It’s just a colorful strip of material embellished with gold lettering and, in reality, worth only pennies. It’s what that ribbon represents which makes it something special. That slim purple swath may denote points toward a championship earned by hours of grooming, conditioning and training.
Hunting dogs can bring back some pretty strange things on occasion. Perhaps that’s not unusual for dogs bred and trained to do things that, for the most part, go against their nature.
Bulldog has long been considered Britain’s national dog. We commonly speak, when describing the British, of their ‘Bulldog spirit’ (exemplified in the Second World War) and the breed is still looked upon by many around the world as being emblematic of an Englishman.
Since the beginning of domestication, humans have inten- tionally and unintentionally modified the purpose, function, structure and behavior of dogs, resulting in the development of more than 400 breeds.
The first article in this series dealt with the hindquarters, the second with the front assembly. Now we need to bridge the gap between the two. For it is the design of this bridge which provides the outline of the dog which is often one of the most recognizable components of breed type.
While my wife and I were waiting for the Group judging to begin at a recent all-breed show, my ringside neighbor introduced himself as an owner and breeder of one of the comparatively rare breeds (average monthly registration under 20).
We asked an AKC Judge, Breeder/Owner/Handler & Professional Handler the following question: Should National Specialties move from place to place each year or always remain in the same location?
There is something going on in the professional dog world. Everyone has gotten used to the critics claiming dog shows are purely beauty pageants that exploit dogs as stepping stones for human success, and additionally with financial gain as the main incentive.
The most important dog event in America does not happen every year in New York. Nor does it happen every year in Orlando. In fact, it does not happen every year at all. It happens every two years, in St. Louis: the AKC Canine Health Foundation National Parent Club Canine Health Conference.
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