Question of the Week

Wayne Cavanaugh

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Givers, NOT takers for 2025!

Christian Rutten

Winlock, Washington

My dog-show resolution is to better balance a dog-show life with a home life. Slow down, and smell the roses.

Dana Bryson Benn

York, Pennsylvania

To have Jolene babies!

Mrs. R. Cameron A. Lickey

Greenfield, Indiana

My New Year’s resolutions are too get back into showing on a full-time basis, and to find a property to lease that has kennel and horse facilities.

Injuries have caused me major problems, caused me to lose my career, but never what was most important to me … my furkids.

Dr. Lisa Costello

Colorado Springs, Colorado

I’ve got some big goals for my Whippet Team in 2025! I’m shooting for my fawn girl, Irma, to finish her NW3 Elite and AKC Scentwork Master titles as well as her CD in Obedience. We’ll work to get my 11-year-old through NW2 and AKC Excellent titles, and my young boy will hopefully finish his bench championship, begin Agility training, return to racing and finish his beginner Nosework titles. Personally I will be applying for two new groups of breeds in the Terrier Group as I progress on my judging journey.

Bekki Pina

Oneonta, Alabama

My 2025 resolutions are to strengthen connections among my peers, mentors, judges, clients and fellow exhibitors to embrace the sense of community this fancy needs.

Tuni Conti

Oxford, Connecticut

To stay healthy!

Vicki Sandage DVM

Ashland, Kentucky

As far as my own dogs, I would like to finish my Twila, a pretty tricolor Pembroke bitch I bred, at specialties this year. That may be a bit of a task, as I can only get to four due to my judging! Then I will be getting out her half-sister, Phoebe; we will see how she does in the puppy classes at specialties.

As far as judging, my two goals are to close in on finishing the Hound Group, and get to more national specialties this year for some of the Sporting and Hound breeds that I judge. I enjoy attending nationals, as that’s where you’ll see the best of the dogs of that breed.

Laura Reeves

Grants Pass, Oregon

I love this quote from Ellen Goodman:

“We spend January 1st walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives … not looking for flaws but for potential.”

Just like judging the whole dog instead of fault judging, consider making 2025 the year you find the beauty in yourself, and in everyone else’s dog …