Show in Brno plus Best in Group VIII. In 2022 he had his first invitation to the US at the Spinone Club of America´s National Speciality with an entry of 95 exhibits. At the WDS 2023 in Geneva Peter was judging Spinone Italiano besides other Gundog breeds and awarded Best Junior In Show FCI Group VII. Judging The Inaugural Championship Show Of Pointing Gundogs NSW in Sydney at the occasion of DOGS NSW Springfair 2023 set another highlight in his career. In 2024 WDS Zagreb doing Hungarian short-haired Pointing Dogs & BOB. Besides EDS Brno, 2025 marks a new step at the Philippine Circuit, his debut in Asia.
As an administrator, Peter’s involvement has been as a Show Manager and President of the Austrian Retriever Club, Co-founder and President of the Junge Hundefreunde Austria (Junior Handling Club), Austria’s delegate to the FCI Commission for Retrievers, member of the advisory board to the Austrian Kennel Club (ÖKV) and President of the FCI Commission for Retrievers.
Peter is also the Co-founder and former President of the Austrian Spinone & Bracco Italiano Club aiming for membership in the Austrian Kennel Club (ÖKV) one day. He is also involved in ringcraft training and education of Judges, thus giving back to his sport in a very practical way.
Holding his hunting permit since 2002, Peter supplemented his knowledge by obtaining the falconry license in 2018. He is fluent in German, English and French.
