Bred-By Bitch

The AKC doesn’t offer “Altered Dog” classes at its conformation shows. According to the AKC site, “Spayed or neutered dogs are not eligible to compete in conformation classes at a dog show, because the purpose of a dog show is to evaluate breeding stock.” I think that if the objective is to evaluate breeding stock, […]

Many dog breeders have heard of (or seen) a dog pass out during a tied breeding. Is this a normal occurrence, or a sign of a dangerous health condition? Under normal conditions, no dog should faint. Dogs that do faint often have severe underlying medical conditions, and should be taken to a veterinarian right away. […]

If you’re planning on breeding your bitch, you need to find some potential puppy daddies. If you are breeding to make the breed better, this process can be a bit daunting. This is a rough guide to my process in selecting a stud that will best complement my bitch. Goals Are you just going to […]

I love stewarding in the show ring! It is fun to see everything from the judge’s view, and I often have a great time chatting with them. They are so knowledgeable, and ALL of them have hilarious and horrific dog show stories. Most clubs will work around your dog’s ring time, and give you plenty […]

The AKC has a code of sportsmanship, written in an effort to outline the “fundamentals of our sport.” It really angers me to see so many people in all breeds disregard parts of this code. It is high time that we all re-connect with these values. Please take the time to read through the code, […]

5 Basic Must-Haves: Squirt Bottles: One for water to cool off your dog, and others for coat products. Vitamin E oil: Put a drop on your dog’s nose about an hour before you go into the ring, and his nose will look bright and clean Round-tip scissors: Use these to trim around the paw pads- […]

 In my years at dog shows, I have seen some pretty terrible outfits. Really terrible outfits. Putting aside style and fit for now, I’ve outlined what I see as the worst things to wear in the ring. My belief is that we go into the ring as a representative of our dog. Thus, it is […]