Curated By Elaine Lessig

Click here to read the complete article
194 – April, 2026

By Elaine Lessig

Yes! Expeditious is a real word. It implies being both quick and efficient. Look it up in a good dictionary. There, you will also get a greater understanding of the word. Dear readers, it is very important that you know. The tale to be shared with you will take you on an unexpected journey. Five American Kennel Club judges thought they were lost–only to find one another, and more, during a 3-day expedition. Together, with great empathy for each other, an effective, prompt, and skillful approach to return to their homes was set in motion. Without wasting any time, the five judges competently jumped into action without any hesitation or resistance. Determination is a good thing!

For me, the story begins on Saturday, February 21, 2026. I left the snow-covered wilds of New Jersey on February 18th for a four-day dog show in Madison, Wisconsin. All the weather reports estimated a two- to four-inch snowfall for our area. With three large snowstorms before this one, the amount seemed minuscule. At noon on the 21st, while at lunch, I received a text from United Airlines, which is never good news. Several others received one, too. My flight back to Newark Airport on Monday morning was cancelled. The Northeast was preparing for the most dangerous of the snowstorms this season. Blizzard conditions were expected beginning in the wee hours of Sunday through Monday morning. I rebooked my flight home for later on Monday after my flight early on Monday was canceled. By then, I anticipated the storm would be over and the runways cleared.

Click here to read the complete article
192 – April, 2026

By Jordan Moore

I have been incredibly fortunate to become an advocate for assistants through the opportunity to publicly write for The Canine Chronicle. One of the most frequent questions I am asked is, “How do you not get burnt out?” The truth is, that is a complicated question.

When I was working for Erin Piercy-Foreman in California, she said something that has stayed with me ever since: this is a passion-based job. This is not a 9-to-5 job where you clock out and go home. You must truly love what you do to show dogs. Over the years, that statement has been proven to be true time and time again.

Every single person in this sport, not just assistants, begins for the same reason. We love the dogs. From there, exhibitors choose different paths. For many, becoming an assistant is about education. It is about learning the craft, understanding presentation, conditioning, timing, ring awareness, client relationships, and the countless details that go into being successful in this sport.

Now, let us get into the reality of it.

Click here to read the complete article
186 – April, 2026

By Caroline Coile

In many species, odd colors are welcomed to the point that sometimes entire breeds are created around them. But in dogs, we tend to be conservative, especially when a color is related to possible health problems. We like our merle dogs to remain in our merle breeds, and our standards disallow the results of merle to merle breedings. They certainly disallow merles in non-merle breeds, silvers in non-silver breeds, and albinos in every breed. That said, the pet market has a demand for off-color dogs in every popular breed. Could the next fad “rarity” be colorpoints?

And how do these relate to albinos and Burmese-like patterned dogs?

Albinism and colorpoints are well-known in many mammals. In most of them, both traits appear to be caused by recessive alleles on the C locus. But that does not appear to be the case with dogs. In dogs, colorpoint is still caused by a recessive mutation at the C locus, but albinism is not.

What does seem to be shared throughout species with these coat patterns is some kind of mutation that affects the production of the tyrosinase enzyme that produces melanin. But the mutation need not be on the C-locus, as we shall see is the case in dogs.

Albino Dogs

Click here to read the complete article
180 – April, 2026

By Lisa Dubé Forman

The future of purebred dog breeding may be hanging by a thread. Whether it is your hobby or your life’s calling, its future teeters on the tough realities we confront, ‘running dogs’ every day. Our sport and passion clash with growing costs that threaten all but the wealthiest or luckiest among us. Can ethical, small-scale purebred breeding survive today’s economic pressures?

As many of us have read, the AKC has been grappling with Net Operating Losses, largely because of declining dog registration revenue. Post-COVID, numbers have fallen below 2018 registration levels, revealing a sharp decline from the 1990 peaks. Breeders’ financial struggles are clearly influencing this steady shrinkage in registration numbers.

The inescapable macroeconomic factor is the rising cost of veterinary care, which is soaring and outpacing most breeders’ ability to keep up. Pet health insurance for a kennel full of dogs is a fantasy for many. Multi-dog policies are financially unattainable, and even basic plans are full of loopholes, require add-ons, or are capped at meager annual sums like $5,000 or lifetime caps of $10,000. The situation worsens as major insurers like Nationwide have canceled 100,000 or more policies, abandoning countless dogs–many aging or already ill–without coverage. Others may soon follow.

Click here to read the complete article
166 – April, 2026

By Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia

When breeders gather to discuss important matters about dogs, you will most likely hear their opinions on reasons for owning their breed, why they love them, and some of the problems they have noticed. In other discussions with a different set of breeders, the focus will vary and depend on the breed’s function. For example, when a gathering involves those who breed dogs for the blind, those used to protect the country, and those who compete in AKC dog sports, their conversations center around breeding, training, and all the related problems. When you listen to those who purchase dogs for law enforcement, you will hear conversations about why they use certain breeds and why they have preferences.

Over the years, I have learned that after listening to these groups, reading the literature, and watching dogs in the field perform, you learn to appreciate how important the differences are and why they are needed. Researchers have studied these preferences and differences and confirmed that some breeds are more sociable, better problem solvers, and are easier to train than others. Digging further, I found that the answers about breed differences seem to be tucked away in knowing more about the important breeder skill called “Breed Knowledge”. It means knowing a breed’s origin and purpose and its dreaded diseases–which are those that can kill, cripple, cause early death, or blindness. A breed’s history also explains why breeders look for certain traits and characteristics, and why they avoid others when selecting breeding partners. For example, when an American Hairless Terrier stands next to a Newfoundland, the physical differences between the breeds are obvious.

Click here to read the complete article
146 – April, 2026

]]> https://caninechronicle.com/current-articles/breed-differences-gaining-the-advantage/feed/ 0 https://caninechronicle.com/current-articles/feral-dogs-humans-a-complex-relationship/ https://caninechronicle.com/current-articles/feral-dogs-humans-a-complex-relationship/#comments Sun, 12 Apr 2026 12:00:59 +0000 AnthonyA https://caninechronicle.com/?p=354564 Click here to read the complete article
144 – April, 2026

By Amy Fernandez

Feral, stray, street dog–regardless of the label, this gigantic segment of the canine population is woefully misunderstood. It is an understatement to say they have failed to achieve good press. Historically reviled, there are legitimate reasons for that feeling. Nonetheless, they have staying power, which illustrates their unique slot in the ecosystem. According to The Evolutionary History of Dogs, “If one counts the domestic dog as a specialized adaptation for cohabiting with humans, as some people have claimed, then Canis has achieved the ultimate success in occupying nearly every corner of the world.” It’s not magic; dogs are the ultimate opportunists. They have an almost prescient ability to adapt and maximize their survival within any environment. We witness this every day at home.

On a wider scale, we see it in the global population of feral dogs/street dogs/free-ranging dogs that’s now estimated to be 700-900 million. Historically viewed as a nuisance and earmarked for eradication, a more enlightened view of the situation is beginning to prevail. Researchers finally realized that these dogs, living in such proximity to us, offer an unparalleled source of information on the evolving human condition.

These packs are comprised of true feral dogs descended from generations of feral stock. Pets and strays and individual dogs easily shift between camps. Although these packs have mostly disappeared in the US, they continue to thrive in some of the most surprising regions of the world.

Click here to read the complete article
144 – April, 2026

By William Given

At a recent club meeting, I was asked, “What do you think about the problem of over-refined males, and its possible relationship to monorchism?” She went on to explain that while she could understand the desire of breeders to refine the heads of males, in certain breeds, that she believed it should be achieved using lines that did not carry monorchism. She then expressed her understanding that masculinity in dogs follows the development of the testes to maturity, and that, if in some breeds, the males naturally tend to have larger heads than females, it seemed possible that the smaller heads would be the result of the male hormone being produced by a single testicle. Therefore, half the normal amount.

I found her question to be thought-provoking. And though she was satisfied with the response I provided, in retrospect, I believe I could have provided a more complete answer to her question.

A look at the facts

I can accept the premise that the efforts of breeders to breed more refined males with uncharacteristically smaller heads and other refined or more feminine features may, in some breeds, lead to a loss of virility. However, I do not believe that there is any justification for the assumption that this is due to the use of monorchids or their descendants.

The wording of her question suggests that monorchids are lacking in masculine qualities and are just as likely to pass that deficiency on to their offspring. In fact, the vast majority of monorchids are not in any way effeminate with respect to their physical appearance or sexual behavior. Also, they are no more likely to sire puppies of a particular type than fully intact males.

It is semi-productive

Click here to read the complete article
138 – April, 2026

By Patricia Nemirovsky de Alsina

Let me tell you a story about a true breeder. She got her first Airedale in 1981, and that’s when this love affair was born. It continues, strong today.

It has never been easy.

She always worked very hard–even when her strength was almost completely gone.

She’s a PRESERVATION BREEDER: one that’s passionate for her breed (beyond rosettes or recognition). She’s one of those dedicated dog-people that dream to, one day, win on a prestigious stage (like Montgomery…, or Westminster…, or CRUFTS).

Click here to read the complete article
130 – April, 2026

By Michael Canalizo

I read this (bold text below) and wondered: “What if…???”

PARENT CLUB’S RECOMMENDATION FOR AKC APPROVAL ON A MEMBER OF THEIR CLUB TO JUDGE THEIR BREED

• Parent Clubs are invited to submit recommendations, not to exceed three members each year.

• Submit certified copy of meeting minutes at which action was taken by the Parent Club Board. Requirements from Applicant/Judge:

• All recommendations by Parent Clubs must include 20 years in the breed by applicant with breeding/exhibiting success.

• Must include 10 years of membership in Parent Club.

• Must be occupationally eligible.

• Must be 21 years of age.

• Procedural and anatomy test required, and if applicable, scale and wicket test required.

• If for the first breed, pass procedural interview with AKC Executive Field Representative.

• Must pass breed standard test.

• A $35 per breed fee is required.

Click here to read the complete article
122 – April, 2026