Pure Dog Talk

Italian Greyhounds Lilian Barber is a breeder and AKC judge. Lilian escaped the Nazi's as a child and fled to the US. Author of the "bible" on Italian Greyhounds.

Wire Coated Breeds require special grooming techniques and tools to keep the coat in top condition and shape that the breed standard requires.

Continuing our conversation on the challenges of creating dual champions, Melissa Newman talks with us about her journey to build a family of dogs that meet this exacting goal. From a childhood spent hunting with her family through the trial and error of acquiring a good foundation for her breeding program, her story is inspiring as to what can be accomplished with single minded dedication and focus. The Set’r Ridge dogs are iconic and can be found in many pedigrees of the top dogs in the breed.

One key element of preservation breeding, for many fanciers, is working to maintain the “function” for which the “form” of the breed was originally developed. The English Setter standard, for example, describes a dog “conformed” a certain way because those details enabled the dog to best do the job for which foundation breeders developed it.

Wendy Paquette of Wenrick Kennels fame, All-Breed Judge and Toy Breeder talks with Laura Reeves on Toy Dogs, Shih Tzu's, and Breeding Challenges.

Obedience at the Garden: Obedience was not always offered at the Garden during Westminster Kennel Club dog show. David Haddock, Westminster member and AKC judge helped to include obedience competition.

Mike and Karen Kurtzner Mike and Karen are professional handlers that have both been mentored by some of the great dog people of the past, but have trained some of the stars today.  Boarding kennel owners in the Sacramento, California area, they have been in dogs since the 1960's, and have more than a few stories to tell. This episode of Pure Dog Talk is quite enjoyable, and Laura's introduction gives a bit of insight and respect to two people who deserve it. Did You Know? Mike raised homing pigeons One of the first all breed handlers in the licensing system Married to Karen for 33 Years - Kudos to Karen and Mike! WAS THE YOUNGEST LICENSED FIELD JUDGE IN U.S. Ch Kahootz Chase Manhattan Many know and remember Mike as the handler of 13 inch Beagle "Ben" - Ch Kahootz Chase Manhattan, but there is much more to Mike and Karen. www.tesorosbeagles.com Original Handler Licensing System Once upon a time, you had to be licensed for each breed that you handled.  AKC reps inspected your kennel,  your set-up at the shows and your license had to be renewed each year.  Mike and Karen tell the stories of how the original handler system worked. Field Judge and Beagles on the Scent Mike is full of surprises, so if you want to know about Beagles, scents and field work, here you go... Thank you to Mike and Karen for a great interview.  

New to the Group Ring? 10 Tips to Survive and Succeed and celebrate your best of breed win.

Social Media Challenge Randy Benns and Luke Baggenstos are both members of the Professional Handler's Association. Luke Baggenstos Luke literally was born into dogs. His parents and stepmother are all dog people. He worked for dad, Rick, and stepmom Dinah,  both PHA handlers, and followed in their footsteps. In fact, the bulk of his extended family are "in dogs." His wife, Rowan, is the daughter of Canadian Akita, Shiba Inu & Japanese Chin breeder Susan Norris-Jones. His brother is married to professional handler, Jen Holmberg. I began in dogs at birth. My parents bred and showed Old English Sheepdogs and Afghan Hounds. I first went into juniors at a Fun Match with my Afghan at the ripe old age of 4. Needless to say I was hooked. As soon as I was old enough I participated in junior handling, showing my mother’s Afghans. My parents divorced when I was 11 but I continued to attend shows even when my mom did not. I would travel to the shows and work for my Dad, Rick, and Stepmom, Dinah. I apprenticed for 13 years with them. In the mean time I also put myself through school earning my Associates degree in Business Management. I then went to work at New England Financial and then Met Financial but I missed the dogs too much. I quit a great Career to be a dog handler, a job I truly love," Luke says. Randy Benns Randy is "first generation" dog man who, with wife Lisa Haney, is a noted all-breed handler. In his words, he started in dogs because someone told him he couldn't. He started with chow chows in the late 1980s. He graduated from University of Utah with a degree in political science. Later Randy apprenticed under the renowned all-breed judge, Dorothy Nickles. Over the years he's shown top ranked Beagles, Giant Schnauzers, American Staffordshire Terriers and, more recently, American Eskimo Dogs. Social Media, Dog Shows and Instant Influence Luke and Randy tackle the thorny issue of social media and how it impacts the purebred dog fancy. Luke is not a "Social media superstar," but participates. Randy is a strong opponent of the medium. We hear from each side of the aisle as these two opinionated friends share their thoughts. Take a minute to really think about their common message.... If you won't say it to somebody's face directly, *don't* write it for 1000 of your "closest" friends to read.... As always, we'd love to hear from you! Share YOUR thoughts on ways our sport can improve... with or withOUT social media!

Steve Gladstone, AKC Judge, Breeder of Cardigan Welsh Corgis and AKC Board of Directors member passed away in Australia while on a judging assignment. Perhaps his final interview, this was recorded only a few weeks prior to his passing.

Valerie Nunes-Atkinson Best known for CJ and his Westminster win, Valerie is a 2nd generation breeder with the passion for handling, training, breeding, and conditioning show dogs. Pay It Forward - Handling Seminars for Owner Handlers and Juniors Valerie has a deep love for her dogs, and a deep love for her sport.  She is focused on a Pay-It-Forward future by training owner-handlers and juniors in international handling seminars. Dispel the "Owner Handler Cannot Compete" Belief For those who want to raise their game, for those ready to dispel the owner handler cannot compete belief, for those who will work to win on a consistent basis; Valerie is ready to help. Professional Handlers do this 24 hours a day! One of the drawbacks of the owner handler and frequent complaints from the judges is lack of conditioning.  The seminars are not just how to hold your lead, but how to condition, train, and prepare for the ring. Puppy Training or How to Raise a Rock Star Show Dog Puppy training starts at birth and the time, effort, dedication, and persistence required evolves from the time that they are puppies.  With a horse background, Valerie trains carriage and outline on her dogs. Lead Breaking Tip Train in circles, moving only to the right... Never lead break in a straight line.  The puppy should bend and flex around you.  After two or three circles, end with the dog facing straight towards you and looking at you.   Don't pull!!! Use treats or sounds to keep him engaged. Breeders and Exhibitors Dog shows are intended to evaluate breeding stock.  But today, not everyone that shows are interested in breeding. Some just like to own and show and this group of exhibitors are both welcome and deserve respect. But encouragement is needed to help interest exhibitors to become breeders.  For without our breeders, we will lose our dogs.

Litter Evaluation Workshop Recorded LIVE with Laura Reeves focused on how to evaluate a puppy litter for structure, temperament, and breed standard.

  One Breed, One World: Think and Breed Global with Doug Johnson One Breed, One World Doug Johnson started at a young and impressionable age of 15, and attributes his "no bias" mentality to his youth. Pursuit in quality is the top priority in working in small gene pools and shrinking gene pools are a factor that even popular breeds are facing.  Pursuit in quality means that there is "no bias" towards or against the kennel or "camp" that the dog is associated with. Doug Johnson breeds by physical trait, dogs that look alike or resemble each other regardless of the pedigree. We use science as a tool, but breeding is an art Genetic testing is a must-use tool, especially when breeding internationally. Search the Globe Search the globe and exchange dogs internationally.  Consider building bridges by exchanging dogs with top international breeders for a second or third generation "puppy back". We can't be be island breeders anymore. Resist Fashion Resist the "Americanization of Show Dogs" fashion trend.  Dogs are bred to standards and should look and be the same everywhere.  The English Springer Spaniel in the U.S. for example, has lost proper croup for a "showier" presentation in the ring. Test and Tell Yes, Test AND TELL!!!  It's not about you.  Small gene pools cannot survive without the sharing of test results, good and bad.  As genetic testing improves, the necessity for greater understanding, education, communication and reliance on other breeders is needed.  The perfect dog without a specific recessive gene may be in Australia, or Germany or even Russia. Look at the success of the African Basenji Project featured in Pure Dog Talk #67. Drop the Ego Don't believe the press.  You're top winning dog may not be the best example of your breed.  You may have had better dogs in the past, and this is just the best one at this time. Want success for other people.  Keep every door open and commit to lifelong learning. Elevate who you are and be honest about your animals. Be Grateful Above all, be grateful.  Be grateful for others and grateful for our dogs and what they give us all. CLUSSEXX SPANIELS

  Bo Bengtson and Paul Lepiane: The History and the Future of Dog Show Competition Paul and Bo, whippet breeders and publishers of several magazines, share their thoughts on breed drift and the past, present and future of dog shows in this wide ranging, thoughtful intervi­ew. We discuss why some breeds drift *a lot* and others it’s barely noticeable. Bo shares ideas he focused on while authoring the book, Best in Show: The World of Show Dogs and Dog Shows. Primarily that history informs the current day and helps us understand our world. http://www.sighthoundreview.com http://www.poodlevariety.com DO YOU KNOW BO BENGTSON BOHEM WHIPPETS

Edd Bivin: Dedicated to the Sport of Dogs From Pomeranians to prestigious judge at Westminster and National Events, Mr. Bivin contributes to the sport through the Take the Lead Foundation.  Listen to episode 75 as he shares his history and dedication with Laura Reeves. Edd E. Bivin, of Fort Worth, Texas, acquired his first purebred dog, a Pomeranian bitch, at age 12. This introduced him to the sport of dogs and became the foundation of a breeding program that led to his breeding and exhibiting top-winning Poms. Additionally, he says, "My wife Irene and I enjoyed the breeding and exhibiting of Doberman Pinschers and Dachshunds during her lifetime." Mr. Bivin first judged toy dogs at match shows at the age of 15. He was approved to judge Pomeranians at U.S. championship point shows in 1961 and is today approved for all sporting, working, terrier, toy, and non-sporting breeds, and several herding breeds. "It has been my privilege to judge many all-breed and specialty shows in the United States and abroad," he says, "among those being many of the internationally famous ones–Best in Show at Westminster, 1999.  A great joy has been the judging of many national specialty shows of various breeds in the groups for which I am approved." Mr. Bivin is chairman of Take the Lead, a charitable organization for people in the sport. "It is a way for me and others to give back to a sport from which we have taken so much."  He served for 32 years as an administrator at Texas Christian University, with 18 of those years spent as Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services. TAKE THE LEAD. ORG