Westminster week is reliably traditional and predictable but there’s always a few surprises built into that well worn ambiance. After a hundred or so episodes, that’s not an easy package to deliver, especially for a club that built its reputation on staid, imperious competence.
A well-respected judge once said “a ‘show dog’ is not a breed.” Very true—to win, a dog should first fit the breed standard. If he doesn’t, how well he shows should not be relevant. However, it is undeniable that once in the ring, the dog does need to show. Nowhere is this more important than at a show on the scale of Westminster, where the best compete against the best.
There was a chill in the air outside, but inside the Jacobs Center there was the warmth of the comradery of spaniel enthusiasts as the American Spaniel Club held its 98 Flushing Spaniel Show in Knoxville, Tennessee in January.
The 142nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on February 12 and 13 had an entry of more than 2,800 dogs in 201 breeds and varieties.
There is something that borders on masochism about living north of the 40th parallel during the period from say mid- November through the Ides of March and sometimes even later. It is during these months that Boreas, the purple-winged god of winter, sweeps down from the mountains freezing the air with his icy breath.
Many Americans ignore their persistent feelings of anxiety, helplessness, fear and anger. In the dog world most of us know at least one person who has expressed a problem known to produce stress, isolation, fatigue or the fear of failure.
Seemingly, everyone knows someone who has an unorganized stash of receipts tucked away in a shoebox. It could be a breeder or vendor who has them buried in the back of a desk drawer or a dog club where they are stockpiled in a filing cabinet in some corner of the Treasurer’s garage.
With the canine competition world a close sibling of the equine show industry, many are beginning to wonder how long it will take before we might see similar demonstrations at…
David Frei was inducted into the DWAA Hall of Fame for outstanding contributions to the field.
By Dr. Bill Bernard, DVM, ACVIM Cancer in dogs has long been a frustrating ordeal, leaving owner to struggle for answers to questions regarding causes and treatments. In this article, we will look at the basic types of canine cancer as well as a promising study that might be helpful in the fight. Cancer refers […]
