Pure Dog Talk

Eugene Blake - International Judge Eugene Blake is always dapper in appearance, impeccable in style, and a smile full of life and joy. He is a lovely judge to show under, a man of extensive dog knowledge, and a willing mentor for new exhibitors in the show ring. In this interview, Eugene shares his history, fascination and love of dogs.  Don't miss the in-depth Sighthound Review article written by Bo Bengtson. Professional Handler to AKC and International Judge   I started working with dogs in 1954 as a dog bather at a French Poodle Shop in Houston, Texas. I attended my first dog show in 1955 and then decided I wanted to show dogs. I became an All-Breed licensed handler in 1968.  I showed dogs professionally for some 33 years, then, I retired, and became a judge. During that time, I bred Poodles, Cocker Spaniels, Italian Greyhounds, Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Salukis, and Afghan Hounds. I never bred more than 4 litters of any of one breed. As a handler I helped many of my clients with their breeding programs, including choosing studs, and picking puppies. I started judging in 1990, with the Hound Group. Since that time I have added the Sporting Group, Toy Group, and Non-Sporting Group. I judge 4 Groups: Best in Show, Junior Showmanship, and Miscellaneous. I have judged in Australia, Canada, Finland, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden, Taiwan, and Thailand. As of now, I judge between 60 and 70 shows a year. AKC Biography   SIGHTHOUND REVIEW ARTICLE ON EUGENE BLAKE EUGENE BLAKE WEBSITE

Grooming Back to Basics for Better Coats Grooming is as important a part of successful conformation presentation as handling. It doesn’t matter how gifted you are, you can’t make a silk purse out of sow’s ear in the 10 minutes you’re in the ring. It takes work. In many cases untold HOURS of hard work. For today we’re just going to talk about some basic maintenance and at home care. Breed specific grooming, ring prep and favorite product recommendations will all be covered in later epidsodes. Coat Care Coat care is as individual as the breed. Double coated, single drop coats, hand stripping, scissoring, short smooth coats, short double coats, long fine hair, long coarse hair, curly hair. No matter what breed and coat type you’re working with, you need to have a routine and a plan. Hair is a renewable resource but it also requires loving care and maintenance. Those stunning, shiny dogs don’t just happen by accident! Establish a Routine Pick a day that is dedicated to dog grooming or assign a time each day to one part of the process. EVERY dog needs nails trimmed, teeth and ears checked and cleaned, coat brushed and a good bath and dry. If you have a Komondor this is a whole lot different game than if you have a whippet! Plan accordingly. Your dog’s success is dependent on the time and dedication you put in to this process. Brushing the Coat Brushing a dog to the skin is critically important to keeping the skin and hair coat healthy. A couple rules that apply, especially in drop coated breeds, NEVER BRUSH DRY HAIR! A light mist of conditioning spray as you brush will help minimize breakage and damage to the coat. We have far too many different coat types to focus on just one, but I do want to touch on the heavily coated breeds. Please, I beg of you (as does every professional groomer) learn how to properly brush your dog. Start at the bottom of the dog (ie the feet), pull the coat up with one hand and brush down with the other. Literally, this might be a half inch section at a time to start with. Make sure that you SEE the skin and that the brush is actually *touching* the skin…. The best way to check your work is to run a comb through each section when you’re done brushing. If the comb doesn’t reach the skin and pull through easily, you have more work to do. Now, whether you use a pin brush or slicker brush for this task depends on coat type and condition, and, to a degree, personal preference. Be VERY sure that you are brushing *through* the coat, not “flicking” your wrist… This also will help prevent breakage. Train the Dog for Grooming One thing I think folks forget is that grooming is something for which we train the dogs just like any other skill. Starting your puppy out as soon as it comes home with a quick trip to the grooming table each week for some kisses and treats, handling feet and mouth, rubbing and touching all over gradually increasing the time and attention as they get older and require more effort will pay HUGE dividends in the long run with a dog who sits, stands or lies quietly on the table instead of shrieking like a banshee and thrashing wailing biting lunging etc. A dog who is started early, consistently maintained and properly trained for grooming will enjoy the time and special attention. One that is 6 months old or more when it’s started might fight the process and often “learns” that the table is to be hated. Which means your life just got more difficult and the dog is less liable to win because the grooming process is such a nightmare it’s just easier to not do a thorough job. Don’t forget, even dogs with short, smooth, single coats need weekly brushing with a good bristle brush to keep dead hair coming out to be replaced by new and to make sure the skin is healthy and its natural oils are distributed through the coat. The Dreaded Toe Nails Toe nail maintenance is regarded as the bane of dog gro...

  Steve Gladstone - AKC Board of Directors and Cardigan Welsh Corgis AKC Judges Biography Steven D. Gladstone, of Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, sits on the AKC Board of Directors. He has bred and shown Cardigan Welsh Corgis under the Aragorn prefix since 1974, earning more than 100 AKC titles in nearly every aspect of the sport in which a Cardigan can compete. One of their most cherished memories was winning BOB at the 1984 AKC Centennial Show in Philadelphia under the noted Cardigan fancier Dr. Ed McGough. The Gladstones have also owned Norwegian Elkhounds, German Shepherd Dogs, and Australian Shepherds. Mr. Gladstone began judging match shows in the late 1970s and was first approved to judge Cardigans in 1988. He now judges the Herding and Working groups and five hound breeds. Judging trips have included assignments in New Zealand, England, Canada, and most recently, Saint Petersburg, Russia. He also judged the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship show in 2003 and 2005. Mr. Gladstone has been AKC Delegate from the Reno Kennel Club since 1999. Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone are members of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America, and each has served on the club’s board of directors over the years. They are also longtime members of the Pocono Mountain Kennel Club and the Penn Ridge Kennel Club, both in Pennsylvania. Before serving as a Delegate, Mr. Gladstone represented members of the fancy for 15 years as their attorney. Those representations concerned most every possible problem that can arise in the sport, from disciplinary matters to judges’ applications to registrations, club relations, and studbook discrepancies. Through his experience in this field, Mr. Gladstone is "proud to have helped reshape the AKC Discipline Bylaws," which he feels gives the fanciers "a truly fair and equitable disciplinary system." ARAGORN CARDIGAN WELSH CORGIS

Dreaming of Top Dog #1 All-Breed? Professional Handler Laura King tells the fun and frustration, rewards and regrets, on the competitive road to be #1.

Movement Improvement with Laura Reeves Most important is to move properly for your breed.  Don't follow the crowd. Basic Movement of the Dog - Episode 3 To refresh on the basics of moving your dog in the ring, listen to Episode 3 on PureDogTalk. Movement Improvement - Down and Back In episode 3, we covered 1, 2, 3, go..... and how to line up your dog with the judge.  The judge wants to see your dog's rear, not yours. To improve movement, you need to see what you can't from the end of your leash. Have someone else move your dog so you can watch. Have someone videotape you moving your dog to evaluate how you are both together. How your dog is moving is one factor.  How the two of you move together, is another story. If your dog is crabbing or sidewinding, try slowing down or re-positioning the collar higher on the neck. If the front is flailing and flopping, you may have too tight of a leash or holding the dog's head to high - lower your hand and let the dogs head down. Movement Improvement - Going Around Reach and Drive is not correct in every breed standard.  While an Afghan floating around the ring is gorgeous to watch, it's difficult to achieve with a Bulldog. Again, video tape is your friend. Movement Improvement - Equipment Laura covers different collars and leashes in this episode.  Sometimes a metal chain bothers a dog with sensitive hearing, and a simple switch to a soft choke solves the problem. Experiment with options to see how your dog performs.

Jen Amundsen is the Dog Savvy Lawyer and shows Clumber Spaniels. In this episode Jen covers puppy contracts, importance of pet trusts and estate planning.

African Basenji Project and Damara Bolte journeyed to Africa to bring Basenji's back to strengthen the gene pool against Fanconi Syndrome and hemolytic anemia.

Nailing the free stack in the dog show conformation ring makes your dog stand out from the rest. Laura Reeves gives your advanced practice tips to nail it every time.

Purina Farms Event Center was years in the making to be the all-inclusive canine competition destination. It is THE Best-in-Class facility designed by dog people for dog people.

  Bloodhound Mantrailing, Canine Health Foundation Tick Program and more with Susan Hamil Bloodhound Mantrailing vs. AKC Tracking Bloodhound Mantrailing is a Bloodhound Club breed specific performance trial that differs from AKC Tracking.  AKC Tracking is an all-breed event where the dog has to track every turn. Bloodhound Mantrailing does not have to indicate each turn.  Scents can be 18 hours to 36 hours old.  Trails are variable surfaces - grass, parking lots, buildings, and the bloodhound has to give positive identification of the person that laid the trail. Bloodhounds as Evidence Tools Did you know that bloodhounds do more than find lost people or track criminals?  They also are used as an evidence tool in court and investigation.  An item is presented to the bloodhound, and the dog then "picks from a line-up" the person whose scent matches the item. Susan Hamil - Quiet Creek Bloodhounds #1 Bloodhound status belongs to Susan Hamil's Quiet Creek Bloodhound line.  However, Susan's dedication to the Canine Health Foundation and it's Tick and Disease prevention program demonstrates how excelled breeders and dog people give back to their sport. Listen as Susan Hamil discusses many of the challenges and accomplisments of the Canine Health Foundation and her role as an AKC Delegate. GCGG Quiet Creek's Limited Edition - Courtesy of Susan Hamil, Photo by Diana Han Chien d' Saint Hubert / Bloodhound Club d'Italia. April 2017 San Miniato , Tuscany, Italy

Conformation Basics Expanded #1 dives deeper into the dog show handler tips for better performance with your show dog. Laura Reeves is back for beginners.

Lure Coursing is a fun and energetic sport. Cindy Gredys trives to produce beautiful and functional hounds so Jubilee dogs are tested in open field competition, as well as lure coursing, racing, obedience, and rally which has produced many dual champions. The first litter, in 2001, produced a SBIS, national WD and WB in the same year from BBE, multiple BIF winners, BCOA national LGRA BOB, bench champions in US, Canada, and Japan including #1 dog in Japan.

Janice Hayes - The Disappearing Handler Janice Hayes started as a junior handler, then assistant handler, and quickly rose through the Professional Handler ranks.  With an English Setter as her first "heart dog", Janice fell in love with the soft, but hard-headed sporting breeds. Perfection not Required Serious in training, fun in the ring is the motto that Janice follows.   While home life involves character building, confidence work, and ring preparation... happy, happy, play, play is essential. Balance Flexibility and Consistency Dogs do best with routine, but keep flexibility in a dog's life so they are ever-adapting. The Taffe McFadden FAN CLUB Oohhh, do we have so many members of the Taffe McFadden fan club!  Per Janice, watching Taffe McFadden is the ultimate training guide for a handler.  Taffe's soft hands, quiet whispers to the dog, and consistent touch bring confidence to the soft dog. You Need to Disappear Practice quiet hands and don't stare down the judge... it's about the dog. Tips from Janice Hayes Practice with stacking blocks for just a few minutes a day in a positive way.  Don't groom on them. Train in obedience.  Heeling, pattern changes, and having the dog pay attention are great for the ring. Thoughts and Suggestions We need less shows.  Allows more time for training and conditioning, and gives the competitive dogs a break. There are some really talented young handlers.  Take the time to learn as an assistant. Dogs are #1.

National Purebred Dog Day is May 1! Join in the fun and support by posting a photo of you and your dog with a I Love Purebred Dog Day sign. Enjoy Susi Szeremy as she tells the story of the fight to make this a National Day!

Foreign Affairs - Critical Tips to Know Before Import or Export of Semen Every country has different requirements for import and export of semen and are constantly changing the rules! Blood Tests Some require blood testing prior to collection, some after collection, some after a waiting period. If that wasn't enough, the tests vary and even the dilutions of the "standard" tests vary. Ship the Stuff with an Expert Sirius is one of the most recommended import/export all-in-one services for shipping semen safely. Critical Tips to Consider 3-6 Months Prior to Shipping Group Shipments - Planning ahead allows for group shipping with considerable savings.  Solo shipments can range around $2,500. Plan up to 6 months ahead - there are quarantine requirements, USDA requirements, and lots of paperwork Cryrodrum - NEVER USE! Use a dry vapor shipper with aluminum tank, shipped in outer fiberglass and with a shipper rated for 21 days.  Yes, you have to pay round trip shipping on the tank, but better than dead swimmers. Fees on both ends - Someone familiar with procedure has to receive the shipment and work with authorities on acceptance Microchips are essential for most countries as permanent identification Collection vet (in U.S.) has to be currently accredited with USDA Get copies of foreign collections reports for review PRIOR to contracting the semen Ask Sirius for recommendations for collection in another country - get an experienced referral Why Sirius Fertility?... Service! Not just a great interview but Sirius handles all the paperwork and timing of tests and shipping.  The Stud Dog owner just needs to follow the directions of when to make appointments. Sirius handles the AKC registration and DNA so the litter can be registered. New Gene Pool Horizons - Russia Russian just opened up for import and export of semen.  Most other countries are also on track to approve or consider import and export. Just think of the gene pool opportunities in countries that breeders have not had access to. As Bill McFadden would say: AMAZING! THANKS FOR A GREAT AND INFORMATIVE SERIES! SIRIUS CANINE FERTILITY