Pure Dog Talk

Bomb Dogs: Purpose bred, purpose raised, purpose trained

Mark Dunn, AKC’s Executive Vice President, has been leading the charge to develop a program to produce purpose bred, purpose raised and purpose trained dogs domestically for explosives detection work.

“There is a growing demand for dogs who can help protect us,” Dunn said. “It is driven by companies and organizations, as well as police and military. Universities, arenas, sports leagues – they are all requiring detection dogs to clear the venue ahead and work the crowds.”

All of these dogs are currently coming from eastern Europe, Dunn noted. United States military and independent contractors acquire 80-90 percent of their bomb detection dogs from the same countries where the entire world shops.

“We’re trying to outbid Saudi Arabia or Israel or Indonesia to buy dogs from these kennels in Europe,” Dunn observed.

In our first conversation with Dunn, he outlined the goal of developing breeding programs in the U.S. to protect our country.

“We have to find a way to bridge the gulf between the U.S. breeders and people training the dogs to do the work,” Dunn said. “U.S. breeders don’t raise dogs for anyone but themselves. Generally, our breeders don’t raise a puppy to 10-12 months to sell.”

The government is looking for a dog that’s ready to do the work, Dunn added. The dogs need key skills – a high hunt drive, environmentally stable, accustomed to noises and moving objects. These need to be well-socialized and exposed puppies who grow up to be confident and capable dogs.

AKC has created a task force and a conference to bring all of the stakeholders together.

“This is a great example of how purposeful, thoughtful breeding by American breeders can help protect our country,” Dunn said. “It highlights the important role that purebred dogs play in our country and it reflects well on ALL breeders who are thoughtfully and purposefully breeding dogs.”

One of the potential stumbling blocks, Dunn agreed, is the question of what happens to dogs that don’t make it. What happens when a dog’s useful working life comes to an end?

“It’s important that AKC play a role in this,” Dunn said. “No one has answered that question well yet. And parent clubs and fanciers are asking it. We can get those sort of things in place. There should be a way for me to breed a dog, deploy it to this important work. And still be able to have a first right of refusal at the end of it’s career. These dogs often retire with their handlers. But, as a breeder, I would want to be able to play a role in the dog’s future.”

Update on the AKC US Detection Dog Taskforce.

* Since 911 the demand for Explosives Detection Dogs has steadily increased.

* Recent attacks are accelerating the push to deploy more dogs and worsening the supply problems

* 80% of detection dogs used to protect our country and our overseas interests are from Eastern Europe

* Experts agree that the US is not getting enough dogs and that the dogs we get are not the best

* Demand is coming from State and Local Governments, Universities, Corporations, Entertainment Venues in both the developed and developing worlds.

* It is understandable that many “pointy eared” dogs come from Europe

* However, new demand is for Sporting breeds and these are also being sourced in Europe instead of leveraging US capacity and aptitude for these breeds.

* Sporting dogs are preferred for the public detection work over the patrol type breeds for several reasons, including:

* Less intimidating to the public

* Less reactive when used in close quarters for personal searches

* Drive to hunt birds all day can be transferred into a drive to...

Carmen Battaglia’s Recipe for Breeding SUPER Dogs

Dr. Carmen Battaglia, AKC Board member, judge and author joined Pure Dog Talk host Laura Reeves for a LIVE seminar sponsored by Del Monte Kennel Club. Battaglia shared information about his SUPER dog breeding program featuring pedigree research, supplements, early stimulation and socialization.

“I can’t teach everything you need to know on this subject in an hour,” Battaglia chuckled. “Do your homework!” His deep and resource-rich website, Breeding Better Dogs, is an impressive place to start.

Battaglia’s SUPER dog program is designed to produce dogs which are mentally and physiologically superior to their competitors, with great stress tolerance and disease resistance.

“Anybody who’s willing to do the work can breed these dogs,” Battaglia said.

Pedigree research

Breeding these outstanding dogs starts with selecting the right sire and dam. The 28 ancestors shown on a typical three generation pedigree tell us nothing heritable, Battaglia observed.

“You need to understand the strengths and weaknesses in a pedigree,” Battaglia said. “The conformation, health and behavior traits we want don’t show up in names, titles and certifications.”

He recommended incorporating the stick dog and symbols pedigree systems in order to identify conformation, health and specific behavioral traits to make an ideal pairing. The symbols pedigree, Battaglia said, is designed to enable breeders to manage the “dreaded diseases” – those that kill, cripple, cause early death or blindness.

Breeding systems such as line-breeding, formula breeding and “breeding up” are all useful tools for producing superior dogs, Battaglia said.

Once the pedigree plan is established and the breeder is ready to move forward, Battaglia offers an extended program to build on the pedigree.

Supplement, stimulate, socialize

He recommends supplementing the dam with DHA from the first day she is bred to the day she weans the puppies. And supplementing the puppies from the day they are weaned until 14 weeks old. DHA supplement enhances the brain of the fetus, he added, noting that by 14 weeks old the puppy’s brain is 90 percent developed. Research shows these puppies will test 50 percent smarter than puppies fed a lower amount or not supplemented at all.

The next step in the SUPER dog program is early neurological stimulation. This program involves touching the puppies toes, rotating their body positions and placing them on a cold surface daily from the third to the 16th days of life. This system produces notable improvement in cardiovascular development, but Battaglia strongly cautions that too much of a good thing is a fatal error.

As the puppies grow in these carefully designed and developed litters, other important steps include allowing the puppy to watch its dam perform a specific desired task; socializing them to new places, sounds and smells; and, “enrichment” exercises to teach the dog to focus in a new environment.

The SUPER dogs program is being used to help breeders in the US produce the explosives detection dogs at home that are in demand for protecting our military and civilian installations. AKC is hosting a conference to bring together stakeholders, Battaglia said, to advance this important project.

Short-legged dogs and Wrap-around fronts

Theresa Nesbitt is a retired ob-gyn physician with a focus on skeletal abnormalities. Her hobby is breeding and exhibiting Glen of Imaal Terriers and Dachshunds. The combination of these two passions led her to extensive study of the conformation of purpose bred, short-legged dogs and wrap-around fronts.

“It’s an interesting puzzle,” Nesbitt said. “There is a lot of overlap between the breeds that have this conformation.”

Genetics and expression of dwarfism

Researchers have just recently identified the genes responsible for this function, Nesbitt said.

“It’s a very, very old gene,” Nesbitt observed. “And a very interesting kind of gene. Literally it made a second copy, snuck back into the nucleus and puts itself on the recipe book. Two copies of the gene and the second one doesn’t have instructions. We call it a retro gene.”

Understanding how and why genes turn on and off is going to help the medical field understand cancers and more in the future, Nesbitt noted

What’s your job description

Through history, people in widely varied areas of the world found purposes for short-legged dogs.

“They found the gene in the gray wolf. It wasn’t expressed, but it was there to be inherited,” Nesbitt said. “It popped up in many places and became a purpose-bred gene because, depending on the task you wanted to do, a short-legged dog can do a lot of different jobs.”

Vermin hunting and going to ground were amongst the most common purposes for which people developed and perfected the genetic inheritance for short-legged dogs.

Badger hunting was the most dangerous job and required the most experienced dogs. A badger “sett” is like a series of tubes and chambers, Nesbitt said.

Other short-legged breeds include corgis, who were low enough to duck under the kicking heels of cattle, Basset Hounds, Glen of Imaal Terriers who were used, amongst other jobs, to run on a “turnspit.”

“A turnspit is like a hamster wheel,” Nesbitt said. “It’s a labor-saving device to turn meat over the fire etc. The dogs have to fit under the middle spoke. They have to have short legs.”

It’s what’s up front that counts

In most of the short-legged breeds, the front construction is designed in such a way that the front “wraps” around the rib cage, particularly those breeds in which the chest is below the level of the elbows.

The deep chests, pronounced prosternum and extensive keel (sternum) on these breeds again serves a purpose. Dogs that dig underground rest on their keel as they dig with their front legs, throwing dirt to the side much like a badger does. Taller terriers throw dirt between their back legs as most of us are used to seeing.

The overall front assembly and shoulder construction of short-legged dogs, whether the legs are underneath dog or placed out on the side, also is affected by the job they were designed to do.

When the front wraps around the ribcage, in some cases it leaves the dogs with slightly out-turned feet, to a greater or lesser degree based on the job and overall substance of the dog.

“A fiddle front is always undesirable,” Nesbitt said. “When the forelegs come very far in and point very far out. There is no sense that any job would require that construction.”

Join us next week as Theresa and I talk about when achondroplasia goes wrong.

And stick around for Allison Foley’s Tip of the Week from the Leading Edge Dog Show Academy and what to do about dogs blowing coat.

Ancient Chinese Shar Pei Breed Finds Resurgence in North America

Andrea Robins, a founding member of the Chinese Shar Pei Club of Canada, acquired her first Pei in 1983. She worked to get foundation stock registered in Canada and this ancient Chinese guard breed recognized there in 1991.

According to the CSPCC, “It is generally accepted that the Chinese Shar-Pei originated during the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD) in the village of Dah-Let near the South China Sea. These dogs were all purpose working dogs to guard the family, farms and temples.”

Plea for help

In 1972, a breeder in China sent a plea begging westerners to help save his breed from extinction. This missive began the long process for Robins and many other North American breeders.

The distinctive appearance of the Shar Pei had a very specific purpose, Robins noted. The loose, wrinkly “outerwear” allowed the dogs to literally turn inside their skin to bite a dog that was attacking them, while the tiny ears made it difficult for another dog to grab or pin them by that appendage. Although used primarily as guard dogs, Shar Pei were also employed as fighting dogs in China.

“Our dogs’ natural stance – the topline rises, the high tailset, the ears forward on the head pointing to the eyes – they naturally look like they want to fight,” Robins said. “They even get picked on at the dog park because of it!”

“We’ve come a long way baby!”

The breed has changed from the original breed fanciers first saw in North America, Robins said. She noted breeders have worked hard to “soften” the temperament, socialize the puppies and help make them great family pets.

“If you don’t socialize heavily, they can still be the stand-offish, aloof dog they were,” Robins noted. “We (also) rarely see skin problems anymore. Breeders have really worked together to fix a lot of these issues. We’ve come a long way baby.”

But the Chinese did not have dogs as “pets,” Robins said. The breed had a purpose. “They are great with friends and families, but they should still have that guard nature,” she added.

New Shar Pei owners need to know the breed can be stubborn, are wicked smart and need a strong leadership presence.

“Don’t let the dog run the place,” Robins said. “They need to know who the boss is, and to do what they’re told. They are extremely smart, they want to please, so don’t confuse them.”

Preservation breeders make a difference

As in any purebred dog, choosing a conscientious breeder is imperative in Shar Pei. But even more than most, the breed’s responsible, preservation breeders make a difference, Robins said.

“Our most common health problem is kidney failure caused by Amyloidosis,” Robins said. “There is finally a test to help us breed smarter. In this case, conscientious breeding determines whether you will have a dog that lives to 12 years old versus one who might not make it to two.”

Hallmarks of the breed

When judging Shar Pei, Robins said the hallmarks of the breed are:

* Movement is essential

* Substance to the head

* Tiny, tight ears

* Small almond shaped eyes

* “Scowly” expression

* Big fat head

* Black mouth

* Topline rises to very high-set tail

One of the fascinating details of the Shar Pei is the difference in coat types. The shorter horse coat is the traditional/original coat, Robins said. In horse coat versus brush coat, in most cases, horse coat dogs have a different temperament, she added.

“The horse coats are more standoffish and aloof,” Robins said. “They are smarter. They’re always way ahead of you. The brush coats are more laid back.”

Interestingly, Robins noted that she does not recommended breeding horse coat to horse coat. “You lose bone, substance and head,” Robins said.

NAIA’s Sara Chisnell on Legislative Trends Nationwide

National Animal Interest Alliance Legislative Director Sara Chisnell is seeing legislative trends develop across the country in several categories. More than just dogs, NAIA is leveraging a larger voice by bringing together groups across the animal kingdom.

Pet shop mandates

Pet shop sourcing mandates are cropping up in a number of states, Chisnell said. Laws were recently passed in California and Maryland which require pet shops to source the animals they sell only from shelters and rescues, cutting off supplies of commercially bred dogs.

“Puppy mill is a genius term coined by the animal rights groups,” Chisnell said. “What was portrayed in past is not true today. No matter how you feel about it, it is a much more regulated source of dogs than any shelter or rescue. There are no regulations whatsoever of shelters and rescues, while there are many layers of regulation on commercial breeders.”

For newer listeners, take a minute to check out PureDogTalk’s interview on this topic from last year.

“Set aside how folks feel about commercial breeders and pet shops,” Chisnell said, “when you cut off this supply, mandating only shelters/rescues supply to pet shops, it opens up those channels further. We have a huge problem with importation of unwanted dogs from other states and other countries. This is bringing in new diseases, Korean dog flu, zoonotic diseases, all kinds of crazy stuff. This is the main reason you should care. This will impact your own dogs.”

Chisnell also noted an increase in behavior issues in rescue animals as a direct result of the “no kill” movement in which rescuers are trying to save all dogs, whether they should be in a home or not.

“Some of the people working in shelters/rescues are very well intentioned,” Chisnell commented. “But many of them may not be properly equipped to evaluate the dogs. There are no repercussions for rescues. Purpose bred animals have consumer protection laws. These no longer come into play when it’s shelter or rescue animals.”

NAIA is working with the pet shop industry on preemptive laws, Chisnell noted. One particular eample, in Michigan, strengthens requirements for pet shops, while simultaneously preempting pet shop sourcing mandates.

Hot car bills

Feel good legislation, like providing immunity for individuals to break into a car to save an animal, have a multitude of unintended consequences that have not been thought through, according to Chisnell.

Animal Research Adoption Bills

These laws require research facilities to place animals in adoption, often through local animal shelters.

“These are programs that research facilities have had for years,” Chisnell noted. “When they are forced to work with local animal shelters, it takes away oversight from people who know the animals.”

For more information on the incredible work done within the research community working with animals, listen to Dr. Cindy Buckmaster’s PureDogTalk interview.

On the plus side…

* NAIA worked with the Illinois Purebred Dog Federation to pass a law requiring more oversight and reporting from shelter and rescues.

* A proposal in New Mexico to charge a pet food fee to a fund state spay/neuter campaign was defeated through NAIA’s efforts.

* NAIA drafted law to require shelters in Virginia to disclose behavior history, particularly known bite history, prior to adoption of a dog.

* In New Hampshire, grass roots advocacy supported by NAIA stopped anti-breeder legislation before it was passed.

For more information about the legislative work NAIA does, click the legislative action center and sign up for...

Identifying and Treating Orthopedic Disorders

Dr. Marty Greer, DVM walked us through the bewildering world of 10 syllable words and scary prognostics when it comes to the various orthopedic disorders than can affect our puppies.

OCD, HOD, pano, Legg-Perthes, premature ulnar growth plate closure, HD, patellar luxation, and more are all covered, along with potential infectious diseases that can cause lameness in young dogs. Greer goes through the differences in the diseases, symptoms and treatments for all of them. Primarily disorders of large, fast growing male dogs, a few affect small breed and achondroplastic dogs.

Pano

Panosteitis or Pano is a disorder in which pain is exhibited in shifting limbs.

“You’ll feel the legs and dogs exhibit pain where leg bones join,” Greer said. Pano won’t always show up on xray and it can be difficult to localize the pain. Cause – rapid growing puppy Treatment — non steroidal anti-inflamatory such as Meloxicam.

https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/musculoskeletal/c_multi_panosteitis

OCD

Osteochondritis Dissecans or OCD is cartilage that peels off, generally in the shoulder. It frequently occurs in both joints. It’s difficult to find on xray. This is a genetic disease with a database at OFA. If the cartilage doesn’t heal with crate rest, it can be treated with arthroscopic surgery.

“Most of these orthopedic problems, don’t let the puppies get too heavy or get too much nutrition,” Greer said. “Stick to the large breed puppy diets that are commercially available. Please don’t start feeding raw meat diets and unbalanced diets to these puppies because there are a huge number of nutritional problems we see with that.”

https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/musculoskeletal/c_dg_osteochondrosis

HOD

Hypertrophic osteodystrophy or HOD is an acute, sudden onset disorder that is extremely painful.

“They can be perfectly fine one night,” Greer said “and wake up with the ends of the bones above wrist/hock swollen, very painful, running a fever. It can be associated with recent vaccines.”

https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/musculoskeletal/c_dg_osteodystrophy

LCP

In Legg-Calve-Perthes small breed dogs are affected. The disease causes a loss of blood flow to the neck of the femur in the hip joint. Surgery is the treatment.

https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/musculoskeletal/c_dg_legg_calve_perthes_disease

As in all instances, be sure to consult your veterinarian for specific recommendations.

Harriers Are Small in Numbers, Big in Personality

Fewer than 300 Harriers, total, are registered in the US, according to breed experts. Just two litters were whelped nationwide in 2017.

“There are probably more tigers in the U.S. than Harriers,” said Donna Smiley, the only Master of Harriers in the country.

PureDogTalk host Laura Reeves caught up with some of the breed’s most ardent supporters at the Harrier Club of America National Specialty.

Ancient breed now endangered

One of the first five breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club, records of Harrier packs in England date back to 1100 AD. Harriers are believed to predate both Beagles and Foxhounds in England. They were bred to hunt hare, which was one of three “appropriate” quarry, along with boar and stag, for royalty to hunt. Foxhunting is a more recent tradition.

“They are an endangered species,” said Linda Johnston. “And they’re just as cuddly as Pandas!”

While there are hundreds of Beagle packs and at least 40 Foxhound packs in the US, Smiley owns the only Harrier pack in competition.

“We never want to see a dichotomy,” Smiley said. “We don’t want to see a show hound/pack hound divide.”

The Harrier’s quarry, the hare, is a different and larger species than a rabbit. The snowshoe hare and the jackrabbit are hares in the US.

“Hares when pursued, will cover miles in a circle,” Smiley said. “Rabbits, when pushed too hard, will bolt down a hole.”

Adaptable problem solvers

Harriers are good in a household and will adapt to their owners’ lifestyle, said Kevin Shupenia.

“They are as active as you want to be. We have several with marathon runners. But they are not a breed to ignore. They will find their own fun if left to their own devices. It’s important they don’t get bored.”

Contrary to popular myths, hounds are not dumb, these experts agreed. They are independent and self-thinkers. On the issue of trainability, Smiley noted that other dogs, such as sporting breeds were developed to take direction from people. Pack hounds, not so much.

“It was their job to figure it out,” Shupenia said. “They are not being directed. They are problem solvers.”

Kristi Bowers, the newest member of the group, laughed that “if harriers went to college they’d study engineering.”

Harriers in general are very healthy but they are not good off leash dogs. They thrive on routine and they are vocal.

“They’re job was to tell the hunter they were on a scent,” Smiley said. “Don’t try to make them in to a dog that is silent.”

Many thanks to our panel:

Donna Smiley, Erick Arceneaux, Kevin Shupenia, Linda Johnston and Kristi Bowers. For additional information on this ancient and little-known breed, visit some of the links below.

http://www.harrierclubofamerica.com/

https://www.betterworldbooks.com/product/detail/harrier-1593784201

And don’t miss Allison Foley’s Tip of the Week from the Leading Edge Dog Show Academy on  Appropriate Attire for the dog show!

Mentoring people in the sport will keep it alive

PureDogTalk host Laura Reeves moderated a LIVE Saturday Symposium sponsored by the Copper Classic in Prescott, Ariz. on the topic of Mentoring the Future. Judges Joyce Vanek, Cindy Vogels and John Wade headlined the panel.

Become the change you want to see

Anna Mysliwiec, Prescott Arizona Kennel Club, said, “We are the start of the change.”

“As a judge if I have a novice in the ring I try to help them,” Wade said. “We have to encourage people. Maybe the dog they have right now isn’t show quality, but they’d like to continue in the sport. Encourage someone so they are here tomorrow.”

Juniors speak up

Juniors attending the Seminar asked great questions, including one that prompted this response from Vogels:

“What’s the hardest part of being a judge?” asked by Julia, age 9.

Vogels: “…we realize each of you love your dog. We get to please very few people by the end of the day. The hardest part of judging is 5 dogs, 4 ribbons.”

Another junior attending, Kyle, age 14, asked, “What’s the first thing you notice about a dog when it comes in the ring.”

Vanek said, “The overall presence of the handler and dog.” Vogels added, “Correct silhouette.”

Workable solutions

Suggestions for clubs, breeders and exhibitors to “mentor the future” included:

* Encourage young people to be apprentice ring stewards

* Offer a Peewee Handling Competition at the show

* Advise all-breed clubs to offer Junior Showmanship as a FREE class

* Hire former junior handlers to judge Junior Showmanship classes

* Offer “best of the best” Junior Showmanship competitions with monetary prizes

* Support scholarship programs like those offered by PHA and other organizations

* Organize a potluck at the show for exhibitors in your breed

* Focus on the positive instead of the drama when counseling new exhibitors

* Show courtesy to ring stewards

* Encourage local and national breed clubs to offer junior memberships and junior showmanship competition.

* Remember that the ribbon, the win, isn’t everything

“Welcome people to the sport,” Wade said. “Welcome people to your clubs. We need club members. The “greying of our sport” is apparent everywhere.”

Become a PureDogTalk Patron

For folks who haven’t checked out the PureDogTalk Patrons program, visit https://patron.podbean.com/puredogtalk … A supporting gift of as little as $5/month helps make possible LIVE events like this one and our continued “crowdsourcing” of knowledge. As a bonus, Patrons receive access to outtakes and additional material, including a wonderful soliloquy from this event in which Johnny Shoemaker talks about how he helped create the wildly popular PeeWee competition.

“Crowdsourcing” Knowledge for Exhibitor Education

Vicki Ronchette, author of “From Shy to Showy,” has created a new exhibitor education resource with online college-type classes available on a wide variety of topics.

New owners, exhibitors who want to improve their performance and experienced members of the fancy who want to hone their skills will all find a topic of interest.

“A lot of people don’t have access to training classes near them,” Ronchette said. “Or the classes are more socialization and don’t offer a lot of information for training the dog or the handler.”

Listeners who missed Ronchette’s previous podcasts, can check out some of her outstanding positive training tips here and here.

Variety of courses available

Show Dog Prep School Courses include everything from training nail trims, to using Tellington TTouch for better results, to Safe Travel with dogs.

Full disclosure, your host, Laura Reeves, is an instructor for SDPS. Her first offering is: Canine Structure 101 and Applying the Breed Standard.

Courses are available with coaching from instructor, as well as a mentoring program with Ronchette, webinars, forums and more. The school is designed to offer easy navigation and a user-friendly platform.

Learn on YOUR schedule

“In today’s society, people don’t have a lot of time,” Ronchette said. “Show Dog Prep School  allows people to learn on their own schedule. Virtual education is really helpful for folks to learn and get up to speed when they are just getting started.”

Ronchette is dedicated to the positive reinforcement system of dog training. And she applies it to her students.

“Positive reinforcement for people is so important,” Ronchette said. “We are creating a community of helping and support.”

People AND animals deserve to have an education so they can go in to a dog show with confidence and actually enjoy the sport and stay with it, Ronchette noted.

“We can help you understand the reason a dog didn’t win. It could actually be that your dog didn’t look as good. Let’s work on that,” Ronchette said.

Don’t miss Allison Foley’s Tip of the Week from the Leading Edge Dog Show Academy. Allison brings us *boggling* information about how to do up a coated breed beautifully – without power! Seriously, water and a bristle brush. What? Check it out.

200th episode? Celebrate with a positive outlook

Let’s talk about the “thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.” And making a positive outlook YOUR approach to life and to this sport.

How can this be possible???

Wasn’t it just yesterday that Mary randomly set up next to me at a dog show in Southern California and we started yakking about dogs and mentors and education and possibilities??

In fact, it’s just over two years since I first learned there WAS such a thing as a podcast. Never mind listened to one… lol

Since our debut in November 2016, Pure Dog Talk has been downloaded well over three hundred THOUSAND times! Yikes! We’ve aged out of the 12-18 class and we’re running with the big dogs, expanding our reach to more purebred dog enthusiasts every single day.

In recognition of the occasion, I thought I’d stop by for a personal one on one visit with all ya’ll.

Accentuate the PAWsitive

This post went up to rave reviews on a social media group. Many thanks to the original poster for permission to share here:

Barbara Eymard

A reflection on my first 9 months in the dog show world.

I have read lot of complaints about the cost of dog show. 2 tickets to the movies can cost more than one day entry fee for a dog and additional cost for each family member. Hanging out a a dog show with several family members much cheaper

For most part dog show parking and admission for friends and family is free. I live in an area where we do have a number of shows in day trip driving distance.

For my admission fee I get 8 hours of meeting and talking to people with a like interest, my dog evaluated, entertainment, shopping

Food is cheaper then at the movie dinner theaters. I come home win or lose happy and exhausted.

My granddaughter and husband often spend the day with me. Guess what, we talk, no TV and limited cell phones, we spend time with each other and our dogs.

Now compare the cost of a day at the dog show and the day at an amusement park which does mean travel and a hotel for me. The dog show still comes out cheaper and a happier event.

Costs of everything have gone up. my quarter allowance use to be able to buy 5 candy bars.

I use comparison shopping when spending my entertainment money. Dog shows come out as a good deal.

Thank you dog show world

Barbara NAILED it!! Would that several tens of thousands more exhibitors shared her attitude. PLEASE join us in this …. Joy and thankfulness are contagious!

12-Step Program

I wrote the following as a New Year’s resolution column several years ago. I think it is still applicable today and now is as good a time to celebrate a new year and a new you as any!!

I once read a line that has stayed with me for years. Essentially, it said, “The man who can focus his entire attention on one single problem for just 20 minutes can rule the world.”

In our hectic, over-scheduled, under-funded, hyper-stimulated world, this is, indeed, a very difficult challenge. Especially so in the dog world, where we are all juggling dogs, life, work, family and personal time in a constant battle to not drop anything.

To offer focus in this never-ending war against time, we have created the “12-Steps to a Happier You in the Dog Fancy” inventory.

One step, each month, establishes the habit. Then just keep building, brick by brick, adding one new goal each month.

January — Say “Congratulations” to the winner or “Thank You” to those who congratulate you. And MEAN it! Yes, every time. Yes, even when the winner is your most bitter enemy, actually, especially then.

February — Watch one breed, other than your own, from start to finish, at every dog show you attend.

March — Instill and enforce the “first to look at their phone during dinner pays for everyone” rule each time you go out to eat, whether at a dog show, with co-workers or family.