A four-year old Cavalier presented to a veterinarian emergency room with panting, a heart rate of 200, and tremors. Urgent lab work revealed hypokakemia (2.1 mmol/L), hyperglycemia (125 mg/dl), and metabolic acidosis (blood pH, venous 7.29). The dog was admitted and treated with IV fluids, IV potassium replacement, and oral propranolol. Over the next 24 hours, the dog’s heart rate, blood pressure, and electrolytes were corrected.
Mrs. Dodge would probably give it a B+. Morris and Essex was envisioned on a truly grand concept of the perfect dog show. Gorgeous setting, breathtaking yet very tasteful set design, gracious ambiance… Okay, point made. However, the entire deal was there for a single purpose. There were, and are, plenty of places to enjoy lovely scenery and a picnic lunch. But this was about framing spectacular dogs to their best possible advantage.
I don’t know if you remember, but quite a few years ago the mainstream media was suddenly flooded with stories about the sale of the world’s most expensive dog.
She watched the two-day spectacle of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on television. She was mesmerized by the bond the dogs shared with their handlers and the pageantry of it all. She was absolutely certain this was the sport for her, and she was young enough that she could compete for many years to come. Knowing only that she needed a purebred dog, she went to the pet store at the mall and fell in love with a Standard Longhaired Dachshund. She waited patiently for him to become six months old and entered him in what was to be their first dog show.
Red? Poodles primarily come in black, white, or brown. However, they come in many other colors, including grey, silver, silver-beige, cream, caf-au-lait, blue, apricot, and yes, red. The rarest Poodle colors are considered to be blue, red, and apricot (light red), with apricot being cited as the rarest of all colors, due to their very unique combination of recessive color genes and the interaction of known and yet unknown modifier genes.
Last month, I wrote about why it’s so important to be an assistant before becoming a professional handler. This time, I’d like to explore the opposite point of view.
Every time I head out to judge a dog show, my partner, Juliandro, says to me, “Find a Star!”
An American Kennel Club (AKC) affiliate, the Nashville Kennel Club (NKC) operates at the heart of the purebred dog community.
Going to court is something most people dread – for very good reasons. For most participants in the world of field trials and hunt tests, the American Kennel Club’s disciplinary system represents fairness, structure, and integrity. It’s what keeps our sport credible. We believe that when misconduct occurs, there’s a clear process to protect both people and dogs – one that ensures accountability and safety.
Junior handlers are the future of our sports, and that means as adults we need to be encouraging, supporting, and mentoring to the kids and teens we see at shows.
