The vast majority of breeders, who are our friends and neighbors in the dog show community, do not often consider their purebred dog breeding operation as a business. Most are very surprised to learn that one does not have to have a large kennel or have countless years of experience to be considered a business.
For breeders, owner-handlers and especially novices, training classes and puppy matches are complimentary learn ing modalities which bring growth and are driven by the quest for excellence.
My cell phone rang on a recent Sunday morning. A friend and fellow kennel club member wanted some insight and advice on a 7-week-old puppy in her litter. She noticed that the puppy, the one who caught her eye over his first weeks of life, seemed listless. He no longer played with his littermates the way he once had. While he ate, it was without vigor. Losing weight each day, she took him to her vet. After examining him, the vet felt that a consultation with the pediatric specialists at the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Hospital might be useful. I agreed that it was worth pursuing.
As you know, we have just had Crufts here in the UK and, as I predicted, the anti-pedigree lobby were out in force spreading their untruths and sometimes downright lies to an ever-ignorant but always very receptive media.
The goal of this data-based driven study was to continue to assess the extent to which four factors are influencing the stud book and the future of 60 breeds in the conformation sport of purebred dogs.
Lately I’ve been wondering about a glaring–and growing–statistical anomaly parading around my neighborhood. Specifically, I am referring to those legions of suburban dog walkers and the nature of the merchandise tethered to the ends of those leads.
Actually, it’s not the music that makes WOOFSTOCK successful. Certainly, the music is an integral part of our show, but as other clubs try to capitalize on our success, they usually find just piping in music falls short of transforming their shows into something special.
2019 Westminster Kennel Club Judging Panel
A common type of dog in 15th-century Europe was the so-called bird dog, a small gun dog of spaniel type, used for hunting (netting) birds. The bird dog pointed the game, then pressed itself to the ground so the hunters could throw their nets over dog and birds. The gun was not yet in general use for hunting, so ingenuity played a role. The bird dog was also used in falconry. After the dog jumped the game, the released falcon would catch the bird in flight.
German Wirehaired Pointers were developed in Germany in the late 1800s. It is a rugged, versatile hunting dog that can work in different terrains. This medium sized breed is known for his distinctive protective wire coat with facial furnishings.
