Fri, 12/12/2025 - 10:01am
Editorial: December 12, 2025
First Forty Years
For the fortieth year, Dog News is publishing our year-end Editorial. Over those forty years so much has changed that it would take volume and verse to revisit all that has happened. We have gone through the presidencies of William Stifel who came president in 1978 followed by Lou Auslander who also a board chairman, followed by Bob Maxwell and then the first woman president, Judi Daniels, that was tumultuous and short-lived when board member David Merriam was asked to step into the office while a search was conducted to find someone outside of the sport. They hired Al Cheaure, who was followed by Dennis Sprung and the present-day president Gina DiNardo.
Other notable events include the breaking of the glass ceiling of the ole boys club with the first woman, Jacklyn Hungerland, who was elected onto the board of directors, first in the 101 years of the kennel club’s history. Other changes and improvements were instituted and gained acceptance. But as the complexion of board members changed, new and popular changes and some questionable and unpopular changes occurred. More and more changes occurred with each crop of new board members. Some of those included the addition of Agility and Rally, the establishment of CAR, Companion Animal Recovery, that was renamed AKC Reunite. The creation of the AKC Canine Health Foundation with one million dollars of seed money from the American Kennel Club. Years ago, AKC abandoned the licensing of professional handlers. With many exhibitors listing themselves as handlers in the catalogs, professional handlers had their voices heard and the AKC did create the Registered Handlers Program governing body for those professional handlers who choose to join the organization. In a largely unpopular move the opening up and allowing mixed breed dogs, that we now refer to as All American Dogs, to compete in obedience, agility and rally events. Those opposed thought it not in the best interest of a registering body of pure bred dogs to enter. The creation of Grand Champions, a title that gives more importance to the title of a champion, when many grand champions were worthy only (hopefully) of finishing their championship. a move of the executive offices to 101 Park Avenue in Manhattan. One year later the Dog Museum moved from its St Louis location to its present home it shares in the same building as the executive offices at 101 Park Avenue. Another still questionable change was the introduction of the Owner Handled Series, dividing the sport of the pure bred dogs that credited its well deserved reputation as pro am sport. The cheapening of earning championship points and the influx of group judges that are needed to fill the panels of these long weekends. The introduction of two dog shows in one day, specialty shows held within an all breed event and the approval of additional dog shows over the weekend, which now longer is a Friday through Sunday affair. The overuse of site clustering that deprives the public exposure in those abandoned areas to our sport. Leaving the animal rights opposition in place to malign and demean our sport and pure bred dogs. With entries falling, approving all these shows does help the kennel club financially but it is taking its toll on those who participate. When the popular opinion is that there are too many dog shows, the kennel club turns a blind eye and approves more events. We are still hopeful that some of these issues will be addressed in the new year. We are a family, and only family members can say something about fellow family members, so these observations are given with the best of intentions and we wish that all in this sport which has given us so much the best of the Holiday Season and very Happy and Healthy New Year. Peace.
Other notable events include the breaking of the glass ceiling of the ole boys club with the first woman, Jacklyn Hungerland, who was elected onto the board of directors, first in the 101 years of the kennel club’s history. Other changes and improvements were instituted and gained acceptance. But as the complexion of board members changed, new and popular changes and some questionable and unpopular changes occurred. More and more changes occurred with each crop of new board members. Some of those included the addition of Agility and Rally, the establishment of CAR, Companion Animal Recovery, that was renamed AKC Reunite. The creation of the AKC Canine Health Foundation with one million dollars of seed money from the American Kennel Club. Years ago, AKC abandoned the licensing of professional handlers. With many exhibitors listing themselves as handlers in the catalogs, professional handlers had their voices heard and the AKC did create the Registered Handlers Program governing body for those professional handlers who choose to join the organization. In a largely unpopular move the opening up and allowing mixed breed dogs, that we now refer to as All American Dogs, to compete in obedience, agility and rally events. Those opposed thought it not in the best interest of a registering body of pure bred dogs to enter. The creation of Grand Champions, a title that gives more importance to the title of a champion, when many grand champions were worthy only (hopefully) of finishing their championship. a move of the executive offices to 101 Park Avenue in Manhattan. One year later the Dog Museum moved from its St Louis location to its present home it shares in the same building as the executive offices at 101 Park Avenue. Another still questionable change was the introduction of the Owner Handled Series, dividing the sport of the pure bred dogs that credited its well deserved reputation as pro am sport. The cheapening of earning championship points and the influx of group judges that are needed to fill the panels of these long weekends. The introduction of two dog shows in one day, specialty shows held within an all breed event and the approval of additional dog shows over the weekend, which now longer is a Friday through Sunday affair. The overuse of site clustering that deprives the public exposure in those abandoned areas to our sport. Leaving the animal rights opposition in place to malign and demean our sport and pure bred dogs. With entries falling, approving all these shows does help the kennel club financially but it is taking its toll on those who participate. When the popular opinion is that there are too many dog shows, the kennel club turns a blind eye and approves more events. We are still hopeful that some of these issues will be addressed in the new year. We are a family, and only family members can say something about fellow family members, so these observations are given with the best of intentions and we wish that all in this sport which has given us so much the best of the Holiday Season and very Happy and Healthy New Year. Peace.
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Fri, 12/12/2025 - 10:01am