Do You Have A Game Plan?

As another show season begins, ask yourself: do you know why you’re going? Are you chasing points or progress?

As another show season begins, ask yourself: do you know why you’re going? Are you chasing points or progress?

The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is an unusual working breed in that many of them still perform their original function. The majority of the Anatolians today, including those in the breed ring, work as flock guardians. The flocks may vary, and in at least some cases include guarding other dogs; but the Anatolians are still working at the jobs they have done for millennia. This breed may be the penultimate “dual dog.”

Does anyone else get tired of hearing the plethora of “experts” claiming that one must always breed and exhibit dogs that are closest to their breed standard…because that is the “Bible” for all things to the breed!

As expected, the 2025 AKC National Championship was incredible with 5,557 dogs in regular competition, including 1,602 puppies and 1,040 BBE competitors. After 25 years, skepticism has transformed into awestruck reports of record setting entries.

It’s time for our annual NOHS recap, covering the pros and cons of not just the NOHS Finals in Orlando, but of the year as a whole. I am grateful that each year this article gets shorter, as the system and shows continue to iron out problems.

The Progressive Toy Club Saturday January 31st Click here to watch on Canine Chronicle TV!

Closet Confidential with Elaine Lessig “Elaine Tours The AKC Museum Of The Dog” Click here to watch on Canine Chronicle TV!

Click here to read the complete article 116 – February, 2026 By Elaine Lessig Fashion finds are different for each of us. What you consider to be fashionable might be considered out of fashion by your best friend. Each of us has a different point of view. In these early weeks of 2026, let’s take […]

The Progressive Toy Club Friday January 30th. Click here to watch on Canine Chronicle TV!

AKC judge, mentor, and breeder, Linda Clark boasts over four decades of hands-on dog experience. Her journey began at sixteen years old, first working as a groomer’s assistant, before attending school to become a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT). In 1979, she started in AKC with Shetland Sheepdogs, and since then, she has bred and handled numerous top-winning dogs across multiple breeds, including German Shepherds, Beagles, and Vizslas. A prior member of the AKC Registered Handlers Program and the Professional Handlers Association, Linda retired in 2011 to become an AKC judge. Since her pivot to judging, Linda has been an advocate for our sport, serving as a longtime board member of the Dog Judges Association of America (DJAA). She is also a member of many local dog clubs.