The Gossip Column: October 17, 2025

Entries for the upcoming AKC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP and the preceding AKC ROYAL CANIN NATIONAL ALL BREED PUPPY AND JUNIOR STAKES are now open. The NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP is celebrating its 25th anniversary. I’m sure the late RON MENAKER, who spearheaded this dog show hosted by the AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB, would not recognize the changes and what it has grown into over the years. The first week in February, Manhattan and specifically the JACOB JAVITS CONVENTION CENTER will have certainly gone to the dogs. JAVITS is the daytime home of the WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB and the AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB’S MEET THE BREEDS. On the heels of the WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB starting the celebration with obedience and agility on Saturday, January 31st and confirmation on Monday and Tuesday February 2nd & 3rd, it will be immediately followed on Saturday and Sunday February 7th & 8th with the hugely popular and well attended MEET THE BREEDS. MEET THE BREEDS is one our best vehicles to promote pure bred dogs to the public, and it behooves each and every parent club to have their breed represented at these two world class canine events. It’s a soup to nuts week, from the very best of pure bred dogs in competition at WESTMINSTER to the breeders of the future winners in our sport, where the public can see and ask about their favorite breed of dog. Educating the public and getting them interested in our sport is the lifeline we need increase the numbers of exhibitors in our ever diminishing numbers. For those contemplating exhibiting Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs at the upcoming CRUFTS dog show, that have a grade 2 or 3 RFG (Respiratory Function Grading) they will no longer be eligible to compete.   This new policy, effective 2026, now includes grade 2 added to existing grade 3 grading. All CRUFTS exhibitors of Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs will be required to upload an RFG certificate for dogs exceeding 14 calendar months to their Fosse Data account. Certificates must be valid and up to the date for the day of the dog show. Once again, ANGELA & KIM BOOTH, cameras in hand, what else would you expect from the BOOTHS, and their animal loving friends have donned their safari gear and  traveled to Tanzania to visit the Serengeti. After enjoying  some success, some celebrate with a trip to Disneyland but not our BRUCE SCHWARTZ - he gets away from it all with a trip to Switzerland. Happy Anniversary to MURREL & JOE PURKHISER. Celebrating Birthdays…BETTY ANNE STENMARK , KITTY BURKE, KEITH PAUTZ, JAMIE HUBBARD, MARGERY GOOD, ED SMIZER,  THE O’BRIEN TWINS KASEY & KRISSY, ANN RAMSBOTTOM WHITE, BARBARA ANDERSON, ROBIN SEAMAN GRENIER, SUZANNE DILLIN, JON COLE, KIMBERLY SILVA GARRETT, CHRISTIE MARTINEZ and KATHY HRITZO-HEIMANN