The Gossip Column: July 4, 2025

Happy Fourth of July, a national celebration that drives many dogs crazy with the noise produced from the fireworks. So turn up the volume on the radio and be close by for a comforting hug if your dog needs one. At last week’s annual General Meeting of the ROYAL KENNEL CLUB, chairman TONY ALCOCK retired as was expected, and the board elected IAN SEATH, a board member since 2019 and Dachshund breeder for 45 years, as their new board chairman. PAUL EARDLEY remains as vice chairman, a position he has held since 2022.

Both the AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB and the ROYAL KENNEL CLUB share more than a common language; we have many of the same interests and goals, and work closely together on many issues that face purebred dogs and dogs in general. So all of us at DOG NEWS congratulate IAN on his new position and wish him the best of luck. Below is the statement sent to us …

I am amazingly privileged to have been appointed as Chairman of the Royal Kennel Club and overwhelmed by so many good wishes of support and congratulations from around the world in the past 24 hours. It makes me appreciate the scale of the worldwide dog community and our common passion for dogs. I am conscious that I follow more than 150 years of heritage and will do my utmost to respect that, while working with my Board colleagues and the RKC Executives and staff to meet today's challenges and make us fit for the future. ...

That client-and-handler duo KEITH BAILEY and TRACY SZARAS, whose close relationship has morphed into family, have just returned from a holiday touring Germany. ...

Congratulations and best wishes to ASHLIE WHITMORE and ALFONSO ESCOBEDO on the birth of their second child and first daughter, born July 1. Her name has yet to be announced ...

The Boxer ring will never be the same with the retirement of well-known and respected professional handler CARMEN SKINNER and the best support team any handler could hope to have in GERARD HUGHES, aka "G.". A fixture in the breed ring for many decades, she will be missed by all her many friends and admirers. All of us at DOG NEWS wish them all the best in retirement.