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AKC calls this game a great equalizer. Theoretically, everyone–regardless of breed, background or expertise–competes on the same level playing field. We all know that’s nonsense. Five minutes into it, every novice recognizes that all powerful undercurrent of success, the hierarchy of breeds. The rankings shift now and then, but there’s always a contingent of breeds signifying entry level competitor. In every Group they rise through an increasingly competitive pitch until you reach those cutthroat breeds guaranteed to make mincemeat out of seasoned pros. And then there’s Poodles.
September 13th, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »

Started during COVID-19 and continuing through today, judges have been interviewing for their initial breeds and additional breeds on the ZOOM platform. What have been their experiences? Were they comfortable with this new opportunity? Do they suggest the continuation of ZOOM interviews? This month’s panel of judges offers their thoughts, opinions, and suggestions having recently participated in a ZOOM interview. Their responses will be very valuable to read.
September 12th, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »

The year is 1947. A loving husband gives his wife a silver blue Afghan Hound for their 25th silver anniversary. Thus begins the extremely successful tale of the Crown Crest Afghan Hounds under the guidance of the lady receiving the gift, the fabulous Kay Finch.
September 12th, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Dog Show History,Featured,Remembering Our Past? | Read More »

Since the domestication of the canine, more than 300 breeds have been developed and all of them with verifiable ancestries. Better selection methods, genetics and research have opened new doors for the study of human and canine development, health and longevity. The history of purebred dogs shows that they are not only part of closely monitored populations, but they have also been useful in making improvements in canine and human lifestyles. For canines, the model most often used has been to breed puppies from healthy sires and dams who have established pedigrees, promising genetic profiles, and extensive behavioral and medical screening. This approach has influenced the efforts used to study: early development, weaning and the maternal influence (Slabbert), early neurological stimulation (Battaglia), exposure to different environments, different surfaces, handling, and non-traditional situations (Thomas).
September 11th, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »

July in Greenville, South Carolina is always hot. This year, members of the Greenville and Piedmont Kennel Clubs felt a bit more heat than normal as they prepped their annual 4-show weekend amid pandemic fears, extraordinary preparations and last-minute juggling. And according to exhibitors, judges, cluster volunteers and the AKC Executive Field Staff, a good job was done by all.
September 9th, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »

In my humble opinion the Grand Champions title has diminished the title of Champion. Maybe I have a sour impression of the situation because of my age – I celebrated a birthday milestone recently – I think I’m too old to invest a small fortune in campaigning another dog, just to grab some of those new medals, and to be selfish it would go to the dog and not to me.
September 7th, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »

I was fourteen when my mum first bought me a copy of Dog World to keep me quiet. I remember being fascinated by one particular article and that concerned the appearance of ‘liver’ colored puppies in litters of Gordon Setters. I think some voices at the time were calling for the inclusion of these pups into breeding programs.
September 6th, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »

German Shepherd Dogs are in a class by themselves. In 2014, they had over 150 independent specialty shows, not including designated specialties or supported entries or herding group shows. Some dogs can and do show only at specialty shows. And since there are over 200 breeder-judges, specialty judges at specialties usually outdraw the entry at all-breed shows.
September 6th, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Editorial,Featured | Read More »

Do you ever look around you and think…the world really is going crazy? It seems that every day brings a story that makes you scratch your head in disbelief and ask, ‘how did we get to this point?’. Black is now white, up is now down, wrong is now right and our strong, long-held beliefs, traditions, values of decency and common sense are increasingly being turned on their head and subjected to scorn and ridicule. Increasingly many of us feel that the lunatics have finally taken over the asylum.
September 5th, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Featured | Read More »

In 1920, the late, great poet Robert Frost published a book of poetry titled Mountain Interval. Contained within this slim volume was his famous poem, “The Road Not Taken,” which virtually every high school English student in the 1960s and ‘70s and probably to this day had to read, analyze and sometimes memorize.
September 4th, 2020 | Posted in Current Articles,Editorial,Featured | Read More »