“Author Archive”
Stories written by AnthonyA
As I am reviewing my United Airlines Mileage Plus account, the sound of Johnny Cash singing the Geoff Mack song, “I’ve Been Everywhere Man,” reverberates in my head. There on the page on the computer screen it is clear to see, but hard to believe. I have flown 94,000 miles since January this year. That represents, in airline lingo, 94,000 “BIS” miles. No. It does not mean Best in Show but “Butt In Seat” miles, those miles actually flown. The airline flights are chronicled in reverse order. From my first trip to Virginia in mid-January to my most recent to Vilnius, Lithuania, Johnny Cash has nothing on me. I have been everywhere.
September 5th, 2019 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
If you add the minutes and hours you will be spending preparing your dog for your next ring appearance to the weeks and months you have already spent conditioning, grooming, practicing stacking, baiting, and gaiting, it is easy to see the enormous commitment you have made to improving your handling skills and fully preparing your dog for a winning performance in the Juniors’ ring. For all the time and effort you have put into getting better, you will very likely receive less than five minutes of the judge’s attention.
September 4th, 2019 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
or far too long the AR people have defined dog fanciers to the general public, and it has not been a pretty picture. They’ve convinced many people that we are cruel users of animal flesh – people who abuse dogs for our own glory and sport. And we’ve been complicit, whether we know it or not, because we tend to be a pretty insular, elite group who carefully monitor the quality of homes/people our puppies are allowed to go.
August 26th, 2019 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
One Lakeland Terrier expert sent me some opinions on Lakelands especially in comparison with the Wire Fox Terrier and the Welsh Terrier breeds. I found them interesting and helpful and so I am sharing them here.
August 24th, 2019 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
Like many of you, I spend quite a bit of time on the road driving to one dog show or another. Living in southern New England, a “long drive” for me is an enviable three or four hours, but it’s still enough time that I am constantly buying audio books.
August 23rd, 2019 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
“Rescue is the Best Breed!” proclaimed the sign. Another proclaimed, “Adoption is the Best Option.” Several mixes paraded about with harnesses that read “Adopt Me!” or “Rescue Me!” There was a “Kiss-a-Bull” pit bull rescue kissing booth—-yeah, that’s not a lawsuit waiting to happen. Many families were walking around trying to outdo one another with their rescue’s sad tale with the dogs in question at the end of their leads. We were at the Houston World Series of Dog Shows last week.
August 22nd, 2019 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
Most of us can pretty easily define “kennel blind.” We think of the people who post little snippets of their breed standard along with a photo of their dog who objectively does not meet the description. But, more and more, it seems like there is a trend towards another kind of kennel blindness: those people who will happily tell you what they would like to improve in their own dogs, but are completely incapable of seeing the good in other people’s dogs.
August 21st, 2019 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
We asked experienced AKC judges two questions about current issues affecting our sport.
Here’s what they had to say…
August 20th, 2019 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
