The dogs tried their best, and while their handlers spoke many different languages, the dogs spoke one international language: WOOF. The majority of the winning dogs were Border Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs. There was a great variety of dogs each displaying their breed characteristics. Some of the dogs were new to me and I couldn’t pronounce or spell their names, but they were beautiful and talented performers.
AKC and the sport of Purebred Dogs have enjoyed success for over one hundred years. Why is it now being torn asunder by the twin nemesis of PETA/HSUS and their legislative programs and the precipitous drop in registrations?
It takes years of commitment and determination for a true breeder to see results from years of hard work in producing sound, well-bred and top winning dogs.
For Lee Cox & Tom Isherwood, success came after a long spell of personal success, before joining the world famous Vanitonia kennels.
Just as I sat down to write this month’s column word reached me that Denise (Denny) Kodner had died. To many reading this it will give a tug at the heart because Denny was one of “us”.
I looked forward to the job of liaison between AKC and my club, and getting a more comprehensive handle on significant issues that affect the fancy. What I failed to consider was the financial hardship it would create. My club does not reimburse its delegate for expenses, as many don’t, and I accepted this when I took on the job. No problem. What I failed to factor into the equation however was that, as a delegate, I could no longer charge a fee for my services as a judge.
Witness the judges now summarily allowed to solicit assignments bit. Whatever happened to dignity, some are asking. Why, all of a sudden, this rather startling change? Was this just a case of moving with the times or was there more to it? Our philosophies and priorities, in terms of the way we conduct ourselves, have now become the subject of considerable interest.
“If the United States has a cold, Mexico has pneumonia,” said Jose Payro, president of the Mexican Kennel Club during an interesting conversation I had with him while I was judging in Mexico City.
Morris & Essex is different – it’s dedicated to Geraldine R. Dodge’s memory and to dog shows as they should be. There were relatively few “non-dog” spectators at Colonial Park in Somerset, New Jersey for its third revival on October 7. It was a Thursday and the outdoor show only happens every five years. The atmosphere was different, too – in a way that is hard to describe. It felt like a celebration of purebred dogs and dog shows – created as a gift to the fancy. It was a day to remember just why we breed and show purebred dogs.
