The Gossip Column: May 29, 2026

On the heels of the AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB’S  announcement of a mutual cooperation with the KOREA KENNEL FEDERATION comes another formal agreement of mutual cooperation with the NEW ZEALAND KENNEL CLUB. This agreement states among other things “…explore opportunities to hold events, promote registration of pure bred dogs…”  Working with kennel clubs from other countries can be beneficial, there is strength in numbers, but It’s sounding a little too FCI to us. AKC CELEBRATES USA 250, a joint event with the AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB  and ESPN DOG SPORTS SERIES will offer a weekend of several events for the whole family. Celebrating the USA’s 250th anniversary, activities are planned to be held June 5th through 7th at the Philadelphia Navy Yard’s Marine Parade Ground Field - what better venue to host the AKC’S DIVING DOGS TEAM CHALLENGE? Move over SEALS, it’s the dogs that will be diving that weekend. Other activities include the AGILITY PREMIER CUP along with the AGILITY TEAM CHALLENGE and kids zone where they can test their agility skills and a mini MEET THE BREEDS taking place on the 6th and 7th from noon to 2:30 both days. Last week we printed the judging panel for the upcoming WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB and the judging panel for the AKC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP DOG SHOW.  Also released are the judges for the accompanying Friday AKC ROYAL CANIN NATIONAL ALL BREED PUPPY & JUNIOR STAKES  which will headed by the best in show trio of judges that include TOM DAVIES, DAVID KIRKLAND and DANIEL SMYTH. The seven group judges are Sporting Group EILEEN HACKETT, Hound Group PATTY KEENAN, Working Group CHANNING SHEETS, Terrier Group TRACY SZARAS. Toy Group NANCY MARTIN, Non-Sporting Group TAMMIE SOMMERSON-WILCOX and the Herding Group BRYAN MARTIN. Breed judges, Sporting DOUG BELTER, MARY DUKES, EILEEN HACKETT, BRYAN MARTIN, NANCY MARTIN, Hound Breeds PATTY KEENAN, SARAH MURPHY, ANNA STROMBERG, Working Breeds MARIANNE CONTI, COLTON JOHNSON, CHANNING SHEETS, Terrier Breeds TRACY SZARAS, PHILLIP BOOTH, Toy Group MARY DUKES, KURT KROEMER, LANI KROEMER, NANCY MARTIN, KIM RUSSELL, Non-Sporting Breeds MARY DUKES, TAMMIE SOMMERSON-WILCOX Herding Breeds ROSALIND KRAMER, COLTON JOHNSON, BRYAN MARTIN. Not on this year’s panel is one of my favorite Canadians PAM “PERENNIAL” BRUCE. It won’t be the same without you. All of us at DOG NEWS were saddened to hear that Wayne Zimmerman has passed away. Wayne was the husband of Judge Ruth Zimmerman, but here at DOG NEWS he will finally be remembered as the sidekick of the late handler Tom Glassford. In the days when Tommy showed our Bloodhound.  We extend our deepest sympathies to Ruth and family.