 “Fifty-five years of shows” is the heading on the cover of the Santa Ana Valley Kennel Club. I would add 55 years of pleasant dog showing, if this year's show is an example of what has been going on all these years. With all the hype attached to so many Californians singing the praises of the more visible shows, how in the world, I asked myself, had I missed Santa Ana all these years? The answer must be these people are more interested in running a pleasant, laid-back show rather than proclaiming their own self-importance. No pretenses here, that's for sure. The entries were up (close to 2,000 each day), the weather California picture perfect, the grounds as good as you'll find anywhere. I was fascinated to hear of a judge who requested that they no longer be observed since they were not applying for more breeds in the future. That leaves an obvious conundrum—what about taking breeds away from people who prove incapable of judging them? Since this type of request, I am told, is somewhat of a common practice, there is no hope left for any judges to be ruled incapable of having a breed taken away from them. Not that I am suggesting that the judge in question should have breeds taken away, but I guess that the Strand-pushed "60 points of light," making everyone equal, lasts forever. No one can lose a breed once it has been approved. Boy, oh, boy, that's some system. At least in the U.K., judges are approved on a show-to-show basis, which leaves the door ajar—minimally—for a person not to be approved for future assignments should they prove incapable.
 And on that subject, it brings to mind a real brouhaha in the U.K. about TKC sending a letter to Andrew Brace questioning what he wrote and admonishing him for same. Andrew resigned his position from the KC Show Executive Committee as a result of this letter. Personally, if I were Andrew, I'm not too sure I would have resigned over the subject matter in question, but that's his call. Again, and this is a very personal feeling, Andrew has been treated badly through the years by the powers that be at TKC—indeed, he is not even a member—and if I were him, I would never have accepted a position on the Executive Committee with which to begin. I make Andrew one of the best judges of dogs in the world and would let him buy a dog of any breed anywhere in the world for me to own.
How in the world did I get off on that tangent from Santa Ana? Guess I got caught in the moment. Best in Show the two days was the Golden Retriever on the first night, owned by Arlene and Eric Blouch, bred by Sandra Kim-Hoffen and shown by co-breeder Amy Rodrigues, Easthill Dutchman Amelia Pearhart. The next night, the Bichon Frise handled by co-breeder and co-owner Joe Waterman, Ch. Joline's Pea-Nutty, was adjudicated Best. Pauline co-owns and co-bred the dog, which is also co-owned and co-bred by C. Mollenbeck and co-owned with S. Machlik.
There is a new dog book on the market called The Ultimate Dog Treat Cookbook by Liz Palika. It is published by Howell Book House, which is now owned by Wiley. The book sells for $14.95, and if this is your sort of thing, I suppose it makes for an interesting challenge. I have never been one on this gourmet food kick for dogs, but if there are health benefits, I guess it's worth the idea. The book cover is cleverly conceived, as you can see, but whether or not it's a good thing to get involved with is your call. I'm not too sure it's for me, that's for sure. •
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