It’s a decades-old question: Has the chase for the top dog, at the breed level, group level, or number 1 dog amongst all breeds, hurt the sport? Is this really the reason entries are declining? Is it even a contributing factor or just another excuse for the lack of participation at dog shows we are witnessing today?
Canadian Kennel Club Press Release A group of six Canadian dog enthusiasts flew to the Scottish Borders in February following a call for help from British breeders of the ancient and endangered Dandie Dinmont Terrier. Mike Macbeth, dog judge and President of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club of Canada said “The Dandie Dinmont was the […]
One of the most oft-quoted descriptions of the varieties of Belgian Shepherd Dog is that of Mme. Jacqueline Aubry in her book Le Berger Belge. It reads as translated “Casual outfit, plain and sober, but full of class for the Malinois with his short, smooth coat of warm red with black mask and overlay so characteristic and so expressive of the variety. Classic afternoon attire for the Groenendael, enveloped in his splendid mane, so long and dense. Splendor of evening clothes for the Tervuren, who, in addition to the beauty of his long coat, has magnificent warm color with shades of fire, or the delicacy of grey with its clever shadows.” Whether Mme. Aubry actually omitted a description of the Laekenois or those who translated her work felt it unimportant, I cannot say. Perhaps the omission of the Laeken from Mme. Aubry’s description of Belgian Shepherd Dogs did not reflect the lack of numbers, but simply that the “description” did not fit with the elegant verbiage used to describe the other varieties. The standards of Belgians all over the world, whether in countries where they remain varieties of one breed (the vast majority) or they are separated into individual breeds, bear remarkable similarities except, of course, in the descriptions of coat and color. The American Belgian Laekenois Association standard says, “The coat must have a texture which is rough and coarse giving a disorderly, tousled look” while the FCI standard says, “What especially characterises the rough hair variety is the roughness and dryness of the hair, which, moreover, is rasping and tousled.”
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 […]
