The Gossip Column: March 1, 2024

Today online voting for the PURINA PRO PLAN SHOW DOGS OF THE YEAR AWARDS starts for the three nominees in five different categories. They include Judge of the Year nominees PAULA NYKIEL, CHARLOTTE PATTERSON and POLLY SMITH; Professional Handler of the Year nominees ADAM BERNARDIN, CHRIS MANELOPOULOS and AMY RUTHERFORD; Owner Handler of the Year nominees DENNIS BROWN, SUSAN GILES and FABIAN NEGRON; Breeder of the Year nominees SHEREE MOSES COMBS, MARGERY GOOD and PEGGY HELMING & MILAN LINT, and Dog Show of the Year nominees the ANN ARBOR KENNEL CLUB, the LOUISVILLE KENNEL CLUB and the TAMPA BAY KENNEL CLUB. A very talented and accomplished group of nominees in each category. One email address — one-vote duplicates will not count. ...

The winners will be announced at the PURINA PRO PLAN SHOW DOGS OF THE YEAR AWARDS DINNER partnered with DOG NEWS. That evening we will also be celebrating the outstanding show accomplishments of the seven top-winning dogs in each variety group, starting with the number one of all breeds for 2023, the Shih Tzu owned by LUKE & DIANE EHRICHT, BONNIE MILLER & SUSAN CARTER; the English Springer Spaniel owned by BETH FINK, TIM LOWE, JUDY VANDERLIP, ELIZABETH PIKE and SUSAN HATCH; the Afghan Hound owned by RAMON PODESTA, SCOTT PFEIL, JAMES DONAHUE & ARMANDO SOBRADO; the Doberman Pinscher owned by CHERYL GREEN & TONY MACKENZIE; the Wire Fox Terrier owned by GEORGE & NANETTE HERRICK, ROBERT CARUSI & HAILEY GRIFFITH CARUSI; the Bulldog owned by KEVIN & NATALIE MASON, ALAINA MOULTON & BJ WHITLOW, and the Australian Shepherd owned by BETTE EVANS. In addition, we will honor the top obedience dog owned by HELEN SMITH, and the hope for the future, the top Junior LILA HOLBERG. ...

We congratulate all the announced winners and those who will be announced at the dinner. The black-tie affair is the highlight of the WESTMINSTER WEEKEND, where all our peers get together to celebrate our sport and mingle with friends from across the country.