The Gossip Column: December 1, 2023
Of all the press releases that come to our attention, the one I most enjoy receiving is the announcement of the seven nominees for the coveted AKC BREEDER OF THE YEAR. As I have written in the past, this is one contest where the competition should end with seven winners, not just one. Being the American Kennel Club’s choice as its top breeder in your own variety group is honor enough. While overall success in the show ring certainly is one criterion, it starts in the whelping box, where the potential problems arise: Keeping Toy puppies alive and a litter of 12 Working dog puppies all feed equally and other issues that might crop up should also be taken into consideration when selecting these seven winners. The point is, they all climb different mountains to get to the top. ...
Having expressed that, all of us at DOG NEWS congratulate the seven nominees on the recognition bestowed on them. Representing the Sporting Group is DOROTHY CHERRY of Cerise English Springer Spaniel fame; representing the Hound Group are HARRY & LISA MILLER of Kiarry American Foxhound fame; representing the Working Group, AMY KIELL-GREEN & ANDREW GREEN of Pebbles’ Run Samoyeds; representing the Terrier Group, KEITH BAILEY of Bayleigh Welsh Terriers; representing the Toy Group, LUKE & DIANE EHRICHT of Jolei Shih Tzu fame; representing the Non-Sporting Group, LORRIE CARLTON & LARRY LETSCHE DVM of Belle Creek Bichon Frise fame, and representing the Herding Group, CYNTHIA & VINCENT SAVIOLI of Aubrey Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh Corgis. ...
Quite an impressive list, each and every one deserving to be Breeder of the Year. Well done and continued success. This year there will be a main-ring presentation for the seven nominees on Saturday evening, something that was sorely missing the last few years. ...
Sad news: ZANE SMITH, a name so associated with American Staffordshire Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers, has passed away. ZANE bred, owned and exhibited many top winners and was a big supporter of purebred dogs. ZANE was approved to judge several Terrier breeds. He leaves his beloved wife SHANNON and their children. All of us at DOG NEWS send our deepest sympathies to his family. ...
Recently the AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB announced a complete list of the most popular breeds, from one to 200. No surprise: The French Bulldog pulled ahead of the Labrador Retriever, which long held the top position. Now we hear from the ROYAL KENNEL CLUB (the newly crowned name for the ENGLISH KENNEL CLUB) that the Labrador Retriever holds the same prestigious top spot, but the Wire Fox Terrier — once one of their most popular breeds — is about to become one of 49 breeds listed as “vulnerable or at watch.” Sad for a breed so revered in this country that it tops the list of breeds that have gone Best in Show at the WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB.