By: Lisa M. Freeman, DVM, PhD, DACVIM Recently, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued their fourth update on diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) – this time, in the form of frequently-asked questions about this serious heart disease. To make sure pet owners have the most accurate and up-to-date information, I thought this would be a good [...]
Too big to fail, that remark has become so ubiquitous–well at least since 2008–that it really has morphed into a running joke. Bear Stearns? Ha Ha! But at least from a purebred perspective, it retains some relevance. Some breeds truly are too big to fail. And maybe it sounds ironic but the classic example is the smallest breed of all, the Chihuahua. As the standard says, “A well balanced little dog not to exceed six pounds.” Officially, that makes it the smallest genuine breed.
By: Katherine Unger Baillie Charlie, Jari, and Kiwi are pet dogs with a superpower: Their sensitive noses can distinguish between a healthy deer and one sick with chronic wasting disease (CWD), all from a whiff of the deer’s poop. That’s the finding of a study by scientists from Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine, published in the journal Prion. [...]
In 1932, the Westbury Kennel Association offered the first “Children’s Handling Class.” It was an idea that had been percolating for years, as children accompanying their parents to shows were bored and restless. Leonard Brumby, Sr., then the President of the Professional Handlers’ Association, came up with the idea of a special class for these youngsters that would be both entertaining and educational. At first, the judges were local celebrities, told to base their choices on the child’s ability to present the dog “quietly, proficiently and to its best advantage.” Later, professional handlers and then AKC judges judged the classes, often on the spur of the moment. Junior Showmanship has been a Westminster fixture since 1935, with a Westminster Best Junior win being the golden fleece of the sport. In 1951, the competition was renamed “Junior Showmanship.” More changes were to come as the sport gained in popularity. The AKC began offering scholarships and added performance and companion events to Junior eligibility.
On Wednesday, February 22, 2022, the South Carolina Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee is scheduled to take action on a very problematic bill that would trample the due process rights of animal owners. Senate Bill 456 addresses disposition of animals seized due to alleged cruelty or neglect. As the bill is currently constructed, a [...]
Thank you for the work you do on behalf of your breed and your club members. As owners of your breed’s Standard, we know you take seriously the education of those who will be judging your breed and we appreciate the gravity with which you choose your Judges Education Committee members.
She is a beautifully built bitch, but if I cannot examine her, I cannot consider her,” the judge said to the handler. Just minutes later, the handler is heard telling her husband, “She may be no good for showing, but we can breed her and have a great litter of puppies.” While stewarding at all-breed shows, I have witnessed a similar exchange at least once a year for the past forty years. In contrast, how rare is it for an owner to realize that a bitch that has a very nice show win record may be totally unsuitable for breeding.
The American Kennel Club (AKC®), a not-for-profit organization, the world’s largest purebred dog registry and leading advocate for dogs, welcomes the introduction of the Healthy Dog Importation Act of 2023 in the United States Senate. AKC is grateful for the continuing and bipartisan leadership of Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tina Smith (D-Minn.) as lead sponsors of the bill [...]
Click here to read the complete article 134 – February, 2023 By Caroline Coile photos by Rhonda Cassidy & Michael McGuire The International Kennel Club of Chicago: To anyone who’s been around awhile, it’s one of the Big Ones, the ones you plan for, travel for, and wait for all year. It’s one filled with [...]
