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Westminster is easy to take for granted—if you aren’t on the staff or show committee. Each year in February, mid-town Manhattan spends a week celebrating purebred dogs. The main event is, of course, the benched conformation show, where spectators could count on watching virtually every AKC-recognized breed compete. But there is much more to “Westminster Week”—the obedience and rally competition, the vendors—even the myriad other shows that precede it. Every year, it all materializes—the banners, the floral displays, the portraits of past winners, the purple velvet ropes and green flooring—certainly it must take a lot of effort, but somehow, each year everything reappears. Exhibitors might complain about the expense of attending, NYC traffic, and the inconvenience of schlepping dogs, tables, and tack from mid-town to the Piers for the breed judging; but for most, showing here was on a bucket list, if not an annual tradition.
August 14th, 2021 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
“I told you so” is pretty well-established as a useless approach to any productive debate. And honestly, in most of those situations, the dreadfully predictable outcome is nothing to gloat about. Specifically, I’m referring to the recent CDC announcement about their upcoming yearlong ban on foreign dog imports. Needless to say, that sort of drastic action marks a last ditch attempt to cope with an ongoing, spiraling mess. But just in case anyone needed a little more convincing, here’s an auspiciously timed news item that was reported by the AP on June 23.
August 13th, 2021 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
Lightning never strikes twice.” So, the saying goes, but in terms of the great Westminster dog show, lightning most certainly did strike twice, twenty-eight years apart. The first time was when Mrs. Claire Knapp Penney’s English import Sealyham Terrier won top honors at the 60th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 1936. The second time was in 1964, when Mrs. Penney’s daughter the late, Mrs. Margaret Newcombe (AKC judge and active until her death as a Whippet breeder and exhibitor) followed in her mother’s footsteps as her sensational Whippet — also imported from England — was crowned Best In Show at the 88th Westminster KC show. Although time and space separate the two legendary events, this story begins in a year when dogs and humans of folklore and legend walked the earth on the down and back, gathering ribbons and silver wherever they went.
August 12th, 2021 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
Cars and motorcycles ranging from the classics to just plain funky are hidden in some of dogdom’s secret garages.
August 11th, 2021 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
Aside from a tiny handful of family dynasties, people generally enter this sport via their unstoppable obsession with purebred dogs. Friends and family members don’t always say so, but in that respect, we’re usually viewed as an oddity. Therefore, when we actually join the dog game and discover an entire world of likeminded souls, it feels like home instantly. Same thing applies when we meet a kindred spirit. After awhile, we sort of develop built-in radar to automatically recognize and welcome a newcomer to our ranks…sometimes.
August 11th, 2021 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
In January of 2020, the Co-Vid 19 pandemic rolled over us all, and we’ve talked extensively in these pages about how bravely and imaginatively the fancy measured up to the challenge.
August 10th, 2021 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
Many breeds have an epigram that defines them. That short, distinctive line or quote that instantly gives you a mental picture of the breed’s essence. That little something maybe a breeder, judge, or exhibitor mentioned or a sentence from the breed standard.
August 9th, 2021 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
As anyone who has tried to rent a car lately knows, prices are astronomical, availability is rare, and even if you do find a reservation and book it in advance, it doesn’t mean there will be a car available when you arrive. Gold Levels and long-term, loyal customers get shut out just as easily as anyone.
August 8th, 2021 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
It is our pleasure to present GCHS Kan Trace Very Cheeky Chic, a multiple US BIS and BISS winner, affectionately known as “Orca.”
August 8th, 2021 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
By now, many in the sport are aware of the directive AKC sent via email to all judges. The subject line read Revisions to the Rules, Policies and Guidelines for Conformation Dog Show Judges. The email contained a post from Judging Operations stating that, “The AKC Board at its July 2021 meeting approved modifications to the Rules, Polices and Guidelines for Conformation Dog Show Judges to provide greater clarity and enhance understanding of AKC’s expectations to individuals who may be approved to judge AKC conformation events.” I won’t publish the details because the modifications are lengthy.
August 7th, 2021 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »
