Bearded Collie takes Best In Show The American Heart Association’s Healthy Bond for Life™ is excited to announce the Group and Best In Show winners of the first-ever International Heart Classic Virtual Dog Show. The event had 323 entries. Dogs were judged in three groups – puppy, adult, and veteran – by a panel of over 130 world-class judges. [...]
Dogs were judged in three groups – puppy, adult, and veteran – by a panel of over 130 world-class judges.
Maxine Beam was judging at this show and it was great talking to her about old times when we were both handlers. Maxine is one of the really good dog judges that we have. She does not push herself and what you see is what you get. I love to watch her work because she is so methodical and knows what she is doing. People who have had that many good dogs through their hands and were successful are people that I tremendously respect in this sport. Maxine is one of the very few.
As I began working on this week’s column, I learned yet more troubling news on the AKC front: When they “furloughed” nearly 1/3 of the AKC staff with barely 24 hours of notice, in addition to the majority of the Executive Field Representatives, they also let go all but one field investigator. The field investigators are the individuals that visit kennels to ensure that records are in order, and animals are being cared for in an acceptable manner. I have to ask: What could be more important than the records and welfare of the dogs? Plus, according to many reports, the sales of puppies during this crisis is off the charts. Registrations are up, so aren’t the investigators’ services needed now more than ever?
Professional handler and dog enthusiast Brittany Cipriotti was severely in a motorcycle accident that occurred in early July.
The Laekenois, which entered Miscellaneous in 2011, has become our 196th recognized breed.
The Mid-Florida Sporting Dog Association is holding an A match August 8 at 6 PM. at the Ocala Dog Show grounds. There will be classes for 6-9, 9-12, Bred-by, American-Bred and Open.
I have been actively handling dogs for 16 years, and for the last 3½ months I, amongst others, have not been able to work at or do what we love. Due to the fear of the CoVid-19, a lot of shows have been canceled or rescheduled for future dates which has caused so many in our sport significant hardship.
It’s believed Danish and Norwegian Vikings who organized marauding expeditions to the British Islands from the 8th till the 11th century took Mastiff-like dogs home with them to Scandinavia, as stolen goods. A dog skeleton found by archaeologists in an old Viking village on the Island of Fyn had the form and shape of the Broholmer dog of today. Because local dogs in that time were far smaller and of a Spitz type, the theory about the ‘Viking dogs’ is considered correct. Additional proof is the so-called ‘Dalbo dog’, also a Mastiff type. This type of dog lived in Sweden until the end of the 19th century – another reason the Broholmer is considered a distant descendant of the dogs the Vikings took home with them ages ago.
It’s 30 years and counting since a breeder/owner/handler worked that magic. According to Westminster spokesman David Frei… “Will it ever happen again? I believe it will …” We’ll find out on February 17th. See you there!
