The American Kennel Club (AKC®) today announced the judging panel for the 26th AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin, to be held December 12–13, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The Club also released the judging panel for the AKC National Owner-Handled Series (NOHS) Finals. The panel for the AKC Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes will be announced at a later date.

The 2026 event will showcase top canine athletes from across the country and feature popular competitions, including Best Bred-by-Exhibitor. The championship will again be held alongside the AKC Agility Invitational, Obedience Classic, and AKC RACH Invitational. Junior competitions in Conformation, Agility, Obedience, and Rally will also be offered, along with the North America Diving Dogs (NADD) Santa Splash.

Dr. Thomas M. Davies of Brimfield, Massachusetts, will serve as Best in Show judge. Mr. David J. Kirkland of Sanford, North Carolina, will judge Best Bred-by-Exhibitor in Show.

“The AKC National Championship continues to bring together the best of the best—exceptional canine athletes, exhibitors, and judges,” said Gina M. DiNardo, AKC President and Show Chair. “We are honored to have AKC Chairman Dr. Thomas Davies and Mr. David Kirkland leading the 26th show. It promises to be an exciting and highly competitive event.”

Judges for the seven variety groups and the Miscellaneous Classes at the AKC National Championship are:

SPORTING – Frank Kane

HOUND – Dennis Sprung

WORKING – Robin Stansell

TERRIER – Kathleen Ferris

TOY – David Fitzpatrick

NON-SPORTING – Grace Fritz

HERDING – James Frederiksen

MISCELLANEOUS CLASS – Frank Kane

BEST JUNIOR HANDLER – Mary Dukes

JUNIOR PRELIMS – Adam Peterson and Caroline Clegg

Judges for the seven Bred-by-Exhibitor variety groups are:

SPORTING – Debbie Campbell-Freeman

HOUND – Jon Cole

WORKING – Dr. Steven Keating

TERRIER – Dr. Valeria Rickard

TOY – Angela Pickett

NON-SPORTING – Harold “Red” Tatro III

HERDING – Linda Clark

The AKC NOHS Finals will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida as a part of the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin on Saturday, December 12 and Sunday, December 13, 2026.

Best in Show for the NOHS Finals will be judged by Mr. Daniel J. Smyth, Esq. of Bermuda Dunes, CA on Sunday evening.

Judges for the seven variety groups at the AKC NOHS Finals are:

SPORTING BREEDS AND GROUP: Sharon Ann Redmer

HOUND BREEDS AND GROUP: Bryan Martin

WORKING BREEDS AND GROUP: Chris Ann Moore

TERRIER BREEDS AND GROUP: Todd Clyde

TOY BREEDS AND GROUP: Debra Ferguson-Jones

NON-SPORTING BREEDS AND GROUP: Todd Clyde

HERDING BREEDS AND GROUP: Sharon Ann Redmer

BREED JUDGING FOR THE AKC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP:

SPORTING GROUP – BREED ASSIGNMENTS

David Kittredge – Barbet, Spaniel (Cocker – all varieties), Spaniel (English Cocker), Spaniel (Field).
Jamie Hubbard – Bracco Italiano, Lagotto Romagnolo, Nederlandse Kooikerhondje, Spaniel (American Water), Spaniel (Clumber).
Corinne Miklos – Brittany, Pointer (German Wirehaired), Retriever (Curly-Coated), Weimaraner, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
Jon Cole – Pointer, Pointer (German Shorthaired), Retriever (Chesapeake Bay), Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling).
Rosalind Kramer – Retriever (Flat-Coated), Setter (English), Setter (Irish).
Paula Nykiel – Retriever (Golden), Spinone Italiano, Wirehaired Vizsla.
Carl Gene Liepmann – Retriever (Labrador).
Linda Clark – Setter (Gordon), Setter (Irish Red & White), Spaniel (Boykin), Spaniel (English Springer), Spaniel (Irish Water).
Ann Ingram – Spaniel (Sussex), Spaniel (Welsh Springer).
Phoebe Jordan Booth – Vizsla.

HOUND GROUP – BREED ASSIGNMENTS

Patricia Clark – Afghan Hound, Greyhound, Scottish Deerhound.
Pamela Lambie – American English Coonhound, American Foxhound, Basset Fauve de Bretagne, Black and Tan Coonhound, English Foxhound, Harrier, Otterhound, Pharaoh Hound, Plott Hound, Redbone Coonhound, Treeing Walker Coonhound.
Dr. Steven Keating – Azawakh, Bluetick Coonhound.
Rosalind Kramer – Basenji, Bloodhound, Cirneco dell’Etna, Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen, Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen.
Ryan Horvath – Basset Hound, Dachshund (all varieties), Portuguese Podengo Pequeno.
Harold “Red” Tatro III – Beagle (both varieties), Rhodesian Ridgeback.
Mary Dukes – Ibizan Hound, Irish Wolfhound, Norwegian Elkhound, Borzoi, Saluki, Sloughi.

Phoebe Jordan Booth – Whippet.

WORKING GROUP – BREED ASSIGNMENTS

Dr. Joyce Dandridge – Akita, Alaskan Malamute, Great Dane, Kuvasz.
Paula Nykiel – Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Bernese Mountain Dog, Black Russian Terrier, Boerboel, Boxer, Chinook, Danish-Swedish Farmdog, German Pinscher.
Pamela Lambie – Bullmastiff, Dogo Argentino, Dogue de Bordeaux, Mastiff.
Jon Cole – Cane Corso, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Komondor, Neapolitan Mastiff.
Carolyn Herbel – Doberman Pinscher, Portuguese Water Dog, Rottweiler, St. Bernard, Standard Schnauzer.
Ann Ingram – Giant Schnauzer, Great Pyrenees, Leonberger.
Debbie Campbell-Freeman – Newfoundland.
Clay Coady – Samoyed, Siberian Husky, Tibetan Mastiff.

TERRIER GROUP – BREED ASSIGNMENTS

April Clyde – Airedale Terrier, American Hairless Terrier, Cesky Terrier, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Irish Terrier, Lakeland Terrier, Rat Terrier, Welsh Terrier.
Jamie Hubbard – American Staffordshire Terrier, Glen of Imaal Terrier, Parson Russell Terrier, Russell Terrier, Sealyham Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Richard Powell – Australian Terrier, Fox Terrier (Smooth), Fox Terrier (Wire), Kerry Blue Terrier, Standard Manchester Terrier, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.
Kathi Brown – Bedlington Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Scottish Terrier, Skye Terrier, West Highland White Terrier.
Debbie Campbell-Freeman – Border Terrier, Bull Terrier (both varieties), Miniature Bull Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer.
Ann Ingram – Norfolk Terrier.
Desmond Murphy – Norwich Terrier, Teddy Roosevelt Terrier.

TOY GROUP – BREED ASSIGNMENTS

Patricia Proctor – Affenpinscher, Brussels Griffon, Japanese Chin, Papillon.
Dr. Valeria Rickard – Biewer Terrier, English Toy Spaniel (all varieties), Russian Toy, Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka, Silky Terrier.
Richard Powell – Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Maltese, Toy Manchester Terrier.
Joe Walton – Chihuahua (both varieties), Shih Tzu.
Margaret Reed – Chinese Crested, Italian Greyhound, Toy Fox Terrier.
George Milutinovich – Havanese, Miniature Pinscher, Pug, Yorkshire Terrier.
Clay Coady – Pekingese, Poodle (Toy).
Fred Bassett – Pomeranian.

NON-SPORTING GROUP – BREED ASSIGNMENTS

Angela Pickett – American Eskimo Dog, Coton de Tulear, Finnish Spitz, Lhasa Apso, Löwchen, Norwegian Lundehund, Shiba Inu, Tibetan Spaniel.
Fred Bassett – Bichon Frise, Schipperke, Xoloitzcuintli.
Debbie Campbell-Freeman – Boston Terrier, Chinese Shar Pei, Chow Chow, Keeshond, Tibetan Terrier.
Phoebe Jordan Booth – Bulldog.
Frank Kane – Dalmatian, French Bulldog.
Clay Coady – Poodle (Miniature & Standard).

HERDING GROUP – BREED ASSIGNMENTS

Amy Gau – Australian Cattle Dog, Bergamasco, Border Collie, Lancashire Heeler, Norwegian Buhund.
Susan Landry-Whiticar – Australian Shepherd.
Frank Kane – Bearded Collie, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Spanish Water Dog.
Debbie Melgreen – Beauceron, Berger Picard, Entlebucher Mountain Dog, Finnish Lapphund, Icelandic Sheepdog, Miniature American Shepherd, Shetland Sheepdog, Swedish Vallhund.
Fred Bassett – Belgian Laekenois, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Tervuren.
Clay Coady – Bouvier des Flandres, German Shepherd Dog.
Thomas Coen – Briard, Canaan Dog, Collie (both varieties), Mudi, Puli, Pumi.
Ann Ingram – Cardigan Welsh Corgi.
Jon Cole – Old English Sheepdog, Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Pyrenean Shepherd.

*Panel subject to final approval.

About Best in Show judge Dr. Thomas Davies: Dr. Thomas M. Davies, of Brimfield, Massachusetts, became heavily involved in the world of purebred dogs after his college graduation. He is currently serving as Chairman of the AKC’s Board of Directors since 2020 and has served on AKC’s Board of Directors for many years, having held the position of Vice Chairman from 2009 -2012 and again from 2017- March 2019. He has served on numerous AKC related boards and committees, including the Chairman’s Committee on the Judging Approval Process, Public Relations Committee, the Events and Clubs Committee and the Breeders Committee.

Dr. Davies became president of the Bearded Collie Club of America and oversaw its acceptance into the AKC Stud Book. He is an honorary lifetime member of that club and is the author of the Bearded Collie standard. Dr. Davies has been extensively involved with Old English Sheepdogs, Bearded Collies, Siberian Huskies, Belgian Sheepdogs and Tervuren, Beagles and Xoloitzcuintli.

He and his wife, Roberta, have bred and finished numerous champions in many of their breeds. Dr. Davies judges Best in Show, Junior Showmanship, the Herding Group and 11 Working breeds. He has served as president and show chairman of the Springfield Kennel Club and has been the club’s AKC Delegate for more than 50 years. He is the longtime show chair for the Springfield Kennel Club and previously for the country’s first working group club, the Connecticut River Working Group Association, for which he is vice-president. Dr. Davies is retired after more than 30 years in various areas of scientific research, and product and market development.

About Best Bred-By-Exhibitor judge Mr. David Kirkland: David J. Kirkland of Sanford, NC attended his first dog show in 1973. Starting in Obedience, Mr. Kirkland thereafter acquired his first show dog, a Miniature Schnauzer. He has bred, owned and handled many to championship titles including Group and National Specialty winners. In 1994, Mr. Kirkland acquired his first Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. His love affair with the breed continues to the present. Mr. Kirkland has also owned and bred multiple champions in Japanese Chin and Tibetan Spaniels.

By Heather Stein

Photos by Geoffrey Potter

New York has always possessed a talent for spectacle, yet even by Manhattan standards the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show felt exceptional. The city did not merely host the anniversary. It wore it. Purple and gold glowed across the skyline, reflecting off glass towers and winter clouds alike. Conversations in taxis, cafés, and crowded sidewalks drifted effortlessly toward favorites and predictions. For one glittering week, Westminster was not simply a fixture on the calendar. It became the gravitational center of the city’s attention, blending tradition, glamour, and unmistakable excitement.

A century and a half is a remarkable lifespan for any institution, particularly one that continues to feel so vividly alive. Established in 1877, Westminster occupies a singular place in American culture. It is both a sporting tradition and a cultural ritual, woven deeply into New York’s identity. Generations of dogs, handlers, judges, and spectators have passed through its rings, each contributing to a living history that feels less preserved than constantly renewed. Westminster does not feel antique. It feels permanent, as much a part of the city’s rhythm as the avenues themselves.

The Westminster Kennel Club’s roots are inseparable from New York. The club was founded by a small circle of sporting gentlemen who gathered at the Westminster Hotel in Manhattan, a fashionable establishment of the late nineteenth century. Though the hotel itself has long since vanished, its name endures as one of the most recognizable brands in the canine world. Historical records frequently note the club’s intentionally limited membership, a tradition that persists today. The number, often cited as thirty-seven-members, reflects an organizational philosophy rooted in stewardship and continuity rather than expansion. From its earliest days, Westminster was conceived not merely as a show, but as a standard bearer.

New York in the 1870s was a city intoxicated by transformation. Elevated trains thundered overhead. Electric lighting began reshaping the night. Grand public venues rose as monuments to civic ambition. Into this landscape arrived the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, first staged at Gilmore’s Garden, the arena that would later evolve into Madison Square Garden. That connection between Westminster and the Garden would become one of the most enduring relationships in American sport. Few venues better embody New York’s flair for drama, prestige, and theatrical anticipation.

Dr. Donald Sturz, president of The Westminster Kennel Club, captured the resonance of the milestone with clarity and warmth. “The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is a celebration of the universal love of dogs, a sentiment that has woven its way through the fabric of our country’s history, in both good times and bad.” His words carry particular weight in New York, a city defined by resilience and reinvention. Westminster’s longevity mirrors that same spirit, enduring across wars, economic upheavals, and sweeping cultural shifts while keeping its distinctive character.

By the time the spotlight settled on the Best In Showring at Madison Square Garden, anticipation had reached a near cinematic intensity. Penny, the four-year-old Doberman Pinscher formally known as GCHP Connquest Best Of Both Worlds, entered with composure that seemed to quiet the vast arena. Handled by Andy Linton, she moved with confidence and precision, ultimately claiming Best in Show before an audience keenly aware of the moment’s significance. In an anniversary defined by reflection, Penny’s victory felt instantly historic.

In the glow of celebration, a simple exchange offered one of the evening’s most memorable moments. When reporter Heather Stein asked about Penny’s favorite command, Linton responded with a smile and relaxed candor. “Yea, it’s time to eat!” The audience erupted with laughter and affection. The remark resonated not because it was humorous, but because it was disarmingly true. Beneath Westminster’s polish and prestige are dogs whose pleasures stay wonderfully uncomplicated.

Reserve Best In Show went to Cota, the five-year-old Chesapeake Bay Retriever known as GCHP Next Generation’s Accelerate, handled by Devon Kipp Levy. The pairing felt symbolically perfect. A Doberman and a retriever, elegance beside athleticism, each embodying different facets of canine excellence. Such contrasts have always defined Westminster, a showcase not only of winners but of remarkable diversity.

The week itself unfolded as a meticulously choreographed social season for the canine world. At the Jacob K Javits Convention Center, more than 2,500 entries competed in Best of Breed judging, transforming the vast glass structure into a vibrant temporary metropolis. Grooming areas buzzed with concentration and camaraderie. Ringside spectators navigated aisles with the easy familiarity of seasoned attendees. Veterans of the sport greeted newcomers, creating an atmosphere that felt less like rivalry and more like reunion.

The anniversary extended beyond the show venues into Manhattan’s cultural landscape. The AKC Museum of the Dog presented a special exhibit titled The Life of a Show Dog: Celebrating 150 Years of Westminster. The exhibition offered visitors an immersive exploration of the sport’s history, artistry, and human stories. Trophies, archival photographs, and rare artifacts combined to create a narrative that felt deeply personal rather than purely historical. The exhibit ran through March 22, 2026, providing a lasting tribute to the milestone year.

Christopher E. Bromson, CEO and Executive Director of the AKC Museum of the Dog, spoke passionately about the exhibition’s significance. “There are few events as inseparable from New York City as the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, making The Life of a Showdog, a natural home at the Museum of the Dog. This exhibition offers our guests a rare glimpse behind the show ring and into the rich history of the sport.”

Among the exhibit’s most evocative pieces, Bromson highlighted a particularly intimate artifact. “The grooming table, tools and crate of legendary handler and judge, Anne Rogers Clark.” The items possess extraordinary symbolic power, representing not only one towering figure but generations of dedication, discipline, and artistry.

Madison Square Garden delivered its own procession of unforgettable moments. Zaida, the Afghan Hound, claimed the Hound Group with unmistakable elegance. Cookie, the Maltese, radiated polish, and precision. JJ, the Lhasa Apso, carried quiet authority into the Non-Sporting Group. Graham, the Old English Sheepdog, charmed audiences with charismatic presence. Each victory added texture to a celebration defined as much by personality as performance.

The Canine Celebration infused the week with exuberant athleticism. Nearly 500 dogs competed in agility and flyball, transforming the Garden into a stage for speed, precision, and pure joy. Amber McCune’s Border Collie Prove It captured the Masters Agility Championship with breathtaking velocity. McCune’s reflection distilled the emotional intensity behind the triumph. “Prove It winning is so very special to me and I couldn’t be prouder of him. As an owner handler and breeder of the special boy, my heart is overflowing with gratitude. Prove It truly is a once in a lifetime dog and I am so so lucky to have him as my teammate and best friend.”

Flyball returned with kinetic energy and roaring crowds. Cindy Henderson, NAFA Supervising Judge and owner of the Wicked Runners Flyball Club, conveyed the sport’s thrill and precision. “Flyball is a fast-paced sport featuring two teams of four dogs each racing side by side against each other running over jumps, retrieving a ball, and then back over the jumps.” Her description captures the mechanics, though the spectacle itself defies simple explanation.

“There are definitely nerves before the race starts but once we start, I go into competition mode,” Henderson explained. Westminster’s scale transforms the experience. “At Westminster we are so lucky to have huge crowds of people watching the event and cheering on the dogs. They make it so much fun for the competitors, and the dogs really get excited and run faster with all the encouragement.”

Agility competitors supplied equally resonant narratives. Erin Hoverson’s Shadow, a Stabyhoun and the only representative of the breed ever to compete in Westminster agility, became a quiet ambassador. “Shadow is usually noise sensitive, but he was thrilled to be at Westminster this year and really seemed to feed off the energy in the building.” Such stories illuminate Westminster’s distinctive emotional landscape, where personal triumphs stand alongside grand victories.

Jeffrey Tripp and his Cardigan Welsh Corgi Jack embodied yet another dimension of Westminster’s enduring charm. “My dream of making the finals at Westminster was reality now!!!” he recalled. At the conclusion of their run, spontaneity overtook ceremony. “I took Jack’s paw, and I waved at the crowd. And the crowd loved it and exploded with happiness.” Moments like these reveal Westminster’s unique ability to merge prestige with genuine warmth.

Corporate partnerships also formed part of the anniversary narrative. Gianna DeiSanti, Director Brand Marketing for Purina Pro Plan, emphasized the continuity between nutrition and excellence. “The Best in Show winner, Penny, the Doberman Pinscher, is the nineteenth of the past twenty Best in Show winners fed Purina Pro Plan dog food. For Purina Pro Plan, we are ecstatic to provide the fuel for life for these exquisite show dogs.”

Across 150 years, Westminster has remained one of New York’s most distinctive rituals. It is heritage animated by living participants. It is precision infused with emotion. Above all, it is a testament to the enduring bond between dogs, their people, and the city that continues to celebrate them with unmatched enthusiasm.

Richard Ansdell, Highland Tod, Fox Hunter, 1859. Oil on Canvas. Collection of the American Kennel Club

The American Kennel Club® Museum of the Dog is excited to announce its newest exhibition, Scotland, The Brave Dogs, which will run from March 26th, 2026, through July 12th, 2026.

Coinciding with New York’s Tartan Week, Scotland, The Brave Dogs, is an exhibition celebrating Scottish breeds through works by noted Scottish artists such as Edwin Douglas and Samuel Fulton, as well as renowned artists Sir Edwin Landseer, Richard Ansdell, John Sargent Noble, and George and Maud Earl.

More than a celebration of iconic breeds, the exhibition offers a window into the nation’s rich history and cultural legacy. Through the stories of these dogs, their roles, their evolution, and their deep connection to the land, we honor Scotland itself: its working traditions, its artistic heritage, and the remarkable dogs that helped shape both.

“It is always an honor when we get to highlight the exceptional work of dogs through art,” says Alan Fausel, Curator for the AKC Museum of the Dog. “We are excited to be celebrating Scotland, its culture, and the incredibly brave dogs that are deeply entwined with this nation.”

For more information on this exhibit or the AKC Museum of the Dog, please visit www.museumofthedog.org

Class of 2030
• Domenic Palleschi Carota, Delegate, Pharaoh Hound Club of America
• Jason Hoke, Delegate, Chain O’Lakes Kennel Club
• Sue Goldberg, Delegate, Lewiston-Auburn Kennel Club, Inc.

In addition, Dr. Thomas M. Davies (Springfield Kennel Club, Inc.) was re-elected as the Chairman of the Board and Dr. Michael Knight, PhD (Texas Kennel Club) was re-elected as Vice Chairman of the Board at a meeting of the AKC Board of Directors, convened after the Delegates Meeting.

Domenic Palleschi Carota

Jason Hoke

Sue Goldberg

©Anna Szabo / Royal Kennel Club

FCI President Dr. Tamás Jakkel chose the Clumber Spaniel male, Sh Ch Vanitonia Soloist, Breeder-Owner-Handled by Lee Cox, as his Best In Show winner at Crufts 2026.

©Anna Szabo / Royal Kennel Club

Best In Show – Sh Ch Vanitonia Soloist, Clumber Spaniel - Owner Mr. L. A. S. Cox

Reserve Best In Show  – Am/Cro/Fin/ Int Ch Black Majesty Some Say WW24/25 Euw 24/25, Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen - Owner Mrs. I. Raic

Photo from Lisa Croft-Elliott

I want to start by congratulating Jorge Olivera and ‘Baby Joe’ for joining the Century Club this past weekend by winning Best In Shows #100, #101 and #102 in Fresno, California.  As we all know, this amazing team was #1 Dog All Breeds in 2025. Another fun fact is Baby Joe eclipsed the 100 BIS mark in just over a year of showing. This is an incredible feat for any breed let alone a Miniature Schnauzer! Congratulations to everyone on Baby Joe’s team. He couldn’t have reached this historic record without the help of everyone involved.

I think we can all agree that no one goes into the show ring to lose. The goal of the day may be to get a major, get that last single point, or win the breed with hopes of being awarded the shiny blue ribbon in the group. Of course, being one of the two pointed to in that final field of 7 dogs is always the ultimate dream for most.

Do you ever think about what is going through the mind of the judge? I think all competitors should read the article published in the February issue of The Canine Chronicle titled, “The Juggling Act of Impartiality” https://caninechronicle.com/current-articles/the-juggling-act-of-impartiality/. If you have been involved in the sport of purebred dogs for any length of time–which is a requirement for judges–it is not unusual to know some of the exhibitors in the ring. The author, Will Alexander, says he deals with this by focusing on the dogs. He says he sometimes doesn’t know who the handlers are until he awards ribbons at the end of a class. As a judge, I believe that this is the best possible way to maintain impartiality. Like Will, many judges tell friends or acquaintances they can show to them as long as the end result is not taken personally.

I hear exhibitors talk about the reasons they did not prevail in the ring. Sadly, those reasons often have little, if anything, to do with the dog being exhibited. As exhibitors, we need to focus on our exhibit, and that exhibit’s performance, just like the judge standing center ring does. If we all adopt this mindset, I think our sport will be a happier place, and we will all be pleased with the result. No one likes to lose. After a loss, let’s focus on how we can do better next time. Can we condition our dog better? Can we change the way we handle that dog?  As exhibitors, we might take time to learn what type of dog that judge prefers. This, too, can eliminate disappointment.

Kentuckiana volunteers are working very hard preparing for the upcoming cluster on March 12-15. Please do not forget to send in your grooming reservations! Reservations should be sent to Louisvillegrooming@yahoo.com, and reservations should be paid for at executivedogshows.com. Please note that you cannot leave any fields blank, or the system will not allow you to pay.

The Kentucky Expo Center is under construction, and it is definitely making the Kentuckiana Cluster Team’s job more difficult. Please be prepared for things to look a bit different, and please be kind to the volunteers who are working very hard to make this show as great as it has been in previous years.

I am looking forward to bringing you Table Talk Live coverage from Louisville once again this year! Please be sure to stop by and see me to celebrate your wins and share your stories. Table Talk Live would not be what it is without your participation.

Tuni Conti loaded up her dog and went to the airport Monday morning to catch her flight home from the shows in Denver. Much to her surprise, while on the shuttle to the terminal, she checked to confirm her flight was on time–and what she found was a huge surprise! She booked her flight for the wrong day and did not have a ticket until Tuesday. Oops! A bit of advice from Mrs. Conti: Check your flights, friends–and make sure you booked your travel on the right day!

Fanciers celebrating birthdays this week include Blair Aguillard Commisso, Ryan Platt, Allison Sunderman, Marge Wilson, Lori Stephen, Danielle Goodland-Rose, Susanna Bjornsson, Kate Berry, Valeria Rickard, Diane Lee Severns, Anne Regan, Laura Edwards, and Ed Fojtik. We wish you all the best year yet!

Here’s something to think about: Sit with dog people committed to their growth and their dog’s growth. The conversation will be different!

Wherever your travels take you, be safe out there! May your journey be everything you had hoped for. Until next time…