By Tom Grabe

The four-plus day show cluster has become the staple of today’s dog show scene in the United States. A quick glance at our events calendar at www.caninechronicle.com shows how clusters of shows held in one location has become a normal, weekly occurrence in most regions. Heck, we even have a button titled “Cluster View” on our events calendar that groups the shows by cluster each weekend.

There are individual locations around the country that host more than 50 dog shows per year. A bit of investigation shows that many shows are held far from their geographic area. At the risk of sounding like an oldster clamoring for the way things were, I think that clusters are affecting participation in our sport in a very negative way.

I recall things being quite different when I was a professional handler in the ‘80s & ‘90s. We had our share of circuits. The difference is you relocated every couple of days at most of them, hence a circuit NOT a cluster. The Florida Circuit was a travelers dream–or nightmare–with the circuit beginning in Jekyll Island, Georgia and finishing in Tampa. Many other circuits across the country mirrored this routine. Most shows were held at fairgrounds with minimal facilities or small convention-type buildings. We all survived. It proved that we didn’t need a huge convention center in which to show our dogs. The important thing was we exposed purebred dogs to the territory in which the host kennel club resided and controlled.

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10 – July, 2026

Click here to read the complete article
10 – July, 2026

We hear a lot about the heroic deeds of service dogs, detection dogs, alert dogs etc. Every one of them deserves all the accolades that come their way. But what about those everyman type of dogs? The canine equivalents of some anonymous guy jumping on the tracks during rush hour to rescue an incapacitated commuter. They evaporate into ensuing chaos. End of story. Incidents like that have actually happened multiple times.

In canine translation this sort of thing would fall under the heading of “Lassie moments”, when an ordinary house pet springs into action saving the day. In a sense, those dogs deserve even more recognition simply because they come into an emergency without the benefit of any prep. And make no mistake, a certified search and rescue k9 earns the equivalent of MA within those structured programs. They learn how to respond to any and every type of emergency. The demanding, nuanced skills needed for that work become a hardwired response.

From that perspective, Rocky, a workaday North Massapequa pet could be described as having a high school education. Nonetheless, this three-year-old Australian Shepherd knew exactly what to do when his house erupted into flames in the early morning hours of July 3.

As Rocky’s owner explained to a local Long Island news station, “He was barking extremely loud, very aggressive.  When I kind of sat up in bed, we saw a glowing outside of the windows. I knew something was wrong.” It sure was. The entire house was engulfed in flames. But rather than escaping through one of many exit routes-since half the house was gone by then, Rocky went into the bedroom and true to the Lassie tradition, he barked like a reincarnation of Cujo until he got results.  Rocky’s family and their other dog were able to evacuate in the nick of time.

Next time you’re watching those old Lassie reruns just remember, once in a while an unassuming family pet really does rescue Timmy from the well.

Originally published: August 2013

According to most psychiatric journals, a problem exists when there is a discrepancy between what you are doing and what you would like to be doing. So, when there is a discrepancy between what my dogs are doing and what I would like them to be doing, it only makes sense to consult with a dog psychiatrist. But, before I shell out the big bucks for a consultation, it’s probably a good idea to compile a list of questions for which I need answers before any course of therapy can be considered.

1. Why would a 75 pound dog that ordinarily has absolutely no interest in sitting in someone’s lap suddenly become obsessed with the idea when a person is “enthroned” in the bathroom? There are many other occasions when that same person is sitting on a chair or the couch with both hands free that don’t elicit that same desire by the dog to be a lapdog. Even when invited to sit on the couch next to someone, the dog never has any interest in crawling into a lap unless it’s a necessary action to enable reaching across that lap to gain access to the gummy bears in a dish on the arm of the couch. However, as soon as that objective is achieved, the dog immediately retires to a position alongside the person, not in their lap.

But, no such retreat occurs if that someone is sitting in the bathroom. Under those circumstances nothing seems to discourage the dog’s efforts to be a lapsitter. Pushing them away only causes them to redouble their efforts to accomplish their objective. Not even a broadside of profanities that would dissolve an anvil has any deterrent effect. Along these same lines, why would a dog that wouldn’t otherwise be caught dead carrying around a pair of skivvies want to play tug-o’-war with yours when they are still firmly anchored to your body during a bathroom visit?

2. Since we’re on the subject of dogs and bathrooms, why do dogs that barely acknowledge your movement from one room to another with, at most, a lazily raised eyelid instantly leap to their feet when it appears you are headed for the bathroom? It’s easy to understand why they would eventually stroll into the kitchen when you are headed in that direction, especially when they hear pots and pans clanging about, but the bathroom? Unlike the kitchen, there never has and never will be anything remotely resembling food on the bathroom floor. The only things on that floor are wet towels and they cannot possibly hold any allure for a dog remindful as they are of baths, a bête noire for most of the dogs I’ve known. Not only do they jump up when there’s any indication you might be on the way to the bathroom but they also insist on providing close escort and walking point, intent upon saving you because they, and only they, can sense precisely where Al Qeada has planted the IEDs beneath your carpeting and the exact location of the ambushes the terrorists have planned from behind the couch and chairs along the path to the bathroom. The fact that you may want and need to make haste in achieving that objective means nothing to the dogs in their self-appointed role as your bathroom bodyguards as they attempt to herd you away from the hazards they know are concealed along the route. Nothing including cries of “Gethehelloutofmyway” which rise in volume and pitch (as your desperation trying to avoid something that hasn’t happened since you were two-years-old) grows will deter them from completing their mission to save you from the perils that lurk along the route to the bathroom.

3. How can a dog that doesn’t so much as twitch when you rattle three rounds of 12 gauge ammunition through the shotgun practically right over the dog’s head come totally unglued when they hear a faint rumble of thunder from a storm that’s probably a good 50 miles away? They certainly don’t suffer from “noise phobia” or they’d never tolerate gunshots. It’s also not like any of them have ever been caught outdoors in a bad storm. In fact, as soon as a few raindrops appear on the window, if the dogs happen to be outside, they are let into the house immediately, if for no other reason than that most wet sporting breeds are decidedly aromatic. Besides, it’s difficult to withstand the pitiful looks I get if their coat should even become slightly damp from rainfall. Remember now, I’m talking about retrievers that jump into any sizable body of water every chance they get to swim happily about for hours. Also, if we should happen to encounter rainstorms while we are hunting that would need to diminish considerably before they could be called cloudbursts and would cause most folks to begin looking up the definition of “cubits” in preparation for ark building, not only are they not bothered by their “drowned rat” image but they frolic about in it. Meanwhile, their human companions, despite being togged out in the finest available foul weather gear, are seriously contemplating taking up a different sport.

4.Why does flipping the switch of my electric toothbrush to the “on” position cause both dogs to immediately start howling a wild, high-pitched aria that winds up somewhere in the vicinity of “A” above high “C?” I say “vicinity” because neither is exactly on pitch but rather more comparable to the sound of fingernails screeching across a blackboard. Nothing I can do seems to convince them that the toothbrush is not some sort of death-ray machine that is part of a diabolical plot to involve them in a satanic ritual. This occurs even when the dogs happen to be downstairs and the toothbrushing is occurring in the upstairs bathroom. How they can even hear the barely audible buzz of the toothbrush when I’m in one end of the house on the second floor with the bathroom door closed and they are sound asleep in their dog dens on the first floor in the other end of the house is beyond me. But hear it they do and the first tiny hum of the toothbrush when the switch is moved to “on” provides the downbeat for the discordant howling symphony.

5. I need to know why the dogs always begin their furious SOMEONE’S-AT-THE-DOOR assault when I’m in the shower. They keep up their frenzied barking which crescendos until I climb out, throw on the bare minimum of covering, and race to the door dripping water all over the carpets. When I arrive at the door, I find that not only is no one there but there has probably been no one there for at least two days. Satisfied that they have succeeded in their mission to get me out of the shower, they immediately retreat from the door and within seconds are fast asleep on their pillows or the couch depending upon how the mood strikes them. A stream of profanity that exceeds the temperature of molten lava seemingly poses no deterrent to either the false someone’s-at-the-door alarms or to their desire to return to naptime once they’ve achieved their desired outcome. “Ah,” says the eminent shrink, “Then why don’t you just ignore their warnings and remain in the shower until you’ve finished?” The answer to that is quite simple: Because every time I have disregarded their alarm barking, there has actually been someone at the door and inevitably it is someone that I badly need to see like the dryer repairman, the electrician, the FedEx man with an order containing a vital part for my computer that absolutely has to be signed for, or the kid who has come to clean up the dog yard.

6. Why are there never enough holes in the dog yard to satisfy my dogs? No matter how many they have dug, they always seem to need one or two more. It’s gotten so that I have to get a Bobcat (that’s a machine folks, not the wild feline) to fill up the holes on a fairly regular basis in order for the dogs to have places to dig. It’s not as though they have any reason to be bored. They get plenty of playtime along with regular games of fetch or find the dummy. They also frequently get to go swimming during the summer months and usually there are fetching games involved in the “pond time.” They are not deprived of petting sessions. Heaven knows they don’t need to dig to find a cool place to lay. If the weather is not to their liking, they simply scratch on the door until I let them into the house which has central air-conditioning and is a constant 70 degrees. If they don’t wish to come in, there are a number of old growth trees, both deciduous and coniferous, to provide shade. The yard also covers most of an acre and is in full view of the driveway so there are frequently vehicles to escort the length of the fence, if they so desire, and they frequently do. There are no rodent holes in the yard as all the chipmunks live in the brushpile at the north end of the yard and there are no gophers in that area. There are even occasional turtles that wander through the yard to provide barking entertainment. So, it’s difficult for someone who is not a dog to understand the need for so many holes.

It is a well-established tenet of psychiatry that one of the keys to dealing with what you are doing as opposed to what you’d like to be doing is knowing exactly why you are doing whatever you are doing instead of what you’d like to be doing. It follows then that if you know why the dogs are doing the things they are doing, it is possible, at least theoretically, to change that behavior. But, is knowing the “whys” worth the $400/hr that dog psychiatrists get for their analyses? And, if I know the “whys,” is it worth all the effort that will be needed in the faint hope that it will be possible to get them to change? Now those are the real questions and odds are that not even the canine equivalent of a combination of Sigmund Freud, Alfred Adler and Carl Jung would have the answers.

The purebred dog fancy has lost one of its most respected and admired ambassadors with the passing of Mrs. Kathleen Steen of Georgia.

A highly regarded AKC Judge, accomplished breeder of German Shepherd Dogs, and devoted advocate for the sport of purebred dogs, Mrs. Steen had the honor of judging many of America’s most prestigious shows, including the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

Long before she entered the judging ranks, Kathy established herself as one of the breed’s most respected breeders through her Galewynd German Shepherd Dogs. She bred and owned numerous outstanding representatives of the breed and was associated with some of the most influential German Shepherd Dogs of their time, including the legendary Ch. Galewynd’s Georgio Armani. Expertly handled by James Moses, “Armani” captured the hearts of fanciers nationwide while finishing as one of America’s Top Dogs in 1989, leaving an indelible mark on the history of the breed.

Her influence reached far beyond the ribbons and trophies. Kathy was a steadfast supporter of the American Kennel Club and a passionate advocate for preserving the purpose and heritage of the German Shepherd Dog. She believed that every breeding decision, every judging assignment, and every conversation about dogs was an opportunity to protect the future of the breed she loved so dearly.

A longtime and beloved member of the Atlanta Kennel Club, Kathy was always willing to volunteer her time, support club activities, and lend her expertise wherever it was needed. Her kindness, professionalism, and quiet leadership earned her the admiration of everyone fortunate enough to know her.

The passing of Kathleen Steen marks the end of an extraordinary chapter in the history of dog shows and the German Shepherd Dog, but her impact on the breed and on the sport of purebred dogs will continue for generations to come.

The Canine Chronicle extends its deepest sympathies to Kathy’s family, her many friends, the members of the Atlanta Kennel Club, the German Shepherd Dog community, and all who had the privilege of knowing her. She leaves behind a legacy built on knowledge, integrity, mentorship, and an unwavering love of dogs.

She will be deeply missed, fondly remembered, and forever honored by the sport she served so faithfully.

The Ann Arbor Kennel Club show in Monroe, Michigan is cancelled today & tomorrow – Saturday & Sunday, July 4 & 5, 2026 due to damage from yesterday’s storm.

This article was a proof of concept using a holographic image of a dog head that AR-guided visualization directly overlaid onto the surgical field may improve spatial accuracy during intricate procedures without compromising speed, according to the study published in AJVR, a publication of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

AR use is expanding rapidly in medical care for humans and this pilot study represents an important step toward integrating the technology into veterinary head and neck surgeries such as operating on tumors, the authors wrote, noting that in such procedures, accurately identifying and removing cancerous lesions while avoiding healthy tissue is critical to reducing patient morbidity.

“Augmented reality technology has the potential to enhance surgical precision by overlaying 3D diagnostic imaging and biologic information directly onto the animal patient,” said lead author Dr. Stephanie Goldschmidt, associate professor of dentistry and oral surgery at the University of California, Davis.

The study involved 22 veterinarians from the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine. Future research by the team will focus on whether these findings can be translated to clinical settings.

For more information, including video simulations of the procedure, please contact Mark Rosati at the AVMA, (847) 313-9597.

WHAT: The AKC Diving Dogs Team Challenge presented by Tractor Supply Co. made a spectacular debut on Saturday, June 6th as part of the AKC Celebrates USA 250 events at the historic Navy Yard in Philadelphia, PA. Held in collaboration with North America Diving Dogs (NADD), the event brought together eight elite teams from across the country to compete in a thrilling knockout-style format. To earn their place in the competition, each canine athlete demonstrated exceptional skill in both Distance Jump and Air Retrieve, disciplines that demand a remarkable combination of strategy, athleticism, and precision from dog and handler alike. Round by round, the stakes grew higher and the competition more intense. This is championship-level dock diving at its finest, and it is absolutely not to be missed!

WHEN: Saturday, July 4^th @ 1:00pm ET

WHERE TO WATCH: Tune in to ESPN2. Check your local listings.

Representing a significant milestone in international canine sport, the FCM Universal Dog Show marks a historic collaboration between the American Kennel Club and Federación Canófila Mexicana. The four-day event will bring together top breeders, exhibitors, junior handlers, and dog enthusiasts from around the world to celebrate the excellence, diversity, and preservation of purebred dogs.

As one of the premier international dog events in the Americas, the FCM Universal Dog Show will offer exhibitors an exceptional opportunity to compete on a global stage while strengthening relationships across the international dog community. The event reflects both organizations’ shared commitment to advancing the sport of purebred dogs and promoting responsible dog ownership worldwide.

“The American Kennel Club is thrilled to partner with Federación Canófila Mexicana to present the Universal Dog Show,” said Gina M. DiNardo, AKC President and CEO. “This landmark event represents the beginning of an exciting new chapter of collaboration between our organizations. Together, we are creating new opportunities for exhibitors, expanding the reach of AKC events internationally, and celebrating the extraordinary diversity and excellence of purebred dogs on a global stage.”

The four-day event will feature AKC-Licensed conformation competition, special attractions, and exclusive opportunities for exhibitors. AKC Junior Showmanship will be offered each day, with the Best Junior Handler receiving automatic qualification to the 2027 AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin, pending all other eligibility requirements are met.

Exhibitors will have the opportunity to earn exclusive FCM titles each day and take advantage of a highly discounted AKC registration offer available to eligible foreign dogs planning to attend the event. AKC registration is required for results to be officially recognized by the AKC.

FCM will also host a special attraction event for dogs and breeds that are not currently eligible to compete in the AKC-Licensed shows, providing additional opportunities for exhibitors and celebrating the broad diversity of the canine community.

“We are thrilled to welcome exhibitors, breeders, handlers, and dog enthusiasts from around the world to this historic event. The 2026 FCM & AKC Universal Dog Show will be an unforgettable celebration of purebred dogs, international friendship, and excellence in our sport, a landmark moment that will create lasting memories and mark a new chapter in purebred dog history,” said Dr. José Luis Payró, President of the Federación Canófila Mexicana.

AKC.tv will provide a live broadcast of Saturday’s competition, featuring Group judging and Best in Show, allowing audiences around the world to experience the excitement of this historic event.

For more information about the event, including the Premium List, judging panels, point schedule, and entry information, visit https://www.akc.org/sports/conformation/fcm-universal-championship/.