“Author Archive”
Stories written by AnthonyA
Mutts in Junior Showmanship? That’s what the AKC 18-month pilot program is allowing come this summer. And a lot of people are not happy. “We’re supposed to be ambassadors for promoting purebred dogs,” says one exhibitor. “Showing in AKC should be a goal not a given,” says another, and “Preserving purebred dogs is what separates the AKC from 4-H and other registries.” Many question why no survey of JS exhibitors or judges was ever distributed. Some even see it as a money-grab by the AKC, basically soaking mutt owners for what entry fees they can get before the hapless exhibitors, likely at a disadvantage, give up and go home.
February 6th, 2021 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
Like the proverbial bad penny that keeps coming back, tax season is upon us. And, while there is a wealth of information out there about tax deductions for small business owners in general, when you operate a purebred dog breeding business out of your home, it can be far more challenging to see just how some of the tax laws realistically apply to you.
February 5th, 2021 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured,Uncategorized | Read More »
“I tell my veterinary students that, unless another infectious disease comes along that we don’t yet know about, such as covid-19 did in humans, Bartonella will cause them more problems in their careers than anything else.”
February 4th, 2021 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
Anyone who has had a Judeo-Christian upbringing has no doubt read Genesis and knows the story of the Creation. But what the Old Testament chroniclers didn’t mention was this: That in the beginning, after creating the heavens and the earth along with all the creatures that inhabit it, after resting for awhile from his arduous work, God’s creative juices again began to flow. And, so after He created a number of other things, when he reached for a fist full of good sense for His next project, He’d run out of it. But, no matter. Rather than wait until more could be made, God simply created bird hunters instead.
February 2nd, 2021 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
All dog judging poses risks. Especially judging field events, as I learned on numerous occasions during the 15 or so years that I judged all three types of hunt tests although even in such sedate and highly controlled worlds as the show ring or at performance events there are perils. Judges are always at the mercy of the elements at field events or outdoor shows and it is almost always too hot, too cold, too rainy, too windy or too snowy for comfort. It is frequently necessary to deal with irate handlers or owners in the field or at performance events who are incensed because you failed to give their dog a qualifying score even though the dog’s performance was light years away from the minimally accepted standards for that event or in the show ring, because their dog wasn’t the winner. It is always necessary, particularly at field events, to make the test run smoothly and fairly for all dogs which means being something of a diplomat because of the need to try to keep everyone, including your staff, happy and as comfortable as possible. If your staff is unhappy, they can sabotage the most beautifully designed test or test site and the success or failure of a test design is always ultimately the judge’s responsibility.
January 29th, 2021 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
Last month we demonstrated the power of three little words judges use to describe themselves, how exhibitors perceive them, and the impact they have on their judging. Now the tables get turned. We asked two newer breeder-judges and a judges’ education chair to share their specific descriptions of good judges and the judging community in general. These questions were asked and answered prior to the April edition of The Canine Chronicle being published.
Did those responses coincide or collide? This look into the minds of members of the judges’ community and those who breed, teach, judge and exhibit, presents a unique and remarkable insight to our dog show world in 2021.
January 29th, 2021 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
Recently, the UK Kennel Club announced that it was expanding its ‘Breed Watch System’. This system is supposed to act as a kind of ‘early warning’ for judges, allowing them to identify points of concern in individual breeds.
January 24th, 2021 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
In the beginning, man’s relationship with dogs was limited to hunting. With the evolution of the human species, raising crops and livestock became some of man’s most important livelihoods. Dogs became well integrated into human communities and immediately found a place in what can be seen as man’s first steps towards civilization. Together with man, the dog became a shepherd.
January 23rd, 2021 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
When I first created my Facebook profile as a young teenager, “social media” was still a new concept at that time and I was excited to finally explore all its potential. Naturally, my dogs soon dominated my Facebook as well as Instagram, Twitter, Snap Chat, etc. I am not alone in this phenomenon. As soon as the internet spits out a new social media platform, dog people have a knack for turning it to their benefit. In fact, many kennel clubs, breeders and handlers are more likely to use social media to promote themselves versus traditional websites or printed materials. Why? Social media panders to a wider audience along with a more specific audience depending upon the filters in place. Also, once a post is made, it is immediately viewable by anyone with access.
January 23rd, 2021 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
Minka was one of those young dogs breeders dream about. She won the group, breeder/owner/handled, her first time out as a special, and shot up in the rankings within weeks. One night, after a huge breed win, she kept me up having to go out. By the next day it was obvious we needed to skip the rest of the weekend and head home. It would be her last show
January 18th, 2021 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
