Fri, 01/02/2026 - 11:10am
The Gossip Column: January 2, 2026
By
Eugene Z. Zaphiris
Happy New Year. If you were anything like me, you enjoyed the time off to catch up with friends and family. The year ended with a nail-biter between the three top working dogs and the two top toy dogs vying for the number one spot. As of this writing we are awaiting confirmation of the winner from the American Kennel Club. All five of those dogs are worthy winners and congratulations to the breeders, owners and handlers for presenting such outstanding quality dogs to the fancy. The other five group winners were comfortably ahead to be declared winners at the close of the AKC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP dog show. The seven group winners will be feted at the PURINA PRO PLAN SHOW DOG OF THE YEAR AWARDS DINNER partnered with DOG NEWS on Saturday evening, January 31st at Manhattan’s GOTHAM HALL. The AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB and the national kennel club of Brazil the BRAZILIAN KENNEL CLUB known as the CONFEDERACAO BRASILIEIRA DE CINOFILIA (CBKC) have agreed to a mutual agreement to support pure bred dogs, and recognize each others’ pedigrees and registrations. It also includes the sharing of canine health and research. Usually this type of recognition includes the approval of the other countries’ judges. While we are south of the border, the judging panel for the joint American Kennel Club and the Mexican Kennel Club “FCM UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP DOG SHOWS” to be held in Mexico City, Mexico on November 12th through the 15th have been announced. Lots of American judges are on the panel, pending AKC approval. Two issues that face this joint venture are the political climate concerning border crossings and the conflicting dates with the ever-growing and popular KENNEL CLUB OF PHILADELPHIA dog show that is aired on NBC following the THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE. Another new interesting conflict of competing dog shows for our West coast friends is the creation of a new weekend of four shows: Great Western Terrier and three Kennel Club of Beverly Hills dog shows to be held in Ventura now competing against the Terrier Specialty and four all breed shows of the ROSE CITY CLUSTER held in Portland, Oregon. Granted these two cities are 967 miles apart but that drive up and down Interstate 5 is a regular commute for fanciers traveling in either direction. Celebrating Birthdays JOSEPH VERGNETTI, HARRY MILLER, JACKIE RAYNER, EILEEN HACKETT, CAROLYN KOCH, CHRIS ERICKSON, DEB SHINDLE, ADAM PETERSON and TAMMY SEIDLITZ.
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Fri, 01/02/2026 - 11:10am