“Author Archive”
Stories written by AnthonyA
I know that many of my American friends are following the great Brexit debacle with interest; a disgraceful episode still rumbling on over here three years after the result of the vote was announced, and many of you are scratching your heads in sheer disbelief at what is happening. So many have asked me, ‘What on earth has happened to your country?’
I cannot give a sensible reply; like a lot of my countrymen (well, those who live outside of London) I am equally baffled and ashamed by the pantomime unfolding all around me.
November 13th, 2019 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
It’s been a long time comin’ but if last week is any indication, those long bleak years of anti-purebred propaganda are over. Mind you, none of it was fair–or true, nonetheless, it grabbed media attention and the dog-loving public bought into it for decades. But it’s a new day dawning judging by the incredible reaction to a recent New York Times interview with Wally Conron who, you may or may not know, invented the infamous Labradoodle back in 1988.
November 11th, 2019 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
I admit to feeling a source of great pride when I attend the AKC Canine Health Foundation National Parent Club Canine Health Conference. When the AKC first announced 24 years ago it was forming the Canine Health Foundation, I recall thinking it was just going to be window dressing. I didn’t even go to the first Parent Club Conference. I could not have been more wrong. And I’m proud to say I’ve attended every one since.
November 9th, 2019 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
When trying to understand the ever increasing shift in what it takes to win at American dog shows, I keep coming back to the same bunch of questions. If dog shows are about evaluating breeding stock, why must a dog “nail the free stack” from 10 feet away, regardless of the breed? Why must a dog lead it’s handler by 10 feet going around the ring, regardless of the breed? In breeds where markings do not matter, why do they?
November 7th, 2019 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
Although dogs have been our companions for millennia, we have to guess at what prehistoric dogs looked like exactly. One thing we do know for sure, though, is the work they did. They followed the prey, drove the flocks and herds, guarded livestock and defended their owners’ property.
November 5th, 2019 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
Having been in the dog show world for a number of years now, the biggest lesson I have learned is to be grateful. This sport, like most others, is dependent on good people of goodwill participating. With success should come an awareness of how much we owe other people. Here is a little overview, to give you some perspective, on the debt all show dog owners owe to their fellow competitors.
November 3rd, 2019 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
The Modified Continental (ModCon) – the trim is also known as the Historically Correct Continental, Hunting Class Clip, Heritage trim, and the HCC.
This trim has ALWAYS been accepted in the AKC breed standard for Poodles as long as the trim presents a smooth unbroken outline on the dog. The breed standard for Poodles does not mention how long the coat on the dog must be, just some modifying phrases such as “ear fringe should not be of excessive length.” Shaping of the coat to ensure balance is permissible in all trims per the standard.
November 1st, 2019 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
The Bichon Frise is one member of the Bichon family of dogs that also includes the Bolognese, Coton de Tulear, Havanese, Mal-tese, Löwchen, and Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka. All are small and friendly, with long hair that mostly doesn’t shed, drop ears, short muzzles, and with tails carried over their backs when moving. The Bichon Frise is unique in the family with the curly coat.
October 31st, 2019 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
In a country with more than 80 million dog owners, why is there still a shortage of dogs that are needed to protect the borders, airports, cities, schools, malls, entertainment events and nuclear plants. Most Americans are unaware of this shortage even though it is not new. The problem significantly increased following the events of 9/11, Brussels, Boston, Las Vegas, New York and London. As other terrorist events and natural disasters began to occur, most countries began to buy up the supply of working dogs for their own protection. According to the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, about 90 percent of the detection and patrol dogs in the US come from overseas breeders. The dependence on European breeders to supply a needed resource was not acceptable to the Federal Government, and during the past 50 years, four separate Federal breeding programs were established only to close each of them because of a budget cut or a lack of funding. The last closing in 2012 demonstrated that this problem needed the involvement of the private sector.
October 29th, 2019 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
It’s hard to get your head around it, the idea that the ultimate flower power symbol of peace, love, and happiness has become the focal point of the war between ….well, basically every state and federal agency, and myriad health and social welfare organizations nationwide. Yes, whatever you call it–420, weed, ganja, skunk–this traditional bedrock of American counterculture has suddenly taken center stage as a miracle drug and a corporate goldmine. As expected, the petcare industry hasn’t been asleep at the wheel. In a fittingly psychedelic partnership, Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg have teamed up to launch a massive pet-friendly product line. Obviously, FDA doesn’t watch TMZ. To quote former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb at the recent hearing on CBD regulation, “putting CBD in pet food is absurd.” I got news for the FDA, pet food is the tip of that marketing iceberg. Better start at the beginning.
October 27th, 2019 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
