In reading the following 1933 AKC Gazette article written by the renowned Russian Wolfhound owner, breeder, exhibitor, and judge, Mr. Louis Murr, (https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/the-tsar-of-spring-valley) I think many of the same observations and trends are true today.
The Canaan Dog can be considered a very old and still a relatively new breed. The Pariah Dog, the ancestor of the Canaan Dog, can be traced back thousands of years to the dogs of the “Land of Canaan.” It functioned as a guard and herding dog for the ancient Israelites. Later, the dogs lived mostly wild in the Negev Desert, although some stayed with people in the area functioning as herd and general guardians.
The second most common question about the Spanish Water Dog (after only, “what breed is that?”) is, “Why is a water dog in the Herding Group?” The short answer is, it’s primarily a goat-tending dog.
The long answer is, it’s complicated.
The Spanish Water Dog is an ancient Iberian, multi-purpose breed. They were commonly owned by the working class that could not afford a luxury, single-purpose dog. They lived hardscrabble lives and performed whatever tasks were put in front of them to earn their keep.
Click here to read the complete article 302 – November, 2021 Click here to read the complete article 302 – November, 2021
When I was about eight years old, my aunt and uncle took me away on vacation to Wales.
An anthropologist might suggest that there is a link between what is named in a society (and how it is named) greatly illustrates the way members of the community think of themselves in relation to what is being named. Simply put, I believe the names our dogs are given sometimes hold great meaning for the breeder or the owner. Some breeders and owners have had just the right name picked out for just the right puppy for many years. Often, the perfect name is a reflection of the owner’s or the dog’s personality.
When the lights went out at the conclusion of Best in Show judging at the 2021 Morris & Essex Kennel Club show, show chairman Wayne Ferguson could take a moment to breathe and enjoy the show’s success. But not more than a moment—there are four years before the next Morris & Essex, but only a bit more than a month until the Kennel Club of Philadelphia’s “National Dog Show Presented by Purina.”
Looking at the number of entries in AKC, HRC/UKC, NSTRA, NAVHDA et. al. tests, it is clear that a considerable number of sporting dog owners participate in these events. If you are one of these participants, sooner or later, it’s a good bet that you will run into judging that, at best, will leave you shaking your head in bewilderment and, at worst, leave you furious. For folks with show dogs, this state of affairs is nothing new but at least in the show ring, where all judging is subjective, owners and handlers know what they’re getting into when they plunk down the entry fee.
Listen to conversations that include serious students of dogs–generally long-time, successful breeders, handlers and judges–and it won’t take long before they start talking about the sadly elusive front assembly. Somewhere between many and most show dogs have front ends that are lacking, and it shows on sidegait as well as on the down and back. Since it’s so sadly elusive, it’s time for a short reminder of what makes a front end great. Brush up on the basics in this article, go look for it in your own dogs, and then look to improve it in your breeding program.
Generally, I do the happy dance when I see dogs in the news. However, I’ve gotten to the point where I need to calm down before I read anything related to this topic in The New York Times. They tend to be anti-purebred to say the least. On the other hand, Science Times is usually an excellent, trustworthy source of mainstream insights into science and research.
