IMHO – Is Social Media a Positive or Negative Influence?
We asked 3 experienced AKC judges 2 questions about current issues affecting our sport. Here’s what they had to say…
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Hacking The Illustrated Standard – with Darle Heck
What’s worse than serving on a Breed Standard committee? How about an Illustrated Standard committee? This has become an essential plank of the purebred education package over the past few decades and many clubs are currently into their second or third revision of this delightful task.
Top Secret – A Dog’s Handbook to Human Interaction
Security, are the doors locked, the area swept for listening devices and a guard on every exit? All secure? All right then, at ease. Be seated and we can begin this briefing.
Making Mr. Fuller Proud – The Sussex Spaniel
Sussex is a beautiful county in England. Despite being relatively close to the ever-sprawling metropolis of London, it has somehow managed to retain most of its rural charms and still abounds with hedgerow-bounded fields, woodland and charming picture postcard villages.
AKC Canine Partner Juniors – A Worthy Hot Potato?
We waited somewhat patiently for the announcement over the PA system. “Junior Showmanship will be held in Ring 3 at 2 PM.” You had to pay attention because the time, ring, and judge were never part of the judging program. It depended on when available handlers had time between showing their dogs to serve as judges. Back then everyone stayed all day so it worked just fine. There was no such thing as entering Junior Showmanship ahead of time; you just showed up at the ring.
Looking Back With Lee On Teddy Young
Teddy was part of the local dog establishment and he was also, many times, a dinner companion or house guest to many of us during or after the shows.
Canine Science Briefs
The initial dog genome was released in 2000. Now a new and improved dog genome has been developed using new DNA sequencing methods. The new technology has reduced the number of genome gaps from more than 23,000 to just 585.
A Puppy? And Why Haven’t I Been Consulted?
I’ve been hearing mutterings from The Boss lately that it might be time to start looking for a puppy. Just a goldarn minute here! Hmm, where did that come from? Must have picked it up watching those old John Wayne westerns with The Boss. Or, maybe it was Lee Marvin. Nah, must have been Wayne, couldn’t have been Marvin. Lee Marvin was a former Marine. Fought and seriously wounded on Saipan during WWII. Any expletive he used would have been a lot stronger than “goldarn.” But, I digress. Back to the initial question.
Breeding Record Breakers
A few things in life qualify as universal fantasies. Winning lottery tickets, space travel… ho-hum. Let’s dream big! I’m talking owner/handled record breakers in the sport of purebred dogs. This is the thing that makes us get up every morning and face another day. It’s that sparkling prize that keeps everyone inspired and striving for perfection. And the maddening part is that we get close often enough to make us realize that once in a while it actually happens, like well…that one-in-a-million, winning ticket.
The Big E – Each Day is Valentine’s Day
I am in my kitchen on the Friday just before Valentine’s Day. Three Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and two English Toy Spaniels are piled on top of one another on a large sofa-style doggie bed nestled near the radiator. They have recently come in from a romp through the snow. I can see the “white stuff” piled two feet high in the courtyard on the other side of the French doors. The sound of their slumber gently fills the room. I have work to do. I turn on my iPad and pull up my February playlist to enjoy some background music while I write. Suddenly the mellow voice of Frank Sinatra dominates the sweet sounds of my sleepy dogs. My ears fill with his tender rendition of “My Funny Valentine,” written by the famous team of Lorenz Hart and Richard Rogers many, many decades ago.
