The Gossip Column: August 29, 2025
There are two events for our more athletic canine friends with the third annual AKC AGILITY LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP and the NORTH AMERICAN DIVING DOGS FALL FLING on September 26 through 28 at the T. Ed Garrison Arena in Pendleton, South Carolina. Last year more than 90 agility teams were entered, with teams of three to five dogs each competing in Elementary, Freshman, Sophomore, Senior and Masters and PhD levels from around the country. The three days of Diving Dogs competition will feature Distance, Air Retrieve and Hydrodash. Entries close on September 1. These performance disciplines are growing in popularity, and growth measured against the falling numbers in conformation is concerning for the future of our conformation fanciers. ...
Talk about packing a lot of action into two weekends: New Jersey will host 11 dog shows in 10 days. The first weekend will have seven shows in five days, and four shows in four days the following weekend, starting with two shows in one day on Thursday’s MONTICELLO KENNEL CLUB through to the following Sunday’s WESTCHESTER KENNEL CLUB. ...
While on the subject of dog shows held in New Jersey, entries close soon for the MORRIS & ESSEX KENNEL CLUB. So select a hat and get on board: You wouldn’t want to wait another five years to attend this great one-of-a-kind dog show. ...
A quick trip across the pond will find DONALD STURZ judging several breeds in Birmingham, England, this weekend. ...
Glad to hear that the ageless GENE BLAKE is recuperating from his recent illness as his birthday nears. As JULIE MUELLER wrote, GENE is bionic and indestructible — we couldn’t agree more. Happy Birthday, GENE. ...
Celebrating Wedding Anniversaries … GARY & KAREN WILSON, BOB & PAM LAMBIE and GREG & SULIE GREENDALE-PAVEZA. ...
Celebrating Birthdays … the elusive SCOTT SOMMER, KIMBERLY PASTELLA, MICHAEL SHEPHERD, GAYLE BONTECOU, ADAM BERNARDIN, CAROL GROSSMAN, KATHY MENAKER, SIOUX FORSYTH-GREEN, VIRGINIA MURRAY, CONNIE CLARK, HOLLEY ELDRED, MIKE STONE, KEN KAUFFMAN, TINA YUHL, CHARLES BARIS, GEORGIA HARRIS, KAREN JUSTIN, MARY JANE CARBERRY, WENDY KELLERMAN, RICK BAGGENSTOS, BETSY DALE, JUDY SILKER and JULIE LUX.