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278 – July, 2026

By Lee Connor

Many years ago, we bought a tiny black and tan Miniature Dachshund puppy (who would later become the renowned ‘Alfie’) and dutifully attended our local ringcraft classes.

Here, he (we) learned all about ring etiquette and, more importantly, Alfie also learned about socializing with other dogs.

One of these dogs was a huge, rufous-haired beast of an animal who Alfie quickly developed a bizarre kind of magnetism for!

I was quite wary of the two interacting, fearing that the little one could quite easily end up as a tasty snack, but the big dog’s owner was quite insistent, “Oh, he’ll be fine, Leo is an absolute lamb…” Yeah, I’d heard that line before…

Tentatively, I allowed Alf to move over to say hello…it was love at first sight.The big dog was so gentle with our little fella, permitting all kinds of doggy indiscretions!

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260 – July, 2026

By Dr. Carmen Battaglia

By the time you finish reading this article, I hope you will come to the conclusion that dog clubs have increasingly come to recognize the need for more workers. Unfortunately, many are missing an opportunity that is hiding in plain sight. All clubs need more volunteers. Those who have found a way to develop this army of workers are building the backbone and atmosphere necessary to support the future success of their club. The better clubs find ways to recruit and use these individuals to benefit their club and the sport. For example, we know that members and non-members who volunteer to serve do so because they know it helps their club and it builds friendships. Collectively they like being with others, they want to help where needed, and they care about the sport. Yes, there are other benefits produced by volunteers including the economic, professional, and personal benefits. In many ways volunteers inject thousands of dollars into local economies across the country. Dog show data collected by AKC confirms that communities benefit from hotel stays, food, liquor, and gasoline sales– money spent by volunteers and those attending shows. For some of the younger volunteers, it boosts their employment prospects. Generally speaking, volunteers provide an effective and meaningful service, and demonstrate their commitment to a cause. Some see themselves as problem-solvers. Others have the satisfaction of seeing what they bring to the sport, their club, and the local community through their efforts.

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244 – July, 2026

By Lisa Dubé Forman

How did our journey into the wild world of canine reproduction become such a three-ring circus? Most of you know what I’m talking about, so don’t pretend otherwise. Just ask any private, purebred dog breeder muttering as their bitch nears her heat cycle—they’ll confirm the madness. Honestly, we’ve all gone a bit mad. Yet here we are, doomed to repeating the cycle until our wallets wave the white flag.

If you’ve retired from breeding or let Mother Nature call the shots, you’re blissfully unaware of the spectacle you’re missing! Hats off to you—you probably think the rest of us, orchestrating puppy litters with syringes and science, have gone completely bonkers. The madness is real: artificial insemination now takes center stage, with theriogenology’s high-tech wizardry stealing the show. Nearly every breeder I know sheepishly confesses to relying on artificial insemination more often than not. But the real showstopper? The jaw-dropping costs and the endless hours it devours.

Let’s dive into theriogenology and canine reproduction. Here’s our roadmap: we’ll touch on natural breeding, then veer into artificial insemination, with its fresh-chilled and frozen methods—each with its own twist, timing, and price tag. Fair warning: this is a maze of details, so buckle up! You’ll soon see my favorite phrase: ‘It depends.’

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232 – July, 2026

By Lisa Dubé Forman

The cell phone dilemma. These gadgets have become so woven into our daily routines that some folks can barely function without them–even in the middle of a dog show ring.

Not long ago, an AKC Facebook group post sparked a disagreement about professional handlers and exhibitors using cell phones in the show ring during judging, either to text or answer a call. The topic was a hornet’s nest! Here’s what started it. A spectator observed a handler in the ring waiting to be examined when, reportedly, the handler’s phone rang loudly enough for everyone to hear–and the handler answered it. The original poster called it appalling. Maybe not the best adjective, given that it sounds like an overstatement of their reaction, but clearly they were upset.

Before the comments were shut down, 91 opinions poured in. Some argued that professional handlers need phones in the ring to coordinate assistants or juggle time conflicts, and seeing no harm in it. Others likened answering a call to chatting with someone outside the ring, so they shrugged it off. Some swore that possible kennel emergencies or having kids made phone availability essential. A handful stood their ground, declaring any cell phone use during a dog’s exhibition completely off-limits. I doubt the original poster expected such a whirlwind of differing opinions.

Let’s settle the controversy here and now about whether using a cell phone in the show ring is permissible. Here is an excerpt from Page 9 of the Red Book, aka Rules, Policies and Guidelines for Conformation Dog Show Judges. This is an AKC policy denoted with the letter [P].

The judge, ring steward, and exhibitors may not initiate or receive any phone calls and/or text messages while in the ring and judging is in progress.

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226 – July, 2026

By Elaine Lessig

Once upon a time, very long ago, my husband and I made our first trip to England to visit two breeders whose acquaintance we made at a specialty show in San Diego, California. In talking with each other, we discovered we had a lot in common. We both had acquired Cavalier King Charles Spaniels from the same line, and had several dogs related to each other. Both of the gentlemen were eager for us to visit them. The opportunity to actually see their dogs and those from other breeders in England was too good to refuse.

In those days, the only way to communicate was through letters and expensive long distance phone calls. Being able to see dogs from several different breeders was exciting. At that time, I had already purchased a beautiful tricolor bitch puppy, sight unseen, from a well-known breeder. Going to see her kennel was to be the highlight of our visit. Our hosts planned for us to visit other kennels, too, during the time we were there. Back then, my own breeding program was in its infancy. I had studied the breed for quite awhile and knew what I wanted. I was well-prepared to be face to face with the dogs and their breeders.

First of all, I wanted to meet the breeder of my glamorous tricolor. My friends made arrangements for us to go out to the countryside to see her and the dogs. Early that morning, the phone rang. Unfortunately, her father died during the night. She was unable to see us. I understood and sympathized with the situation, but disappointment kept creeping into my thoughts. Off we went to see some lovely English gardens and enjoy a delicious lunch at an historic country house hotel.

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218 – July, 2026

]]> https://caninechronicle.com/current-articles/the-big-e-enough-is-not-enough/feed/ 0 https://caninechronicle.com/current-articles/showing-a-dog-under-its-breeder-the-akc-rule-change/ https://caninechronicle.com/current-articles/showing-a-dog-under-its-breeder-the-akc-rule-change/#comments Mon, 20 Jul 2026 11:53:22 +0000 https://caninechronicle.com/?p=363357 Click here to read the complete article
196 – July, 2026

By Caroline Coile

There’s always an uproar at the World Show. One of the “scandals” this year was a dog winning BOB under a judge who was also its breeder. Fortunately, AKC would never allow that—right?

Wrong. It does.

Which begs the question: Would you be tempted to show your dog under its breeder? Would you like it if your competition did? Should there be a rule against it?

That’s the purpose of a proposed rule change being discussed in the AKC Delegate Dog Show Rules committee, and surprisingly, its outcome is far from certain.

Judges and exhibitors share certain restrictions when it comes to entering dogs. For example, a judge can’t pass judgement upon any dog which he or any member of his immediate household or immediate family (as defined by Chapter 11, Section 13) has handled in the ring more than twice during the preceding twelve months (Chapter 7, Section 14 of The Rules Applying to Dog Shows). A judge also cannot pass judgement on a dog exhibited by a person with whom he has had a business transaction in the preceding 12 months. The onus is on the judge in these cases. But judges don’t always know if a dog being shown is one they may have bred or more often, co-bred.

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196 – July, 2026

By Omar Gonzalez

There was a time when the conversation always began with type. When breeders spoke, they spoke of heads and boning, of expression and balance, of silhouettes that told a story long before the animal ever took a step. We discussed virtues, forgave faults, and measured excellence against the standard, not against popularity. But somewhere along the way, the conversation shifted. The dialogue quieted. And in its place rose something far louder, far emptier: hype.

We see it in the rings. Animals promoted not because they embody the ideal, but because they have been packaged well, marketed, circulated, hashtagged, and declared “important” long before their merit ever earned the whisper of that word. It is a strange phenomenon, when we as a community begin to accept hype as proof, as if repetition alone can create correctness. But hype has no pedigree, no bone structure, no proportionality. It carries no genetic weight. It cannot produce the next generation. Only type can do that.

Yet hype spreads quickly. It is seductive. It makes people believe that approval is equivalent to excellence. That popularity is synonymous with quality. And that recognition, no matter how shallow or short-lived, is the same as true achievement. We all know better, but we don’t always demand better. And that is where the damage begins.

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164 – July, 2026