The Gossip Column: October 31, 2025
When speaking of survivors. please be sure to include MARI-BETH O’NEILL on that list, as she just celebrated her 35th year working at the AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB. She has survived more regimes than the Russians under the Czars. She could have taught ALI the art of weaving and ducking and GLORIA GAYNOR has nothing on you. Well done, my friend. The AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB hosted their first SCENT WORK MASTER NATIONAL event at thew Roberts Center on October 12th through 14th. Over 200 dogs participated at the three day event. Tested on four elements that included Buried, Interior and Exterior and Master levels. The big winner claiming the title of the AKC Scent Work Master National Champion was a Vizsla named SWNC RUBARB GELOTTE ACT2J SWD SWME DM CGCA CGCU TKP owned by LEIGH GELOTTE. Every year, at the CRUFTS DOG SHOW the top winning junior handlers from around the world compete for the coveted JOE CARTLEDGE MEMORIAL INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR SHOWMANSHIP AWARD. Americans have faired well in this event with some winners, most notably is professional handler ANGIE LLOYD. The American junior that will compete at CRUFTS will be the winner at the upcoming AKC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP presented by ROYAL CANIN who sponsor in part the expenses for the winner. This year’s final will be judged by former junior handler and current group judge PATTY KEENAN. The junior presenting the United states will face the United Kingdom’s top junior 17 year old MEGAN SLACK, this is her fourth time reaching the final. In this competition the juniors are asked which two breeds would they feel most comfortable exhibiting. Then the organizers provide those dogs to the junior to exhibit. These juniors exhibit their talents with dogs that are basically unknown to them, showing their real skills in the ring. The lady behind all of this, LIZ CARTLEDGE, is well known around the world as a judge, breeder, mentor, friend and all around great lady who obviously has the patience of Job to handle all those juniors and their parents. All of us at DOG NEWS were so pleased and relieved to hear that the Australian Terrier that escaped from the dog show Montgomery weekend, and was missing for 13 days, has been found. He is back home, safe and sound and I’m told with a scratch or two and a few ticks. A happy ending for all concerned. We were saddened to hear that MARGARET POINDEXTER the former in-house attorney for the American Kennel Club, lost her beloved mother. All of us at DOG NEWS send our deepest sympathies to MARGARET and her family.