Progressive 2026 – Home again…

Click here to read the complete article
122 – March, 2026

By Amy Fernandez

Westminster has returned to its traditional February routine, with a few changes. Daytime benching now takes place at the Javits; but for the most part, it’s back to the routine we’ve known for generations. It has been a different story for the many satellite clubs that had comfortably joined the Westminster orbit over the decades. Many of them vanished during the disruption caused by Westminster’s relocation. Others, like Progressive Dog Club, have survived—but just barely. For any club, multiple changes in date, location, and venue will undermine stability. Add that to the overall challenges now facing the sport, and it’s not a good economic picture. For several years, Progressive’s survival has been far from a sure bet.

On the other hand, that has been the story of this club from the start. AKC was less than receptive when the founders presented their innovative plan for a show limited to Toy breeds. Even though these breeds had become a mainstay of entries and registrations, most of the fancy perceived them as unworthy of serious consideration. Changing that entrenched mindset required thinking outside the box—and well outside of AKC’s comfort zone.

Thanks to the financial and political clout wielded by Progressive’s board, AKC reluctantly approved the club to hold its first show—completely convinced that this was a short-term headache destined to quickly disappear. That’s not how things turned out. Just like Toy breeds, Progressive Dog Club has proven to be small but mighty.

Click here to read the complete article
122 – March, 2026

Short URL: https://caninechronicle.com/?p=351861

Posted by AnthonyA on Mar 13 2026. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.