“Author Archive”
Stories written by AnthonyA
Purebred is a tricky term. I mean even AKC gets it wrong once in awhile; yeah they do. We all want accuracy but on the other hand, it’s that genetic ebb and flow that keeps breeds vibrant and evolving. The true beauty of our purebred infrastructure is that long after the forces responsible for shaping type have disappeared, that ideal remains reliably anchored to key traits. And let’s face it; most breeds eventually outlive their original function. Repositioning them in today’s canine landscape is an ongoing challenge.
May 24th, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
This month we asked judges who are totally dedicated to the sport in many ways to share their very personal thoughts on two sensitive issues facing the judging community. The first is those meaningful parts of our lives as judges which are suddenly absent, and missed terribly. Next, they divulge their personal concerns about returning to dog shows and back to the world we all love. I am sure each of us can identify with what they have written.
May 23rd, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
Diamonds are girl’s best friend.” It was a song in the 1953 production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes performed by Marilyn Monroe. However, if you have ever been to a dog show, then you know man’s best friend is also a woman’s best friend. My wife and I were sitting ringside at the recently held Southern Colorado Kennel Club show and could not help but notice that the female exhibitors far exceeded the number of male competitors. However, there were plenty of men in attendance.
May 23rd, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
There are two Corgis from Wales, one with a tail (Cardigan) and one without (Pembroke). But there are more differences beyond the tail. They were developed in different parts and geographies in Wales.
May 22nd, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
Obviously, we are all charting the same vision board of purebred renaissance. And some of AKC’s recent inspirations are reviving my faith in the brain trust over at corporate. So, let’s discuss one of these new projects, the AKC Patriotic Puppy Program. Technically, the idea’s not that new. 1941 marked the first daring collaboration between AKC and civilian groups to create a homegrown K9 defense force. And despite wholesale skepticism and a few wrong turns, it revolutionized America’s military preparedness and laid the groundwork for programs that have since evolved into a global megabusiness, which is the basis of our current problem.
May 18th, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
What a terrible week March 14-21 was for our dog show family. This is being written as our world is faced with the expanding threat of a Pandemic. As we prepare to deal with whatever that will bring… events in our lives still march on seemingly oblivious to the pandemonium. Three of our lifelong friends have left us. One was very painful for the Afghan Hound fancy. Floyd Gale passed away on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. His loss shouldn’t be overlooked. He represents so many in our sport that gave much for their chosen breed. I write this for him and those like him we have lost.
May 17th, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
Lately, there’s lots of talk about the AKC’s judges’ approval process. What else is new? They’re constantly revamping and debugging the system. Even people going through it admit they can’t keep up with the endless barrage of policy changes. But we can agree that for awhile now mentoring has been a major aspect of it.
May 16th, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
In our divisive world, it’s no surprise that the inferno of national politics has jumped across the chasm and landed square in the middle of our sport. For more than a century, we managed to keep our disagreements in the context of the sport with no basis in national politics. Seemingly eternal issues like too many shows, judging approval processes, poor judging, grooming space, and parking had nothing to do with our presumed political affiliation. Opinions were based on our views of the sport itself. Not so much anymore. With COVID-19, one of the sport’s biggest challenges in history, the question of when to resume dog shows has become the core argument.
May 12th, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
In these dark and quite frightening times, what we need to hear, more than ever before, are stories of resilience, perseverance and eventual triumph. It is of no surprise that the popular fairy tales, which we were all brought up on, were often also written in times of great fear, challenge and hardship.
May 12th, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
It’s been a long time since Louisville was abruptly shut down, mid-cluster. It’s been a long time since those who rely on dog shows for their income have been able to do their work, and it’s been a long time since those who just love dog shows, dog sports, dog people and dog events have had a dog show fix. With the list of cancelled events stretching into September, some people despair that they’ll never see a dog show again.
May 6th, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
