The recent passing of Jane Forsyth left me with a whirlwind of thoughts, not only about the historic importance she and Bob hold in our sport, but also about the way Mrs. Forsyth influenced so many of the top exhibitors and judges who grace the show ring today.
I can feel the warmth of your head on my foot down under my desk as the keyboard for my computer clicks along typing this. I could just tell you these things but then no one would know except the two of us. Written words always seem more permanent and somehow more meaningful although perhaps that’s just my bias since I make my living putting words on paper.
Junior Showmanship draws its share of Westminster fans, but it generally doesn’t rank among the main attractions. This year was different. Regardless of whether you follow Juniors, every aspect of this competition was so unexpectedly bizarre, it simply commandeered the dog world’s attention. Topping that list was the winning breed, the Bedlington Terrier dog, GCH Lamz Let Them Eat Cake CA. His littermate, GCH Lamz Strike A Pose RN CAA CGC, had already gone Breed earlier that day. And their dam had taken an AOM.
By Amy Fernandez Gazette editor Arthur Fredrick Jones loved to get on his soapbox. And his June 1962 reprisal of Shelterock Airedales provided an ideal opportunity to pontificate about one of his favorite topics. “American breeders are roundly criticized for spending fortunes on imported stock and the wasting the valuable bloodlines brought from Europe. This […]
Among other things, breakthroughs in genetic research have revolutionized dog breeding. It’s removed the guesswork from many aspects of the job, thus allowing us to focus on our real task of creating a living work of art. Since the first canine disease mutation was identified back in 1989, researchers have documented hundreds of mutated alleles that can signal a hereditary predisposition to various health issues.
The Norfolk Terrier and Norwich Terrier were one breed until relatively recently, and called the Norwich Terrier. They were differentiated by their ears – erect (or prick) ears and drop ears. In 1979, the AKC followed the English Kennel Club and divided the breed, with the drop-eared variety now called Norfolk Terrier.
By now, I am sure most of you have seen at least one episode of America’s Got Talent. I love watching this show, but for the life of me I can’t figure out why the AKC Board of Directors has not been invited to audition! They are, in my opinion, among the best magicians I have ever seen….talk about sleight of hand, smoking mirrors, hocus pocus….what you think you see is not what you get. The new judging approval system has turned into a magic act that we are supposed to believe.
Most dog breeds, except for those outlined in the sidebar to this story, can swim. After all, there’s a reason the simplest stroke in swimming is called a “dog paddle.” It’s often the first stroke learned by young children because it mimics the way dogs and other animals swim as it is essentially “trotting” in the water instead of on land.
Animal welfare is an integral part of modern society. The major aspects are usually the problem of stray dogs and animal cruelty. These elements often cause lengthy and deep-rooted debates mostly between the breeder society and animal welfare activists. And from time to time you get the feeling it is a neverending struggle without real benefits or achievements. The hard to answer question is: for what reason?
