Missing Dog - Bouvier des Flandres - New Mexico

Leo is a two year old male Bouvier des Flandres dog who recently was placed with his new family in Taos, NM. He went missing 15 January 2012 in a Forest Service area near Penasco while on a sledding excursion with the family.

Leo is a medium gray brindle in color, 26 1/2" tall at the shoulder, and weighed 85 pounds when he went missing. It would not be unusual for him to have lost weight since he has been missing. He was wearing a blue collar, but had no ID tags on. He is micro-chipped.

This dog is friendly to people and other dogs, but may be tentative or skittish because he has been missing since 15 January 2012.

Leo has been spotted at a distance in the same area since then, and has been heard barking, but the family has not been able to retrieve him. A live trap has been placed in the area and food is being left on a regular basis but Leo has not been caught yet.

Flyers have been sent to local veterinary clinics and animal shelters in the area. Contacts have been made with rescue people in the area, and some have been able to go to the area to search for Leo, but they have not been able to find him yet.

The people involved would greatly appreciate help from anyone in the area who can help find Leo and bring him to safety. They are also asking for suggestions of resources in the area that would help with finding and capturing the dog.

Some possible resources could be horseback search groups, as well as foot searchers with dogs to try to attract and entice Leo to return to safety. If someone had a trained tracking dog that would also be helpful.

The families have asked if you spot Leo, do NOT chase him. Instead try running the other way and being silly to attract him, or just stand still and talk quietly to the dog to encourage him to approach.

If you can help find Leo, suggest resources to help find him, or if he is spotted or captured, please contact Sue immediately at 503-648-9385 or 503-693-7523. There is voice mail for each line. Other contacts: Jody at 505-453-5762 and Kathy at 505-266-9204. 

This is a much loved dog that needs to be found and returned to his family. Please help find Leo.

Zoya DeNure is racing to make a difference in the sport of mushing

Zoya DeNure is racing to make a difference in the sport of mushing. She is concentrating on improved dog care on the trail as well as in the dog yards and encourages using positive race training that works for every sled dog, young or old.

While at the AKC Eukanuba National ChampionshipI had an opportunity to meet Zoya, her husband, John, and their daughter, and I really enjoyed the time spent with them. In my past life, I worked and/or consulted for pet food manufacturers and some sponsored sled dog racers – or mushers in their vernacular. One thing that really struck me about DeNure and her kennel partner, best friend and spouse, John Schandelmeier, was their comfort being around huge crowds of people. That is a highly prized skill for people running dogs and living in the wilds of Alaska.

Traveling to Orlando from Minneapolis, I felt right at home with the Madison, Wisconsin native from the moment I met her. Ms. DeNure told me that she “fell in love with sled dogs while watching a sledding demonstration at my local feed mill in Stoughton, Wisconsin.” From there, she knew she had to head north to Alaska – which she did taking a position as a handler in a professional sled dog kennel.


DeNure, like many of us, has a past life too. Before becoming a musher, she was an international fashion runway model & record label representative traveling and living all around the world. Not the typical path that most mushers take.
Before meeting with Ms. DeNure, I asked on Facebookand Twitterwhat people would like to know about a high-fashion model turned musher. The top questions follow.

KARD: How are mushing and modeling similar?
Zoya: Both arenas are mentally challenging in ways that force you to step out of your comfort zone and into another world where you are under a lot of pressure holding a great deal of responsibility.

KARD: Are there fitness regimens that you use in both mushing and modeling?
Zoya:  I love to run and hike and have always done a little of both. Caring for 50 sled dogs full time, training for mid-distance races and now having a three year old daughter, I'm staying in the best shape of my life!”

KARD: Which is more grueling?
Zoya: Mushing. It's physically more grueling, the dogs needs always come first, no matter how tired, hungry or cold you are. The dogs needs always come first, the golden rule!

KARD: Has being a woman affected how people view you in mushing? Did your modeling career make people think you were more or less qualified to run dogs?
Zoya: I get a lot of publicity within the sport because of my background which allows me to be a spokesperson for the sled dogs and humane training and treatment of these animals. Other mushers can be resentful of this. I used to be a model, what do I know -- that's the attitude I get from some and it's frustrating, but I know I can't change it overnight.

Crazy Dog Kennelshas about 50 sled dogs and about 25 of these dogs are rescued and running on their teams. This is unusual and makes DeNure stand out from other mushers.

KARD: What helped you determine that rescue dogs would be a good part of your team?
Zoya: Dogs are dogs. They don’t know if they are a rescued dog or not. I saw a great need in this state for rescue and rehab work back in 2004 and at the same time wanted to form a little sled dog team but couldn't afford the asking price of a typical "sled dog" from most kennels. A team dog can sell for $300.00 - $2,000.00. If that dog doesn't care for his new owner/musher or the way he's being handled, he may not run as well as expected because of that asking price and then ends up in the pound a year later. We see this kind of thing often. Very good dogs end up in tough situations, what they need is more time, positive training and love.

KARD: What challenges does that bring to team development?
Zoya:  We train the rescues the same as we would our own. We may design a slightly different training regimen for that dog until we can properly evaluate him or her in the team. Some of the rescued dogs have been neglected or mistreated and the biggest challenge is gaining their trust -- it comes with time and patience.

KARD: How do mushing and your tourism business tie-in with each other?
Zoya: Lots of mushing interest in general, and over the years we discovered that if we could offer custom dogsled trips, we could supplement our income with something we already do and enjoy. (Crazy Dog Mushing Kennel and Alaskan Adventures)
This is one of my favorite questions to ask people in an interview.

KARD: If you could leave a note on the kitchen table for future generations what would it say? Zoya: Follow your heart, have patience and enjoy the journey.

To learn more about Zoya DeNure, visit her on the web at dogsleddenali.com


Email me anytime, follow me on Twitter, tell me your story, and please subscribe to my Examiner - Dogscolumn!

New AKC Owner-Handler Series

The American Kennel Club is launching a new event in 2012 that will take place at select dog shows around the country – the AKC Owner-Handler Series.

Owner-handlers make up the majority of show entries and these people are the core of the conformation dog fancy. With this new program, AKC is going to spotlight the owner-handler by acknowledging the large amount of times and tremendous dedication that these people put into their dogs.

The AKC Owner-Handler Series will take place after Best of Breed judging in each breed ring. This competition will be open to all non-professional owner-handlers, whether experienced or novice. To be entered in this part of the competition, all dogs' eligibility must be indicated by checking the Owner-Handler box on the official AKC entry form at the time of entering the dog show. Once entered, the entrant will be marked as Owner-Handler eligible with an asterisk (*) in both the steward's book and the show catalog.

How does the selection process work? Here’s the information from the AKC: Owner-Handler Best of Breed will be selected from the dogs that are eligible to compete in the Best of Breed competition including Winners Dog and Winners Bitch. If the Best of Breed/Variety winner is Owner-Handler eligible, it will automatically be Owner-Handler Best of Breed/Variety. If BOB is ineligible and Best of Opposite Sex is eligible, BOS will compete against the eligible Best of Breed dogs of the other sex. If the BOB and BOS winners are both ineligible, the judge will choose Owner-Handler Best of Breed from the eligible Selects and eligible WD or WB. If one of the Selects is eligible, the judge will excuse dogs of the same sex as the Select and judge the remaining dogs of the opposite sex including the eligible WD or WB. If the BOB, BOS and Selects are not eligible, the judge may choose any eligible dog remaining in the ring.


Based on points from Breed, Group and Best in Show wins accrued throughout the year, AKC will rank the dogs and invite the top owner-handled exhibits to a special year-end event where they will be able to compete for a Best Owner-Handler Award.

AKC Owner-Handler Series Point Scale: (Note: Owner-Handler Series points do not contribute to championship points)
Best in Show
100
Group 1
30
Group 2
20
Group 3
15
Group 4
10
Best of Breed
5

The AKC is hoping that many Owner-Handlers will take part in this new series and they look forward to your feedback about the new Series. They plan to add shows featuring this new event throughout the year, so stay tuned for updates on www.akc.org.

The first events in the 2012 AKC Owner-Handler Series will take place at:
Dog Fanciers Association of Oregon – January 21st
Oakland County Kennel Club – January 21st
Sahuaro State Kennel Club – February 4th
Colorado Kennel Club – February 19th
International Kennel Club of Chicago – February 26th
Ft. Worth Kennel Club – March 24th
Atlanta Kennel Club – April 14th
Greenwich Kennel Club – June 9th

If you have any questions or feedback to share about the AKC Owner-Handler Series, AKC encourages you to contact Bri Tesarz at glt@akc.org or 919-816-3514.

And don't forget to mark your calendars for the ABC Television Network broadcast of the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship on 4 February 2012. Check your local listings for airtimes.  

Email me anytime, follow me on Twitter, tell me your story, and please subscribe to my Examiner - Dogs column!

Charlie saves his neighbor from fire

Image: Julie Reinardy

What breed of dog do you associate with fire fighters? If you’re like me, it might be a Dalmatian, however for the Reinardy’s neighbor that dog would be a Yorkie called Charlie.

As Julie Reinardy and her family slept, a fire broke out at their neighbor’s home. Charlie, a four-year-old Yorkshire terrier knew something was wrong. The tenacious terrier apparently could hear the smoke alarm going off and his determination got the Ms. Reinardy up and dialing 911. The fire department came quickly and the neighbor that Charlie likes to watch garden was able to save himself and his home.

Charlie is a spunky terrier that immediately fit into the Reinardy family with Cooper the Labrador/Beagle mix and Daisy the cat. This little dynamo has a giant personality and like all good terriers refuses to give up – which was really lucky for his neighbor! Charlie has a softer side too and loves to snuggle and cuddle with his family.
Good boy Charlie!

Thanks to Chuck and Don’s Pet Food Outlet for sharing this story on their Facebook page!


Email me anytime, follow me on Twitter, tell me your story, and please subscribe to my Examiner - Dogs column! 

Don't complain. Train!

Image: Bailey Wading in Parker's Lake by Kathleen Riley-Daniels (Telephone image)

Every dog needs basic manners and this ensures his safety and gives you peace of mind. This basic training also provides the framework for more advanced training work and helps your dog reach his full potential.

When Should I Start?
Immediately start teaching your dog the rules in your house. This is really important because if there are no rules in place, your dog will makes up his own set of rules. The training starts the instant those feet come through the front door.

How Often Should I Train?
I prefer short sessions spread over the day, but work with what fits your schedule. The biggest key is being consistent and spending time every day training your dog. Remember, even a few minutes is beneficial for your dog. Keep your training sessions short and fun, giving lots of praise when he performs correctly so he’ll want to work with you.

Daily training sessions will help him learn and give him an opportunity to practice -- and perfect -- what you have taught him in earlier sessions. If you really want to make it easier on yourself, incorporate the new skills into his daily life too so you reinforce the training and it becomes a good habit.


How Long Should the Sessions Last?
Keep your sessions short and sweet, you and your dog will benefit more from the short sessions. If you can manage several 5-minute sessions through the day that would be great, if you can do 10 to 20 minutes at a time that works too and is so much better than drilling the dog endlessly on commands. For pups, the session should last 3-5 minutes, spaced throughout the day with at least a half-hour break in between – their little brains need shorter work times with more breaks and more fun. No matter what age your dog, more frequent sessions with shorter periods of time will give you better results.

Once you see how much you and your dog enjoy this time together those shorter sessions will start appearing when you have a few spare minutes. Before you know it you’ll be adding in extra sessions and your dog will be improving quickly.

If you have a fast learner, one session may be enough to teach certain exercises. Use your other sessions to review skills your dog has already learned. Or, you may need to repeat the same lesson 3-4 times a day until he gets the idea.  Just remember to stay flexible and remain upbeat. You want the dog to enjoy the training times, not dread them.

Five basic commands to work on with your dog:
·         Sit
·         Down
·         Stay
·         Come
·         Heel (or as I have taken to calling moving forward, “Let’s Go!”

Here’s a quote for your dog training sessions: “Blessed are the flexible for they won’t get bent out of shape.”
Here are a few local places for training:
Outlaw Chinooks (This is me, voted a top trainer in the Twin Cities)
On the Run! Canine Center Great looking facility and lots of options for classes.
Pet Stuff - Minnetonka -- variety of classes and instruction available.

Email me anytime, follow me on Twitter, tell me your story, and please subscribe to my Examiner - Dogs column! 

Marketing the AKC Eukanuba National Championship 2011

My name is Kathleen and I’m a marketing junkie. Why is this something I’m sharing on this page? I’m sharing because I got to see P&G Pet Care in action at the AKC Eukanuba National Championship. What a treat! Seeing the Minnesota dogs in action at the show was an added bonus!

As part of the event, I found out how the Eukanuba name came into being. The name Eukanuba (pronounced “U-Ca-noo-bah”) originated in the 1940s as a lyrical expression (think Jazz) describing something “supreme.” When Eukanuba founder Paul F. Iams was looking for an unusual and memorable name that had significant meaning for the superior quality of his new brand, he chose the word Eukanuba.

The event itself is the “ultimate dog event” that showcases all 167 AKC recognized breeds and varieties with the events coming to a climax on Sunday night with the naming of the National Champion. On the way to the Sunday night event, there are lots of dog experiences to be had. While wandering around the venue I was able to take in dock diving, obedience, herding demonstrations, Police Dog competitions, agility, meet the breeds, conformation and general canine entertainment. I think I walked about 15-miles a day!

This is a joint event with P&G and the AKC so there are unique and combined purposes in play during the event. P&G focuses on breeders, breeds and sharing their leadership and research into canine nutrition. Yes, this is a large company which some people find distasteful, but as a large corporation they are able to invest significant funds into development of products and programs for dog lovers.

AKC promotes awareness and hopes to encourage more people to participate in conformation dog shows by spotlighting events like Junior Showmanship, Agility, Obedience and Canine Good Citizen. The AKC was promoting the benefits of purebred dog ownership and AKC registration while extolling the virtues of the human/dog bond and the importance of responsible dog ownership.

I’ve been showing animals for my entire life, and I am always amazed at the scope of this event. The 2011 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, AKC National Obedience Invitational and AKC Agility Invitational featured nearly 5,000 dogs, hundreds of vendors, and tons of fun! Being held in in Orlando, Orange County, Florida this is really an event for the entire family! This location offers easy in-and-out flights for dogs and is a wonderful family vacation area so plan on coming to Florida early or staying after the show to get the most out of your travels.

AKC/EUKANUBA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BY THE NUMBERS

• 173 AKC recognized breeds are entered to compete.
• The largest entries include:
  • 64 Boston Terriers
  • 61 Vizslas
  • 58 French Bulldogs
  • 57 Rhodesian Ridgebacks
  • 56 Retrievers (Labrador)
  • 51 Australian Shepherds
  • 50 Havanese
  • 50 Retrievers (Golden)
  • 48 Dachshunds (Longhaired)
  • 46 Rottweilers
  • 45 Pugs
  • 44 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
  • 44 Border Collies
• The newest breeds to compete include:
  • 3 American English Coonhounds
  • 5 Entlebucher Mountain Dogs
  • 9 Finnish Lapphunds
  • 8 Cesky Terriers
  • 11 Norwegian Lundehunds
  • 12 Xoloitzcuintli
• All 14 AKC Miscellaneous Breeds will be represented.
• More than 130 “Veterans” (between 7 & 12 years old) are entered.
• AKC Meet the Breeds® will feature 166 breeds at decorated booths staffed by experts. (Sat. & Sun. from 10 am to 4 pm)
• By group, entry totals are: Sporting – 637; Hound – 526; Working – 605; Terrier – 441; Toy – 527; Non-Sporting – 469, Herding – 491 and Miscellaneous – 68
• Dogs from 44 countries will compete in the Eukanuba World Challenge including Mexico, Australia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The Eukanuba World Challenge is a one-of-a-kind event offering top dogs from around the world, and the winner of the Eukanuba Breeders’ Stakes, the opportunity to compete for the title of “Eukanuba World Challenge Champion” and a total of $15,000 in prize money.
• Judge Mrs. Polly Smith of St. Stephens Church, Virginia will select the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship Best in Show (BIS) winner. The owner(s) of the BIS winner will receive more than $50,000 while the breeder(s) of the Best in Show winner will be awarded $15,000.
• Mr. James Reynolds of Nepean, Ontario, Canada will select Best Bred-By Exhibitor in Show from among 1,328 dogs (35% of the total entry) entered in the Bred-by-Exhibitor (dogs being shown by their owner/breeder) competition, who will be eligible to win the $15,000 cash prize. Same-day streaming video coverage of all regular and bred-by groups and evening events will be provided on akc.org.
• 159 youngsters, ages 9-17, who have met high academic standards and qualification criteria based on year-round competition, will compete in Junior Showmanship.
• Mrs. Zena Thorn Andrews, also a renowned breeder/judge of Dachshunds, will replace Tamas Jakkel to judge Dachshunds (Longhaired).
• Ms. Carla M.S. Molinari will judge Sari Brewster Tietjen’s entire assignment.

AGILITY AND OBEDIENCE INVITATIONALS BY THE NUMBERS

• 592 entries in the AKC Agility Invitational - 157 breeds from 46 states. Eukanuba and J & J Dog are proud sponsors of the AKC Agility Invitational.
• 146 entries in the AKC National Obedience Invitational - 55 breeds from 33 states and Canada. Eukanuba and J & J Dog are proud sponsors of the AKC National Obedience Invitational.
• 50 Juniors competing at the AKC National Juniors Agility Competition on Friday, Dec. 16th (8 am to 11 am).
• 48 Juniors competing at the AKC National Juniors Obedience Competition on Saturday, Dec. 17th (8 am to 3 pm).
• 9 All-American Dogs competing in Agility and 6 in Obedience.

You’ll be able to watch the show event broadcast on ABC Network Television on Saturday, 4 February 2012. (Keep an eye on the press risers to see me shooting pictures of the evening events.)

Email me anytime, follow me on Twitter, tell me your story, and please subscribe to my Examiner - Dogs column! 

AKC dog show conformation classes explained

Image: Riley (via cell phone)

This past weekend at the Land O’Lakes Kennel Club dog show at the River Centre, I got to have fun introducing a 10-year-old and a 40-year-old to the wonderful world of dog shows. Sharing my love of animals and the related venues with someone is one of my favorite moments! My horse mentor, Fran Reker liked this quote, Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.~Robert Louis Stevenson 


Once I started explaining to these two what was going on at the show, there were other folks that joined in the peanut gallery – of course everyone is welcome! Because we were sitting near the group rings, these questions were mostly about conformation showing.

Let’s start with the word. It is spelled “conformation” and is directly related to how well the dogs conform to the established breed type or breed standard. It is not “confirmation” like rite of initiation in Christian churches or in a different direction, hotel reservations.


In conformation classes there are a number of classes available at most dog shows. This will be explained using AKC classes, but there are other kennel clubs that also offer dog shows. Males and females compete separately within their respective breeds, in seven regular classes. The following classes are offered, and are divided by sex.  

Puppy - For dogs between six and twelve months of age, that are not yet champions. This class is sometimes broken into more age groups which are designated as 6-9 month – puppy, 9-12 month puppy and 12-18 month puppy. The dogs entered in these classes are not yet champions.  This is an optional class.

Twelve-To-Eighteen Months - For dogs twelve to eighteen months of age, that are not yet champions. This is also an optional class.

Novice - For dogs six months of age and over, which have not – before the entry closing date -- won 3 first prizes in the Novice Class, a first prize in Bred-by-Exhibitor, American-bred, or Open Classes, nor one or more points toward their championship. This is an optional class.

Amateur-Owner-Handler – For dogs that are at least six months of age that are not champions. This is a class for owners that have never been a professional dog handler, an AKC approved conformation judge, or employed as an assistant to a professional handler. This is an optional class.

Bred By Exhibitor – This is a class for dogs that are exhibited by their owner and breeder, that are not yet champions. This is an optional class.

American-Bred - For dogs born in the United States from a mating which took place in the United States, that are not yet champions. This is a mandatory class.

Open - For any dog of the breed, at least 6 months of age. This is a mandatory class.

After these classes are judged, all the dogs that won first place in a class compete again to see who the best of the winning dogs is. Males and females are judged separately. Only the best male (Winners Dog) and the best female (Winners Bitch) receive championship points. The Winners Dog and Winners Bitch then compete with the champions for the Best of Breed award. At the end of the Best of Breed Competition, three awards are usually given:

Best of Breed - the dog judged as the best in its breed category.
Best of Winners - the dog judged as the better of the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch.
Best of Opposite Sex - the best dog that is the opposite sex to the Best of Breed winner.


Email me anytime, follow me on Twitter, tell me your story, and please subscribe to my Examiner - Dogs column!

Marketing the AKC Eukanuba National Championship

My name is Kathleen and I’m a marketing junkie. Why is this something I’m sharing on my Examiner page? I’m sharing because I got to see P&G Pet Care in action at the AKC Eukanuba National Championship. What a treat! Seeing the Minnesota dogs in action at the show was an added bonus! 

As part of the event, I found out how the Eukanuba name came into being. The name Eukanuba (pronounced “U-Ca-noo-bah”) originated in the 1940s as a lyrical expression (think Jazz) describing something “supreme.” When Eukanuba founder Paul F. Iams was looking for an unusual and memorable name that had significant meaning for the superior quality of his new brand, he chose the word Eukanuba

The event itself is the “ultimate dog event” that showcases all 167 AKC recognized breeds and varieties with the events coming to a climax on Sunday night with the naming of the National Champion. On the way to the Sunday night event, there are lots of dog experiences to be had. While wandering around the venue I was able to take in dock diving, obedience, herding demonstrations, Police Dog competitions, agility, meet the breeds, conformation and general canine entertainment. I think I walked about 15-miles a day!

This is a joint event with P&G and the AKC so there are unique and combined purposes in play during the event. P&G focuses on breeders, breeds and sharing their leadership and research into canine nutrition. Yes, this is a large company which some people find distasteful, but as a large corporation they are able to invest significant funds into development of products and programs for dog lovers.

AKC promotes awareness and hopes to encourage more people to participate in conformation dog shows by spotlighting events like Junior Showmanship, Agility, Obedience and Canine Good Citizen. The AKC was promoting the benefits of purebred dog ownership and AKC registration while extolling the virtues of the human/dog bond and the importance of responsible dog ownership. 

I’ve been showing animals for my entire life, and I am always amazed at the scope of this event. The 2011 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, AKC National Obedience Invitational and AKC Agility Invitational featured nearly 5,000 dogs, hundreds of vendors, and tons of fun! Being held in in Orlando, Orange County, Florida this is really an event for the entire family! This location offers easy in-and-out flights for dogs and is a wonderful family vacation area so plan on coming to Florida early or staying after the show to get the most out of your travels. 

AKC/EUKANUBA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BY THE NUMBERS

• 173 AKC recognized breeds are entered to compete.
• The largest entries include:
• 64 Boston Terriers
• 61 Vizslas
• 58 French Bulldogs
• 57 Rhodesian Ridgebacks
• 56 Retrievers (Labrador)
• 51 Australian Shepherds
• 50 Havanese
• 50 Retrievers (Golden)
• 48 Dachshunds (Longhaired)
• 46 Rottweilers
• 45 Pugs
• 44 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
• 44 Border Collies
• The newest breeds to compete include:
• 3 American English Coonhounds
• 5 Entlebucher Mountain Dogs
• 9 Finnish Lapphunds
• 8 Cesky Terriers
• 11 Norwegian Lundehunds
• 12 Xoloitzcuintli
• All 14 AKC Miscellaneous Breeds will be represented.
• More than 130 “Veterans” (between 7 & 12 years old) are entered.
• AKC Meet the Breeds® will feature 166 breeds at decorated booths staffed by experts. (Sat. & Sun. from 10 am to 4 pm)
• By group, entry totals are: Sporting – 637; Hound – 526; Working – 605; Terrier – 441; Toy – 527; Non-Sporting – 469, Herding – 491 and Miscellaneous – 68
• Dogs from 44 countries will compete in the Eukanuba World Challenge including Mexico, Australia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The Eukanuba World Challenge is a one-of-a-kind event offering top dogs from around the world, and the winner of the Eukanuba Breeders’ Stakes, the opportunity to compete for the title of “Eukanuba World Challenge Champion” and a total of $15,000 in prize money.

• Judge Mrs. Polly Smith of St. Stephens Church, Virginia will select the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship Best in Show (BIS) winner. The owner(s) of the BIS winner will receive more than $50,000 while the breeder(s) of the Best in Show winner will be awarded $15,000.
• Mr. James Reynolds of Nepean, Ontario, Canada will select Best Bred-By Exhibitor in Show from among 1,328 dogs (35% of the total entry) entered in the Bred-by-Exhibitor (dogs being shown by their owner/breeder) competition, who will be eligible to win the $15,000 cash prize. Same-day streaming video coverage of all regular and bred-by groups and evening events will be provided on akc.org.
• 159 youngsters, ages 9-17, who have met high academic standards and qualification criteria based on year-round competition, will compete in Junior Showmanship.
• Mrs. Zena Thorn Andrews, also a renowned breeder/judge of Dachshunds, will replace Tamas Jakkel to judge Dachshunds (Longhaired).
• Ms. Carla M.S. Molinari will judge Sari Brewster Tietjen’s entire assignment.

AGILITY AND OBEDIENCE INVITATIONALS BY THE NUMBERS

• 592 entries in the AKC Agility Invitational - 157 breeds from 46 states. Eukanuba and J & J Dog are proud sponsors of the AKC Agility Invitational.
• 146 entries in the AKC National Obedience Invitational - 55 breeds from 33 states and Canada. Eukanuba and J & J Dog are proud sponsors of the AKC National Obedience Invitational.
• 50 Juniors competing at the AKC National Juniors Agility Competition on Friday, Dec. 16th (8 am to 11 am).
• 48 Juniors competing at the AKC National Juniors Obedience Competition on Saturday, Dec. 17th (8 am to 3 pm).
• 9 All-American Dogs competing in Agility and 6 in Obedience.

You’ll be able to watch the show event broadcast on ABC Network Television on Saturday, 4 February 2012. 

Email me anytime, tell me your story, and please subscribe to my columns!