By: Katherine Unger Baillie Charlie, Jari, and Kiwi are pet dogs with a superpower: Their sensitive noses can distinguish between a healthy deer and one sick with chronic wasting disease (CWD), all from a whiff of the deer’s poop. That’s the finding of a study by scientists from Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine, published in the journal Prion. [...]
Did you have the right answer to this #ThrowbackThursday photo? Many of you got this one right! Answer: Sandra Goose Allen and Elaine Lessig Don’t forget! Do you have a fun photo that you would like to share for #ThrowbackThursday? Email Liz Powell at showresults@caninechronicle.com with your photos.
In 1932, the Westbury Kennel Association offered the first “Children’s Handling Class.” It was an idea that had been percolating for years, as children accompanying their parents to shows were bored and restless. Leonard Brumby, Sr., then the President of the Professional Handlers’ Association, came up with the idea of a special class for these youngsters that would be both entertaining and educational. At first, the judges were local celebrities, told to base their choices on the child’s ability to present the dog “quietly, proficiently and to its best advantage.” Later, professional handlers and then AKC judges judged the classes, often on the spur of the moment. Junior Showmanship has been a Westminster fixture since 1935, with a Westminster Best Junior win being the golden fleece of the sport. In 1951, the competition was renamed “Junior Showmanship.” More changes were to come as the sport gained in popularity. The AKC began offering scholarships and added performance and companion events to Junior eligibility.
On Wednesday, February 22, 2022, the South Carolina Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee is scheduled to take action on a very problematic bill that would trample the due process rights of animal owners. Senate Bill 456 addresses disposition of animals seized due to alleged cruelty or neglect. As the bill is currently constructed, a [...]
We received the very sad news that Mr. Dennis McCoy of Apex, North Carolina passed away on February 18. Dennis was a longtime fancier, AKC judge, breeder of Poodles, and professional handler. He was an icon of our sport; brilliant, funny, witty and incredibly talented. His accomplishments are far too many to mention. Dennis–with Randy’s [...]
Thank you for the work you do on behalf of your breed and your club members. As owners of your breed’s Standard, we know you take seriously the education of those who will be judging your breed and we appreciate the gravity with which you choose your Judges Education Committee members.
Morris Animal Foundation announced it is funding four new studies focused on two common health issues in dogs – ear infections and obesity. “Chronic, sub-acute diseases in dogs often are overlooked for research funding,” said Dr. Kathy Tietje, Vice President of Scientific Operations at Morris Animal Foundation. “These new studies focus on common disorders affecting [...]
She is a beautifully built bitch, but if I cannot examine her, I cannot consider her,” the judge said to the handler. Just minutes later, the handler is heard telling her husband, “She may be no good for showing, but we can breed her and have a great litter of puppies.” While stewarding at all-breed shows, I have witnessed a similar exchange at least once a year for the past forty years. In contrast, how rare is it for an owner to realize that a bitch that has a very nice show win record may be totally unsuitable for breeding.
The American Kennel Club (AKC®), a not-for-profit organization, the world’s largest purebred dog registry and leading advocate for dogs, welcomes the introduction of the Healthy Dog Importation Act of 2023 in the United States Senate. AKC is grateful for the continuing and bipartisan leadership of Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tina Smith (D-Minn.) as lead sponsors of the bill [...]
