SPORT

From Shelters to the World

When Marcy Graybill rescued a four-month-old German Shepherd from her local shelter in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1989, she had no idea that was the beginning of an exciting journey of fortunate happenstance that has introduced her to several dog breeds, and numerous dog sports...READ MORE

Just Happens to be a Judge

What runs through a judge's mind while examining dogs? For Laurie Telfair, who judges German Shepherd Dogs and other herding breeds, her perspective is influenced by experiences in the ring and beyond.

Describing herself as "an exhibitor who happens to judge," freely sharing self-mocking remarks about "bumbling along...READ MORE

Expanding Versatility

When Judith Voris got her first dog, Freda, as a little girl growing up in New Jersey in the 1960s, she could not have imagined that one day she would preside over a realm of active Weimaraner owners hailing from across the country and engaging in just about every sport their dogs are capable of...READ MORE

Surprisingly Agile

The dogs race through the agility course, each one zipping into the "the tunnel," a 20'-foot flexible tube. The crowd cheers wildly as the next competitor enters the tunnel. The cheering turns to laughter as the tube bulges and the dog inside worms through, slower than the others but pushing ahead with steady determination...READ MORE

Hunting for Knowledge

Janet McMillan-Zwirko is proud of her ability to pick potential hunters or conformation champions from a litter of German Shorthaired Pointer puppies. That is today. In 1981, it was a different story. "I knew nothing about this breed or hunting. I barely knew dog shows existed."

She eventually got a hunting license, and is now a German Shorthaired Pointer expert. But some things never changed...READ MORE

What's a Poodle Doing Here?

In the distance, a herd of sheep moves across the field. A dog comes into view, circling, expertly keeping the sheep in line. The dog has a curly main, shaved in the hindquarters. It looks like... A bit closer, and you confirm that, yes, that is a Standard Poodle herding...READ MORE

Herding Fun and Stimulation

On a cool mid-January day, Darlene Laurin heads out onto a windy field where 40 curious sheep look up to consider her and Truman, a four-year-old Belgian Tervuren. Raising a long narrow stick, called a crook, Laurin commands Truman to move along a border the sheep must not cross. Truman eagerly prances back and forth...READ MORE

50 Dog Years

Sitting at a poker table in 1952, a man got in over his head against the deputy sheriff. With nothing left, he wagered his dog. He lost the next hand, and the deputy sheriff became the owner of a young Brittany. The sheriff placed an ad in the paper, and Ray Trimble bought her. "She was a real nice little Brittany," Trimble says. Indeed...READ MORE

Decades Judging Dogs and People

Judges are tough to please, challenging and opinionated by nature. But that, and their love of dogs, is why they are in the show ring. After laying their eyes and hands on so many dogs, judges have a lot to tell us.  Sam Houston McDonald, 53 years old, has judged Irish Setters since 1986. As a former school teacher, he emphasizes the importance of education...READ MORE

Texas-Sized Love of Four or Two

In 2001, Dorothy Nickles was chosen for the "Lifetime Achievement" award in conformation judging by the AKC, an acknowledgment of the overwhelming respect she has earned from judges and breeders throughout the country. Even with a judging history that covers more than 60 years and so many dog breeds that she cannot...READ MORE