Pure Dog Talk

Lorrie Carlton and Bichon Frise: Pure Dog Talk Breeder's Voice

Lorrie Carlton, breeder of Flynn, GCH Belle Creek’s All I Care About Is Love, came to her Bichon Frise breeding program with a background in sporting, hound and working breeds. Her firmly ingrained focus on structure and movement has continued through more than 40 years.

Carlton’s family raised Weimaraners and owned a boarding kennel and grooming shop. She grew up with bird dogs and showed her first dog at 11 years old. The family moved in to handling show dogs and added Old English Sheepdogs to their pack. Carlton worked in the kennel and groom shop after school and learned grooming by watching starting at 14.

Lorrie Carlton Belle Creek Bichon Frise

Following in her dad’s footsteps, Carlton became a licensed professional handler. Her favorite win? Group 1 with the Borzoi at Westminster Kennel Club in 1993 under Robert Forsyth. She retired the following year to assist her new husband, Larry Letsche, at his veterinary clinic in Michigan.

In 1976, just three years after the breed was recognized by AKC, Carlton piloted a Bichon named Sam to Best in Show in place of her father, who had been hurt. Sam made her fall in love with the breed. Just five years later, she won the national with her first Bichon of her own.

Correct Structure Before a Pretty Face

“I’ve got to have the structure,” Carlton said. “You can fine tune the little things, but you can’t fine tune the whole dog, especially the front. (My first) dogs didn’t have the classical pretty head. I figured I’d breed to the head at some time, but they have to have the structure first.”

Rebuilding her program after a devastating bout with juvenile cataracts in her line, Carlton continued to focus on structure, temperament and health.

“I breed my dogs for myself,” Carlton said. “I want a dog that is sound, that can come, that can go. Yeah, I want a pretty face, just like everybody else does. But I want proper coat, I want proper attitude and I want the health. I don’t want health issues. I can’t say I haven’t had some, but I don’t know anyone breeding dogs for any length of time that hasn’t had some.”

Flynn the Bichon Frise

Nicks and Flukes in Breeding Program

Carlton shares her stories about dogs that make a good “nick” with her lines and the “flukes” she won’t use in a breeding program. Her horror stories of breeding the “best to the best” and her preference to breed to the sire of a dog she likes.

“Successful breeders are honest with themselves,” Carlton said. “They are honest with what they have. They are not willing to compromise. They have a standard that they have set for themselves.”

Raising Bichon Frise Puppies

Carlton’s puppies are born in her kitchen, go to work at the vet clinic with Lorrie and Larry. She said they watch the puppies grow, making their selections around 10 weeks. She’s looking for that great puppy that has attitude, a certain look, a pretty face, pretty body.

“We put them on the ground and watch them walk,” Carlton said. “The ones we like, we hang on to. I separate the puppies at 7-8 weeks so they are sleeping the night through in their crates when they go home with new owners. We walk them on a leash. Teach yes and no. For sure, put a little extra into the dogs who have the potential.”

Carlton says she wants watch how the puppies react as they go through training, that she wants them to go through the uglies. “I don’t want them to stay beautiful all the way through (growing up),” she added.

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Rise to the Top: Katie Shepherd Bernardin and Giant Schnauzer "Ty"

Katie Shepherd Bernardin is the handler of Ty, the Giant Schnauzer in a ridiculously tight competition for number one dog of all breeds.

Katie Bernardin and Ty

At the tender age of 31, Katie stands as one of the youngest handlers to run this grueling race.

And, in the midst of this hectic, busy, insane year, Katie married Adam Bernardin in September. Just in case she wasn’t crazy enough...

Living and loving on the way to number one…

Katie is the poster child for raised in the sport. She started attending shows with her grandmother (while still in a stroller!). Her gramma bred miniature schnauzers and Katie remembers standing on a stool to help dry and chalk the dogs for the ring. She showed her first dog at age seven and hasn’t looked back.

After years spent working for professional handlers, including Lori Wilson-Paust and Andrew Doyle, Katie says showing a working dog (versus sporting dogs and sighthounds) has been a significant challenge.

But, always learning is her mantra.

“You can’t stop learning,” Katie said. “I learn something every day. From Adam, from Lori, from Angie Lloyd. I can always call and ask a question.”

To Be Number One, Seek Mentorship

Katie's strongest recommendation to young people coming up in the sport is to seek mentorship.

“You have to love your job,” Katie said. “You have to do it with a passion. You sacrifice your own life to make sure the dogs always come first. You take care of the dogs. But you have to *learn* to take care of dogs.”

Katie’s best recommendation for anyone in the sport, “Go watch a different breed. Watch how the handlers put their hands on dogs. You need to build a bond with a dog. Go work for a handler. It’s a very hard life. You need to learn that it’s a whole lot more than showing up at the dog show with your dog.”

Know Your Breed and Be Prepared

She adds that she has dealt for years with the potential for bloat. “You need to know the breed you’re carrying. The more you know, the more you prepare yourself, the more confident, the more you won’t panic in a situation. Be confident and know what you’re doing. Knowledge gives you confidence and confidence kills panic.”

Ty the Giant Schnauzer

In a complete switch from most top dogs, Ty goes home between dog shows . Katie said he needs downtime. “He’s a thieving monster,” Katie said. “He steals steaks off the counter. He’s the ultimate “dog is a dog”.”

Katie’s positive suggestions for continuing to move toward the never stop learning motto include:  That we have intelligent conversations. That we be involved. That we work hard. That you never stop trying your best.

Katie Bernardin"s Best Tip

Her best tip? “Think of someone you really admire in the sport, and imagine they’re always looking over your shoulder. Act like they are always watching.”

Show Dog of the Year!

It’s the Awards time of year in the purebred dog fancy. The AKC National Championship show presented by Royal Canin this weekend will feature the announcement of a number of huge awards from the AKC, including their nominees for Breeder of the Year and the ACE award winners for heroic dogs.

But voting is also underway for awards influenced by the purebred dog fancy at large.

Show Dog of the Year Awards

Corey Benedict, Northeast Area Manager for the Breeders Enthusiast Group at Purina ProPlan, oversees the Show Dog of the Year Awards presented by Purina and Dog News Magazine in February during the Westminster Kennel Club weekend in New York City.

Benedict, who worked for Walt Disney World as a show director for nearly 30 years, is also a breeder of Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen and president of the GBGV Club of America.

63rd Year of the Awards

He noted that the Show Dog of the Year awards are now in their 63rd year, having originally been sponsored by Ken-L Ration. He credits ProPlan’s Anne Viklund with continuing the tradition, previously known as the Winkies, after the last co-sponsor, Dogs in Review magazine, went out of business.

Our Favorite Bill McFadden to MC

The black tie, by-invitation-only event held at the elegant Gotham Hall on Saturday, Feb. 10, will be MC’d by Bill McFadden and “BestMinster” with a few surprises thrown in.

The glamorous evening celebrates the winners of the Show Dog of the Year based on Dog News points calculations, the Champions Cup based on the most points earned at Purina-sponsored shows, the AKC Achievement awards for Juniors, Obedience and Agility, the Anne Rogers Clark award for outstanding achievement in the sport and, finally, the Pro Plan Awards.

Don't Forget to Vote

This final category is where you, our listeners, come in. Everyone in the purebred dog fancy is encouraged to vote for their favorites of three nominees, selected by committee, in each of the five categories.

Breeder of the Year

NOMINATING COMMITTEE FOR BREEDER OF THE YEAR

Armando Angelbello, Eileen Hackett, and Doug Johnson

The Best Breeder recipient should show a record of consistent quality over time, a high percentage of outstanding dogs, dog-friendly responsible kennel facilities and showing success at national and important specialty shows.

Nominees for Breeder of the Year:

Karen Fitzpatrick — Meadowlake Border Terriers

Lisa & Harry Miller — Kiarry American Foxhounds

Bill Shelton & Steve Leyerly & Becky Williams DVM — Coventry Pembroke Welsh Corgis

 

Professional Handler of the Year

NOMINATING COMMITTEE FOR PROFESSIONAL HANDLER OF THE YEAR

Kellie Fitzgerald, Bergit Kabel, and Valerie Nunes- Atkinson

Professional handlers are undoubtedly among the most visible participants in our shows; therefore courtesy, civility and a spirit of true professionalism must be hallmarks of nominees in this category. These qualities should be extended to clients, judges, fellow exhibitors and handlers, and attending public. Criteria should include handling ability, care of animals in their charge, long-standing achievement in the sport of purebred dogs, and consideration for success over the previous 12 months.

Nominees for Professional Handler of the Year:

Angela Lloyd

Tiffany Skinner

Mike Stone

 

Judge of the Year

NOMINATING COMMITTEE FOR JUDGE OF THE YEAR

Barbara Dempsey Alderman, Frank Sabella, and Bill Shelton

Voting criteria for best judge is relatively simple. The recipient should have shown good judgement, courage of conviction, knowledge of and adherence to demands of breed standards, origin and purpose,

Laura Reeves on Dog Show Mentor - Safe Travels

At Pure Dog Talk we are proud to support all of our friends providing educational resources to the purebred dog fancy. Lee Whittier, the Dog Show Mentor, recently invited Laura Reeves to talk with her members about travel and safety tips while attending dog events. Lee was gracious enough to return the favor and share the interview with our listeners!

Tips from Laura Reeves

Whether traveling by car, RV or airplane, long distance or short, we have tips and recommendations to help ease the trip.

* PICK UP after your dog!!

* DO NOT wash dogs in the hotel bath tub!!

* Carry a leash and a gallon of water for every dog in the vehicle.

* Pack for safe ingress/egress.

* Carry shade cloth in summer and chains in winter.

* Always be prepared.

* Install a temperature monitor.

* Nothing is more important than your animal’s safety and well-being.

* The best guarantee of your animal’s safety is direct supervision.

* RV maintenance — tires, generators, etc

* Electricity — know what it can and cannot do.

* Long-distance, cross country driving — get dogs out every 4 hours. Get food, fuel, potty dogs and people all in one stop. Plan ahead for shorter drives to accommodate this schedule.

* Keep a light weight pen on top of the stack to set up for young dogs to contain.

* Avoid feeding before driving to avoid car sickness

* Air travel — Not all airlines are created equal — Alaska is amazing.

* Know airline and their requirements.

* Be prepared to provide a bigger crate if needed.

* Fly your own wheels.

* Freeze water buckets to hang in crate.

* Put a small scissor or sharp object in an easily accessible pocket of checked baggage to cute zip ties on crates.

* Easier to travel with a friend.

Personal Safety

As a final topic, Laura offers the Dog Show Mentor some awareness topics for personal safety while on the road.

Input from retired Law Enforcement Officers

* Stay alert and aware.

* Pay attention to your surroundings.

* Body posture, head up, shoulders back.

* Stay in well-lighted areas.

* Situational awareness.

* Avoiding conflict is vastly better than fighting.

* Keep keys and cell phone with you.

* Bad guys don’t want to be the center of attention. Make a racket.

* If you have to fight, cheat. Your goal is to win, stay alive.

* Stay in touch with a friend or family member as regards expected travel.

* Make use of non-lethal deterrents… Pepper spray etc

* Dogs help deter, but don’t assume it will always work.

 

DOG SHOW MENTOR WITH LEE WHITTIER

Allison Foley’s Tip of the Week: Dogs that Chew

Listen in to Allison’s best suggestion for dogs that chew their hair or beds... today on PureDogTalk.com

LEADING EDGE DOG SHOW ACADEMY WITH ALLISON FOLEY

Jan Koler-Matznick: Daring New Hypothesis Regarding the Origin of the Dog

Dawn of the Dog? What if dogs are really kissing cousins to wolves, not direct descendants?

Jan Koler-Matznick didn’t plan to be a heretic when she grew up. Nonetheless, her 2016 treatise, Dawn of the Dog: the genesis of a natural species, flies in the face of scientific hypotheses established for decades. Jan’s years involved in purebred dogs, working as a biologist and behaviorist, working with wolves and New Guinea Singing Dogs left her convinced that it was not realistic to believe that domestic dogs are direct descendants of canis lupus, the grey wolf.

“The people who are doing the research, writing these things, were never intimately involved with these animals,” Jan said. “I have worked closely with domestic dogs, wolves and New Guinea Singing Dogs (dingos).”

New Guinea Singing Dogs

It was her desire to study the most primitive dogs, animals largely unimpacted by humans, that led her to the New Guinea Singing Dogs.

New Guinea Singing Dog - Photo Credit Lynn Jackson

“I got my first two (NGSD) puppies home from the airport in Portland,” Jan remembered. “I was standing there in my kitchen with my mouth open, thinking to myself, I don’t know what they are! They’re not dogs. They’re not wolves…”

In reference to the DNA analysis connecting dogs and grey wolves, Jan noted that similarity of DNA does not mean ancestor/descendant relationship. “Two species can have extremely similar DNA because they came from a common ancestor.” In other words, Jan hypothesizes that there was one progenitor to both the wolf and dog.

“I think someday the ancestor of the dog will be found lying in a museum drawer some where,” Jan mused. “Most of the new species described in the last couple decades have come out of museum drawers because they were misidentified or not identified at all.”

She is looking forward to results from a UK group studying the origin of the dog. A researcher has put together an international consortium of specialists conducting a significant study using ancient wolves and dogs, sequencing DNA from their bones. “I’m hoping we’ll get some answers before I die.”

Scent Work - The Nose Knows

Scent Work is an accessible sport for handlers and dogs that builds on the one thing ALL dogs do well — sniffing.  AKC’s brand new Scent Work program, and the events from which it is derived, are amongst  the fastest growing sports in purebred dogs. We visited with some of the judges and participants in this new game to bring our listeners in depth and up to date information.

Jon Sarabia - Scent Work Judge

Our podcast interview today features Jon Sarabia, a retired military dog trainer based in Missouri, who is now active in the sport as a competitor and judge.

Jon Sarabia

Listen to our talk with Jon Sarabia from Amore K9 Training in Sedalia, MO as he describes the way he starts dogs out learning how to find two drops of essential oil on a cotton ball buried under a foot of dirt.

 

We also had a chance to talk with Penny Scott-Fox, the Southern California trainer who was a founding member of the National Association of Canine Scent Work, Hallie McMullen, who has been training dogs for law enforcement detection work for over 20 years, and Karyn Eby, a Washington State based trainer who transitioned to scent work from advanced field work with her English Cocker Spaniels.

 

Penny Scott-Fox: National Association of Canine Scent Work

Penny Scott-Fox, NACSW Faculty and Founding Member, AKC Scent Work Judge, Certified K9 Nose Work ® Instructor

PDT:

I would love to hear some more history of how this sport began and what you think has propelled it to be so overwhelmingly popular.

PSF:

The original sport NACSW (National Association of Canine Scent Work) was started by Ron Gaunt and two of his students, Amy Herot and Jill Marie O'Brien. They realized that the scent work part of detection training could provide a lot of fun for dog enthusiasts and pet owners alike. It exploded. After selecting seven instructors to help them teach the sport (I am one of the original seven), classes started everywhere. People became certified nose work instructors across the country and soon there was an enormous demand for trials.

To be honest, it has been hard for the NACSW to keep up creating frustration in exhibitors being able to get into trials. Also in order to earn a title with the NASCW the team needs to earn a 100 percent score. Now there are long wait lists for trials and sometimes one has to travel great distances. As the sport continues to grow there seems to be more frustration with NACSW.

PDT:

I’ve gotten differing opinions as to the ease or, I guess, accessibility of the sport for folks new to the concept. Can you give us a typical training routine for a new dog, of any age, to prepare for a novice level trial? How does that time investment change as you go to higher levels of competition?

PSF:

Nose Work (NACSW) or Scent Work (AKC) is fun, there is no doubt about it. Anyone can do it, almost any dog can do it and you don't have to be super fit to run your dog. The training is straight forward.  There are a lot of instructors available plus some good online courses.  You don't need a ton of equipment to practice so it makes it a very accessible game to play with your dogs. Any age dog can do it too. I always start my puppies off at eight weeks and they are able to compete at one year (NACSW) or 6 months...

Junior Showmanship and the Future: Interview with Gillian McKim

For many of us in the sport of purebred dogs, whether we are breeders, owner handlers, professional handlers or judges, Junior Showmanship is where it all started. Our love of the dogs, the sport, the development of friendships, rivalries and knowledge… It all started in this ring.

Showing a Clumber Spaniel who *hated* it gave me, personally, determination, the ability to lose with a modicum of grace, the ability to win with pure joy and biceps of steel (from holding his 65-pound head up…) .

We talk a lot *about* Juniors, but I decided it was time we hear directly *from* a junior, in her own words... Laura Reeves

Gillian McKim and Pure Dog Talk's Laura Reeves on Junior Showmanship

Gillian McKim is a talented young lady with ambition, goals and good hands on a dog. Take a few minutes to really *hear* what the future of our sport sounds like.

Gillian McKim Talking to Dachshund

PDT: What did juniors give you?

GM: I’ve been around showing dogs for about 10 years. I started with my family. Dog shows and juniors have definitely taught me a great work ethic. You have to keep on going. When it gets hard, you have to keep on progressing. When you train a dog from a puppy, it takes patience. It taught me that not everything comes immediately. You have to keep working at it. It means a lot more starting with a new team and making it something great, than having it right off the bat. It means a lot more to you that you worked for it and you succeeded with it. I really enjoy creating the partnership.

PDT: What is special about dog show competition? How is it different than, say, your competitive water polo team?

GM: At dog shows I learned that win or lose, you take your own dog home. That you should be happy with how you showed to the best of your ability. And if you didn’t, try another day. There’s always another day at the dog show. Water polo was win or lose. Dog shows, it was nice to place in class or win, nice to know I tried my best. You’re always learning, every single day. The day you stop learning, that should be an issue. Even if I got second, makes me happy that the relationship (with the dog) is growing.

PDT: Tell us about learning the nuances of showing different breeds

GM: (I was) reading breed standards over and over… I’d have my mom and my breeders quiz me… You can’t show a dachshund the same as an am staf (American Staffordshire). It taught me how to go with the flow. You have to adapt, which is a great skill, that I’m learning still. It helps with life in general. You have to work with what you have. My adopted dog show family is helping me progress.

PDT: Who are your mentors, your heroes?

GM: I was fortunate to have a lot of mentors. You, Sandy McArthur, my basenji breeder, Wendy Snyder, my dachshund breeder, Chuck Murray, who teaches my handling class and really encouraged me. But I’d say especially my Mom and my Nanna, who are the ones who got me started and helped keep going when times got hard. (These mentors) meant the world to me, because it showed me that I had people who supported me and believed in what I could do, even when I didn’t believe in myself. It helped me push for tomorrow and what is to come.

PDT: What is your transition plan, your dreams?

GM: I personally believe you should learn the ways of dog shows and how to become a professional handler. A lot that goes into it. One needs to learn and pay their dues. After I compete at Orlando and Westminster, and graduate high school, I want to earn my four-year degree and possibly my masters in physical therapy. Because I really want that college background holding me up.

Flying Your Dog with Helicopter Pilot and Vet Tech - Sandy McArthur

Flying a dog is, for many of us, a stress-inducing, anxiety-laden nightmare during which nearly all of us practice some form of begging the Air Travel Gods to spare our beloved pet from harm.

Sandy McArthur is a breeder, owner, handler of Basenjis. She admits to being terrified, for years, to fly her dogs, despite her professional background as a veterinary technician and helicopter pilot.

Her breed’s national at Purina Farms this year proved to be the tipping point at which she decided to “bite the bullet” and try flying her dog.

McArthur researched the topic thoroughly, including asking questions of friends in the industry and came away with some valuable tips, suggestions and reminders, which she offered to share with our listeners.

Statistics on Flying Your Dog

First, the stats. Statistically, just like people, dogs are far safer flying than driving. With more than 50,000 animals transported by air on an annual basis, the average number of incident reports indicate that .06 percent of those animals are injured.

Your Nerves or the Dogs?

The far more common concern among owners is that the dog will be nervous during the flight. McArthur said she considered sending her dog by car with a friend, but concluded that the dog was better of being worried for four hours than for a week driving cross country with a stranger.

“I was worried about it more than she was,” McArthur admitted. “One of my vets, when I discussed anti-anxiety meds, asked if they were for me or the dog.”

Tips from Sandy McArthur

Second, some recommendations.

* Know your dog. “Will it handle stress, things like noise and altitude change,” she said

* No drugs, no tranquilizers. “The dog can’t stabilize its body, possibly making it more panicky,” she noted. “And, those drugs are not tested at altitude… Even the AVMA says no tranquilizers. Rescue Remedy or another natural calming aid would be acceptable.”

* Fly Direct. No plane change means a significantly reduced chance of the dog winding up in a different location than you do.

* Look at the airport layout in advance to know where the potty areas are. Many airports now feature these consumer friendly options.

* Know the difference between flying the dog as “excess baggage,” in other words with you on the same ticket and “cargo,” as an independent action. The primary difference is you take it to ticket counter vs a cargo facility in a separate location — “The flight is the same for the dog,” she added.

* Call the airline directly to book yours and the dog’s flight. Dog room, even for dogs under 20 pounds flying in the cabin, is finite. “Don’t be booking your flight on Expedia,” she laughed.

* Size matters. FAA regulations state that the carriers must “execute safe handling of dogs.” The actual federal mandate, set by an independent organization, is the dog must be able to “comfortably stand up and turn around” in its crate. Each carrier uses these guidelines to set up their own procedures and regulations. “I brought two crates,” McArthur said. “I brought the one I wanted her to fly in and I brought the next size up just in case …. You can get an individual airline employee who insists on a bigger crate.”

* You need a health certificate for the dog. Most airlines dictate that the certificate is only good for 10 days. “Be sure to include enough time for your return trip and any potential delays,” McArthur suggested. She added that bringing a rabies certificate, in addition to the health certificate, is always a good idea, although not generally required.

* You may well need a letter of acclimation. The federal guideline is that dogs may only be flown in the cargo hold when the temperature is between 45 and 80 degrees.

David Frei on Televised Dog Shows - In His Own Words

David Frei hosts the NBC televised National Dog Show Presented by Purina, happening today at noon across the country. David talks with Pure Dog Talk about HIS favorite Thanksgiving snacks, benched dog shows, judging in Shanghai and the power of national television to reach the “outside world” with information about purebred dogs.

David’s favorite snacks… there are doggie treats in a bowl! Say what? And, he reminds our dog show aficionados “No cheating! Don’t take advantage of your insider knowledge to win bets with your family at the dinner table.”

National Dog Show Month

The National Dog Show MONTH kicked off in Philadelphia with a dog walk for charity that benefited multiple different organizations in the city. It also featured the inaugural National Dog Art Exhibit, “The Perfect Dog” children’s musical and a National Dog Show Gala, along with the famed Kennel Club of Philadelphia dog show, which is taped for broadcast on NBC Thanksgiving Day following the Macy’s parade.

“This event really allows us to reach out to public and promote purebred dogs,” David Frei said. “I always feel the pressure of representing our sport to outside world. I want to show the outside world that these great show dogs are real dogs. That the people showing them are real people, engaged in a great family sport. And that we want them to have fun watching the show, learn a little bit about the different breeds. Maybe appreciate their own dog more. The real best in show dog is the one sitting on the couch by them.”

Two Hours of David Frei "Talk"

With so much public opinion against purebred dogs, the National Dog Show gives Frei a two hour televised platform to talk about what makes them so great. “Purebred dogs are all about predictability,” he noted. “Somebody brings home a ball of fluff, if it’s purebred you know what it will grow up to be. If it’s a Pomeranian, it’s going to stay a four pound ball of fluff. If it’s an Akita puppy, that’s a whole other story. It keeps dogs out of shelters because people know what to expect.”

“If you’re somebody who sits at home every night and watches tv, don’t get a Border Collie,” Frei observed wisely. “On the other hand, if you get out and run every day, don’t get a bulldog. Joe Garagiola once asked me, ‘Don’t you wish they could talk.’ I said NO! First, I’d get in trouble. But, second, I know what they want to say. They want to be with us. They want to go everywhere. Dogs are permanent companions for anything we want to do.

“Who can’t look at a dog and smile. If you aren’t that person, there’s probably not much we can do for you. Either on the tv show or in life.”

David Frei Judging Best in Show in Shanghai

Judging Televised Dog Shows in China

Frei recently had the opportunity to interact with what is a growing worldwide community of purebred dog lovers. He was invited to judge in Shanghai at the first live televised dog show ever in China.

“We were on TV for two days,” Frei said. “This was the largest pet expo in the country and Purina was a major sponsor for the dog show.”

Frei commented that both dogs and handlers have gotten better since he judged in Beijing a number of years ago. And, even more noteworthy, “Dogs have become more important in the culture. We had huge crowd at the arena. We had enthusiastic commentators. They didn’t speak English, but they addressed the crowd over the PA system the entire time. Every chance we have to promote our sport, which in turns promotes dogs and dogs in our families, is important.

The Dog World is International

“All seven group winners were owner handlers,

Today’s interview with Jon Miller from NBC sports takes you inside the network team that brings the dogs to America on the National Dog Show Presented by Purina.

Pure Dog Talk goes Access Hollywood with NBC Sports Jon Miller

Jon Miller, president of programming at NBC sports is the mind behind what’s been called one of the most perfect pieces of television programming ever.

Now in it’s sixteenth year, the National Dog Show presented by Purina reaches 20 million viewers with a celebration of purebred dogs and all aspects of dogdom.

We have found people care about a lot of things passionately,” Miller said. “They love their families. They love their cars. And they really love and care about their dogs. Dogs are part of their family. The dog show allows three generations of family to watch the dog show after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and before the football game and dinner. It’s become part of the culture.

How the Best in Show Movie Started the "Show"

According to Miller, the story of this cultural phenomena was born on a cold winter night in January 2002.  “My wife brought home movies to watch with friends. One of them was the classic, "Best in Show.” We had six or eight people all watching it. After some of the folks left, we watched it again because it was so funny.”

Thanksgiving Day on NBC - Before the National Dog Show

At the time, NBC didn’t have Thanksgiving Day football. Miller said the broadcast powerhouse had been running “It’s a Wonderful Life” after the Macy’s parade. He called Wayne Ferguson, president of the Kennel Club of Philadelphia (the oldest dog show in the US) and asked if NBC could buy one of the days of the dog show. He called Michael Crawford at Purina and asked if he wanted to help sponsor a big dog show (since Pedigree sponsored Westminster Kennel Club).

And then Miller walked into his boss’ office at NBC and said, “We have this idea to do a dog show…. The boss threw us out of the office.”

Jon Miller Pitches Jeff  Zucker

Miller explained his idea further, pitching it as an NBC entertainment opportunity. Jeff Zucker, who now runs CNN, was then the head of NBC entertainment. Miller noted that Zucker wasn’t impressed with the ratings coming in from “It’s a Wonderful Life” and figured they’d give the dog show a shot. The very first year, the National Dog Show outperformed the previous year’s programming by a huge margin.

"This event has been a great performer for our network,” Miller said. “It’s allowed us to invest back into the Kennel Club of Philadelphia and into purebred dogs."

Philadelphia Creates National Dog Show Month

Miller adds that the people of Philadelphia have embraced the event and even created National Dog Show Month in the city, including a charity dog walk and a number of other dog focused events. This has enabled the team to turn the support for purebred dogs into support for ALL dogs.

“We have 100s of different breeds at the National Dog Show,” Miller said. “But everybody’s favorite dog is their own dog.”

NBC New to Dog Shows

Putting on a dog show was new territory for NBC, but Miller’s team immediately set about “making ourselves smarter about this world. We surrounded ourselves with people who understand the business so we could do a good show and give back to the dog world.”

Jon Miller and Local Kennel Clubs

Miller also had a great recommendation for local kennel clubs looking to create media connections about purebred dogs for their communities.

“Reach out to your local NBC affiliate,” Miller suggested. “Every station has a community relations person.