New York, N.Y. – The 2015 Obedience and AKC Rally® National Champions were crowned this weekend at the American Kennel Club® (AKC®) National Obedience Championship and the AKC Rally National Championship, held at Purina Farms just outside of St. Louis, Missouri. The Championships, sponsored by J & J Dog Supplies, RB Rubber Products, Inc. and Purina® Pro Plan®, drew a combined entry […]
Over the past several years, the AKC has added a number of programs to encourage participation in dog shows. Many of these involve providing more incentives and awards for exhibitors. Since more than 80% of show dogs are owner-handled, it is not surprising that some of these changes are designed to encourage and support owner-handlers. The addition of the Amateur-Owner-Handler class was a great idea! The rules for exhibiting in this class are pretty restrictive; no professional handlers (or their household members or assistants), no judges and the handler must be a registered owner of the dog. This gives true amateurs an opportunity to enter the ring and compete against each other without the pressure of going head-to-head with professionals from the very beginning. One could also hope that it reminds judges that exhibitors in this class may be very novice, so a little patience and attention to giving clear, precise instructions are appreciated.
Speculation and theories abound about the future of purebred dog sports and breeding. Our dog-related world is being turned upside down by events that seem mostly beyond our control. Criticism by animal activists has been leveled at purebred dogs and their breeders since the 1960s. The loss of stature that excellent breeders have experienced in the court of public opinion has been exponential. Just a little over twenty years ago in 1992, annual AKC registration figures hit their peak number of 1,528,392 dogs. By 2010, the number of annual registrations had plummeted to roughly a third that level at 563,611 dogs. We have weathered “the Great Recession” and the boomers are aging out of dog sports at an ever-increasing rate.
by Jayne Dogue I watched a TV program recently where a young lady was kidnapped while hitch hiking to a friends house in California. She was abducted, held against her will, and relegated to being a sex slave for many years. She was tortured, made to sleep in a coffin sized compartment under her captors […]
Happy St. Patrick’s Day From The Canine Chronicle! May the luck of the Irish be with you!
The Rottweiler is often one of the bigger entries at dog shows and frequently a contender in the working group. It is the second most popular working breed according to AKC registration statistics, after the Boxer, and ranks tenth among all breeds.
Jagger the Irish Setter tragically died after ingesting fast acting poison banned in Europe, some 28 hours after attending Crufts Timelines indicate that poison was almost certainly eaten in Belgium Rumours about other poisoning incidents related to Crufts dog show slammed Kennel Club reminds dog owners that the most common cause of poisoning in dogs […]
One dog just couldn’t wait until her cancer-fighting owner, Nancy Franck, got back from the hospital. So on Saturday, the Miniature Schnauzer walked almost 20 blocks solo to visit her. The 10-year-old dog named Sissy walked all the way into the lobby of Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, where Franck is recovering from complications […]
The American Kennel Club (AKC) strongly supports North Carolina Senate Bill 209, which takes important measures to protect the health and welfare of all dogs in the state. SB 209, sponsored by North Carolina Senators Trudy Wade, DVM, Bill Rabon, DVM and Andrew Brock, would establish the “NC Pets We Care Hotline” to allow North […]
Optigen Press Release The American Spaniel Club Foundation and Gustavo Aguirre, VMD, PhD University of Pennsylvania and OptiGen, LLC Background: The American Spaniel Club Foundation has funded a three year research study to be carried out at the University of Pennsylvania and OptiGen, LLC to identify the molecular genetic basis of inherited cataracts, and develop a DNA-based diagnostic test […]
