“Author Archive”
Stories written by AnthonyA
The domestic dog is the most diverse species on earth. Nowhere is this more evident than in the dog show world. While much of this variation is due to the separation of breeds and further selection for oddities during the Victorian age, there were already loads of variations before then, based upon selection for function. We tend to think of that variation as first arising during ancient Egyptian times, when we find evidence of coursing and warrior dogs, and later in Roman times, when even toy dogs joined the party. But when did dogs really start to fractionate?
February 16th, 2026 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
English ivy is the worst. It strangles every bit of plant life, destroys fencing and brickwork, and worst of all, it is impossible to eradicate. As the president of the local Audubon Society explained, “It’s hard to manage invasive species like English Ivy, but it’s even harder when those plants are on an island, and your organization doesn’t own a boat.” That was the situation on Maclellan Island, a nineteen-acre wildlife sanctuary in the middle of the Tennessee River. A range of invasive plant life was overrunning the island’s protected flora. After a “controlled burn” failed to resolve the problem, the local fire chief suggested a truly old school solution. Goats. No one had previously considered this remedy, but they were desperate. So, they took the advice and ordered six goats. But goats need 24/7 tending, and Maclellan is uninhabited. You know where this is going.
February 15th, 2026 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
Long after the emergency has passed, many owners are left with the same question. Was there a right choice?
February 14th, 2026 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
In the dog fancy, junior showmanship is often described as a pipeline. Junior handlers are born into the sport, grow up in the sport, hone their skills in the ring, deepen their husbandry knowledge as assistants, and eventually transition into roles as breeders, judges, or professional handlers. Within this narrative, there is an unspoken assumption that the most committed juniors are those who never step away–the ones seen working diligently each weekend, remaining continuously visible, continuously competing, and continuously immersed.
February 13th, 2026 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
How does one be impartial and still have the perception of being impartial?
February 12th, 2026 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
A great many aspects of our daily lives changed with the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. Some of those changes included losing access to conformation and training classes, puppy matches, dog shows, as well as companion and performance events. To meet our needs, the American Kennel Club began to offer us titling events virtually, and many of us used that opportunity and were greatly appreciative.
February 11th, 2026 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
Click here to listen on Canine Chronicle TV! Award-winning audio producer and Canine Chronicle feature writer Sarah Montague has created an audio documentary celebrating the 150th anniversary of this iconic event. It moves from the Club’s founding in 1877 to the edge of this year’s show. On the way, we hear about a storied past; [...]
February 10th, 2026 | Posted in Featured,Videos | Read More »
Preliminary Judges Dr. Amanda K. Swanson & Ms. Angela Lloyd
February 10th, 2026 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
The Bloodhound is the acknowledged king of scent. The reason (supposedly) lies in its large number of olfactory receptors distributed in the olfactory epithelium along the intricate, maze-like scrolls of nasal turbinates. The Bloodhound’s deep muzzle has more room for more scrolling, and thus, more olfactory receptors. Each receptor sends its signal along a long nerve through a bony plate called the cribiform plate, and then to the olfactory bulb of the brain. It’s not practical to measure the surface area of the olfactory epithelium, but you can get a good estimate of the number of nerve cells by looking at how large the cribriform plate is. It turns out that cribriform plate size correlates very nicely with a species’ sense of smell.
February 9th, 2026 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
Allergic disease in both humans and canines is increasing worldwide. Theories explaining the rise in allergic disease include genetic and environmental factors. Reports of dogs and their human owners being allergic to the same indoor allergens emphasizes the importance of environmental allergens. In canines, allergic disease is largely limited to skin manifestations including atopic dermatitis (AD). In humans, allergy frequently presents as runny, itchy, watery eyes and nose, sneezing, cough, wheezing, hives, and/or itchy, dry skin.
February 8th, 2026 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
