The Gossip Column: March 22, 2024

The entries for the upcoming WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB dog show have been announced. More than 3,000 dogs will compete in four different competitions that include more than 2,500 dogs, with 200 of 201 breeds in breed competition. Also being held are the Annual Masters Agility and Masters Obedience and dock-diving competitions. The show will once again be held at the BILLIE JEAN KING NATIONAL TENNIS CENTER in Flushing, New York. FOX SPORTS TELEVISION will broadcast sixteen and a half hours of coverage taking place over the WESTMINSTER WEEKEND. The total entry for each variety group stands at 476 Sporting Dogs, 367 Hounds, 410 Working Dogs, 277 Terriers, 326 Toy Dogs, 255 Non-Sporting Dogs and 389 Herding Dogs. Some of the breed entries include 49 Chihuahuas, 48 Labrador Retrievers, 47 Golden Retrievers, 38 Vizslas, 36 Bulldogs, 32 Australian Shepherds as well as Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and our newest eligible breed, Lancashire Heelers, with an entry of one. Other statistics include the states with the biggest entries: Florida, 201; New York, 190; California, 183; Pennsylvania, 160, and Texas, 130. There are 106 international entries from 12 different countries that include Chile, Canada, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Korea, Mexico, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Spain and Japan. With all that said and written, it will come down to only seven dogs in the main ring for the very knowledgeable, capable and deserving judge ROZ KRAMER to select the Best in Show winner. ...

When you come to New York, it will be a great opportunity to visit the AKC MUSEUM OF THE DOG. Their newest exhibition is titled DOGS THAT SERVE. It tells of the NEW YORK TRANSIT BUREAU K9 UNIT with photographs by MARGARET FOXMOORE and articles written by founding officers who serve to help keep New York City and the nation a safer place to live. The exhibit also honors Retired Lieutenant Commanding Officer JOHN PAPPAS, who developed the Transit K9 unit in 2005. ...

I was very saddened to hear that ADAM WILKERSON had passed away. I’ve known ADAM since he was a very young boy working with MICHAEL KEMP and later with SCOTT SOMMER. I watched him grow as the love of purebred dogs grew with him. He wanted to learn everything about dogs and their history. He would listen to the stories and experiences we had and hung on every word. He did grow into a talented handler. Somewhere things went terribly wrong in his life, but I choose to remember the ADAM that I knew. I mourn his passing and send my deepest sympathies to his brother AARON and family.