IMHO – Advice & Suggestions for New Judges
We asked 3 experienced AKC judges 2 questions about current issues affecting our sport. Here’s what they had to say…
“Author Archive”
Junior Showmanship – Can It Be Fun & Competitive?
Recently, my wife and I were sitting ringside watching Junior Showmanship when we heard a mother say to her daughter, “You’re not here to have fun, you are here to win.” The child had been engaged in what appeared to be a very pleasant conversation with a friend before being called to the ring.
Bronco: The Mountain Climbing Maltese
Possibly, it undermines the extravagant fantasies of a legion of aspirants. But the truth is—as every bona fide dog expert will freely admit…yes, sometimes even they find them- selves out of their depth in this unpredictable doggy universe.
Lessons from a Professor and his Bloodhound
Sterling Nicholson, the late Dr. Jim Edwards’ step-son, and Sterling’s wife, Erica, are among the kindest, most talented, and caring people on the planet.
Handsome Dan – A Bulldog Becomes a Yale Tradition
These days, when sports news overshadows world events, it’s easy to forget how recently this phenomenon began. There was a time when none of it, not even football, was a national obsession. Obviously, that was before 1967. Nothing close to Super Bowl magnitude was on anybody’s radar back in 1890 when Ivy League football and Bulldogs converged to create a brand image with almost cultish endurance.
Breed Priorities – The American Eskimo Dog
THE American Eskimo Dog is one of the Spitz breeds found for centuries in northern and central Europe. They are characterized by a long, thick coat, pointed erect ears, a pointed muzzle, and a tail that typically curls over the back. A descendant of the German Spitz, the Eskie was used as a general-purpose farm dog and watch dog.
IMHO – Couples Who Judge Together
I have often wondered if couples who judge together go back to the quiet of the hotel rooms, vehicles, or wait until they get home to compare and contrast their judg- ing after they finish an assignment. Oh, to be a fly on the wall if they do. What better way to gain some insight into that than to ask some great judges who are devoted to their lives in dogs and equally devoted to their lives together? Here are some sincere and humorous replies to the ques- tions asked of them this month.
Tattletales – The Tail Tells All!
Mainly, as an appendage, the tail aids in the maintenance and recovery of equilibrium, it supports locomotion and also helps round off physical balance. Moreover, concerning dog body language, besides posture, the tail is a communication device ensuing in the maxim, “A dog thinks with his tail.”
The Next 100 Years? – What Ever Happened to The Mopsie?
In these days of sick entries and nonexistent majors there’s lots of offhand speculation about the demise of various breeds. Although we joke about it, we never actually entertain such catastrophic possibilities within the rarified universe of the sport. Of course, the fact that AKC stopped publishing actual stats definitely helps to reinforce that sense of security (wink).
The Changing Face of Our Enemy
Marketing specialists, military commanders, lobbyists, Animal Rights Activists and successful business men have several things in common. They are all prone to study and focus on the successful strategies of others if it furthers their goals and objectives. The best are good learners who believe it is important to know what and how their opponent thinks, recruits and functions. They also have a need to know how they can grow the size of their organization’s foot print.
