By Peter Baynes Photos by John Ashbey Originally published: February 2011 Many say that the fun has gone out of dog shows, maybe this is because many judges are afraid to talk to exhibitors. Judge and handler bashing has become an Internet pastime, even with fellow judges participating in the discussions about, and criticizing, other [...]
The 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show returns to New York City with three days of world class competition, and it’s easy to watch live from anywhere. Join millions of fans as champion dogs compete for the ultimate honor at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, airing January 31 & February 2–3. Here’s how [...]
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 [...]
Click here to read the complete article 122 – August, 2024 By Amy Fernandez Originally Published August 2024 Westminster is, by nature, a fairly shocking experience. But it turns out that even the seasoned professionals are not immune to some mental shakeups in this curious environment. David Fitzpatrick has racked up so much winning at [...]
Each February, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show brings dog lovers from around the world to New York City. When you’re not ringside cheering on the best of the best, the city offers countless ways to enhance your Westminster experience—from iconic sightseeing to unforgettable food and culture just outside the show doors. Here are some [...]
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.
Click here to read the complete article 130 – July, 2024 By Amy Fernandez Westminster has endured long enough to create generations of great memories. The interesting thing is that personal recollections of those truly great moments are often at odds with conventional thinking. Jim Moses probably heads the list of individuals responsible for creating [...]
Despite being born and growing up in the land that brought us such classics as ‘Tarka the Otter’ (a master class of exquisitely beautiful writing, and a book that has never been out of print since first being published in 1927) and ‘Ring of Bright Water’ (which documented Gavin Maxwell’s life in the wilds of Scotland, and his close association with several wild otters–and it is also considered a literary masterpiece), I hadn’t actually seen a wild otter until I visited Vancouver back in 2017.
Click here to read the complete article 322 – September, 2022 By Caroline Coile Originally Published September 2022 Why were some owner-handlers grumbling after the Westminster television coverage? During the Westminster groups, and especially Best In Show, the commentators repeated several times that this or that dog, including the Best In Show winner, was owner-handled. [...]
By Amy Fernandez In mid-December the NY Post ran an eye-catching article on celebrities opting to have their dead dogs cloned. Celebrity gossip is standard fare for the Post. However, spinning a fantasy about resurrecting dead pets is something else altogether. Cloning was controversial long before Dolly the sheep made headlines in 1996. Although cloning [...]
