The Big E – Elation, Relation, Equation
“What is important is to get into the moment. Appreciate the good things when they come your way whether in Dogdom or in any other place.”
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Fun, Dogs and Videotape
At a recent dog show I sat next to some people who were having way too much fun. They were (supposedly) drinking, commenting on the groups, and filming themselves doing it. The idea, they said, was to make dog shows seem fun, not stodgy, and to that end they were starting a YouTube series called Drunken Dog Show, modeled after the television series Drunken History.
From Junior Showmanship to Professional Handler
Over the course of my thirty-plus years in the sport of purebred dogs, I have heard more than just a handful of young people express their desire to become a professional handler when they grow up. And, when the remark is directed at me, I find it easy to be encouraging because it simply requires time, dedication and hard work to master the skills necessary to make their dream a reality.
IMHO – Judges Talk About Current Issues in the Sport
At this holiday season, IMHO celebrates the timeless nov-el by Charles Dickens, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, by asking judges to share their favorite things from dog shows past and present, and their wishes for the future. Who will be Mr. Scrooge or Tiny Tim? Read and find out! Wishing all of Dogdom the joys of the holiday season and the very best of New Years. ~ Elaine Lessig
New Year’s Resolution – Fighting Apathy!
Yes, it’s 2020, and as we start a brand new year, all bright and shiny and so full of optimism, it is always traditional to plan a new year’s resolution.
The Demise of Dog Shows? Never?!! But Maybe…
What’s going wrong with judges’ approval these days? Since AKC isn’t talking, speculation is mandatory.
Granted, the entire subject has always been kind of messed up. I mean the mere idea of objectively evaluating a subjective process seems predestined to fail. In that sense, the fact that it EVER works seems rather marvelous.
Sacramento Kennel Club – 100 Years in the Making
Shows are dying left and right, and some say the whole game’s on a deathwatch. Tell me something I don’t know. That might be how Sacramento Kennel Club seems to be beating the odds.
Orlando Shenanigans
Check out some of the definitely non- pomposness going on this week in Orlando. Who gets your vote for Ugliest Sweater?
A Telling Tail
“So, just what is the big deal,” he says to a friend after getting fourth place in a class of four, “if my dog’s tail resides an inch further down the croup than that of the other dogs in the ring? It is a handsome tail, it looks to me to be the right sort of tail, and it seems to suit him quite nicely.” And, believe it or not, he may very well be more accurate than he realizes.
The Long, Rich History of the Miniature Schnauzer
One of the astounding things about AKC has always been its militant dedication to the most contradictory concepts. The examples are admittedly endless, but if you had to pick one, the Miniature Schnauzer is a good place to start.
John Marvin was possibly the finest historian ever to chronicle AKC doings, but he definitely tended to understate things. “Today the Miniature Schnauzer is the most popular member of the Terrier group. It was not always so for in the ‘30s and early ‘40s the breed had a difficult time to become recognized as a contender.” His brief 1964 profile in The Book of All Terriers omitted most aspects of the breed’s long, strange trip to success.
