“Author Archive”
Stories written by AnthonyA
Perhaps you have noticed. I have a head full of tasty morsels which pop into my brain at both the most opportune and inopportune times. Historical facts, old addresses, names of childhood friends, lyrics from poems, quotes from famous people, songs, songs, and, frequently, lots of songs come to the forefront at the most unexpected moments. I can be ringside, sitting next to a favorite judge friend of mine while the groups are being judged. Out of nowhere, a random thought spurs the words from a Broadway tune. I start singing. Without missing a beat, he joins in with his robust baritone, full of delight. One song leads to another. It would be rare for one of us to miss a word.
June 1st, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
Foxhounds and foxhunting were popular in colonial America. The American Foxhound was originally developed in Virginia and Maryland. One famous Foxhound fan was George Wash-ington whose breeding contributed to the development of the Ameri-can Foxhound. Washington began with Foxhounds originally from England and crossed in some French hounds. Several strains of American Foxhounds developed over the years; all are American Foxhounds, but some competed in the show ring while other lines were used more for hunting.
May 30th, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
The following announcement appeared in the catalog of the 1926 Crufts Dog Show: ‘Blenheim Spaniels of the Old Type, as shown in pictures of Charles II’s time, long face, no stop, flat skull not inclined to be domed, with a spot in the center of the skull. The first prizes in classes 947 and 948 are given by Roswell Eldridge Esq. of New York and will be continued for five years. Prizes go to the nearest to type required.’
May 26th, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
Purebred is a tricky term. I mean even AKC gets it wrong once in awhile; yeah they do. We all want accuracy but on the other hand, it’s that genetic ebb and flow that keeps breeds vibrant and evolving. The true beauty of our purebred infrastructure is that long after the forces responsible for shaping type have disappeared, that ideal remains reliably anchored to key traits. And let’s face it; most breeds eventually outlive their original function. Repositioning them in today’s canine landscape is an ongoing challenge.
May 24th, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
This month we asked judges who are totally dedicated to the sport in many ways to share their very personal thoughts on two sensitive issues facing the judging community. The first is those meaningful parts of our lives as judges which are suddenly absent, and missed terribly. Next, they divulge their personal concerns about returning to dog shows and back to the world we all love. I am sure each of us can identify with what they have written.
May 23rd, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
Diamonds are girl’s best friend.” It was a song in the 1953 production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes performed by Marilyn Monroe. However, if you have ever been to a dog show, then you know man’s best friend is also a woman’s best friend. My wife and I were sitting ringside at the recently held Southern Colorado Kennel Club show and could not help but notice that the female exhibitors far exceeded the number of male competitors. However, there were plenty of men in attendance.
May 23rd, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
There are two Corgis from Wales, one with a tail (Cardigan) and one without (Pembroke). But there are more differences beyond the tail. They were developed in different parts and geographies in Wales.
May 22nd, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
Obviously, we are all charting the same vision board of purebred renaissance. And some of AKC’s recent inspirations are reviving my faith in the brain trust over at corporate. So, let’s discuss one of these new projects, the AKC Patriotic Puppy Program. Technically, the idea’s not that new. 1941 marked the first daring collaboration between AKC and civilian groups to create a homegrown K9 defense force. And despite wholesale skepticism and a few wrong turns, it revolutionized America’s military preparedness and laid the groundwork for programs that have since evolved into a global megabusiness, which is the basis of our current problem.
May 18th, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
What a terrible week March 14-21 was for our dog show family. This is being written as our world is faced with the expanding threat of a Pandemic. As we prepare to deal with whatever that will bring… events in our lives still march on seemingly oblivious to the pandemonium. Three of our lifelong friends have left us. One was very painful for the Afghan Hound fancy. Floyd Gale passed away on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. His loss shouldn’t be overlooked. He represents so many in our sport that gave much for their chosen breed. I write this for him and those like him we have lost.
May 17th, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
Lately, there’s lots of talk about the AKC’s judges’ approval process. What else is new? They’re constantly revamping and debugging the system. Even people going through it admit they can’t keep up with the endless barrage of policy changes. But we can agree that for awhile now mentoring has been a major aspect of it.
May 16th, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
