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Canine Health Foundation Special Attraction

Beth Silverman

The Silverman Group, Inc.
312.932.9950
Beth Silverman’s E-mail

2007 Releases

Reprinted with permission from DOG NEWS

Canine Health Foundation Dinner     (For dinner photos by Kim Booth Click Here)

It never ceases to amaze me the way Chicagoans support IKC! The crowds overwhelm you, certainly on Saturday. There's something for everyone here, and for sure this year's bench show, without benching, proved very popular. Think of the money it saved the show, too. But more than money saved is the lesson other clubs can learn with regard to the usefulness of the benched show. Both as a learning implement and as a means to get spectators to shows, the benched show could be an ideal tool. Certainly in some smaller mid-cities with arena-type venues, the introduction of the Chicago-style benching could increase spectator attendance and provide an excellent educational service for exhibitors to boot. Lou Auslander has been particularly innovative through the years with regard to IKC. And quite candidly, his motivation is much more than a monetary one. Sure, IKC is a proprietary club, as are some of the other clubs in major cities-and these clubs, namely Golden Gate and Detroit, perform a most valuable service to the purebred dog community by getting tens of thousands of people to come and see and even buy purebred dogs. As to Lou, there is also no denying his love for IKC nor his competitive side, which refused to let the show lose its glamour, allure and tradition.

As for the shows, Blackhawk was on Friday. Won by the Peke shown and bred by David Fitzpatrick, this was the only exhibit to sweep his group all four days. Indeed, the next three Best in Show winners all were defeated in their breed at least once during the four-day event. I really don't recall such a variance in opinions at one four-day happening at the same location. Although I'm sure a number of you will enlighten me as to similar past four-day occurrences where three exhibitors which were awarded Best in Show were beaten in the breed that same weekend. Saturday, the Linda Krukar-shown Doberman was Best; Sunday, the Sandy D'Andrea-shown Alaskan Malamute, and Monday, the Jenny Wornall-shown Airedale were adjudicated the winners. I thought some of the specials competitions top-notch. Whether or not I agreed with everything I saw judged is secondary to the fact that I was not the judge. I was, though, called in to substitute judge for the non-sporting Bred-By group on Friday, and I'm reasonably confident and comfortable with the fact that probably not everyone agreed with what I did either. Tit for tat, I guess

IDOG NEWS EDITORIAL (reprinted with Permission)

AKC CAR's New Microchip

The American Kennel Club's Companion Animal Recovery's (AKC CAR) claim that it is introducing a revolutionary new microchip identification system to the American market is good to hear. As the nation's largest not-for-profit recovery service, with an enrollment of over 3 million animals and a recovery statistic of over 315,000 pets, AKC CAR's newly designed discovery system is implemented between the shoulder blade, just below the skin. This two-piece, patented delivery system places the microchip in the pet while the lancet is simply retracted, leaving the chip in the precise location intended. Other applicators push the microchip out of a needle into the skin. This may both create a risk of breakage and of imprecise placement. Furthermore, AKC CAR claims its new chip is smaller than others and less likely to migrate. Additionally, it is said to be readable as a multi-system scanner used by veterinary practices and animal shelters. The cost is alleged to be more affordable than competitors. As the exclusive distributor for the Trovan microchip in the United States, AKC CAR and Electronic ID Device, Ltd. (EID)-the maker of Trovan-entered this agreement in early December. When it was finalized is unknown, but certainly some time had to have elapsed to prepare the necessary enrollment forms, which were recently sent to veterinary practices, breeders, and animal shelters. Whether or not this kind of solicitation is sufficient to sell the program remains to be seen. There appears to be a need for a nationwide distributor, too. On paper it reads most impressively. Some may question the timing of the release, what with the Board elections being held so soon. Nonetheless, it offers a complete I.D. system at what is said to be an affordable price in this very critical recovery program. The positive possibilities cannot be denied. Hopefully, a relationship with a national company that has salesmen who make regular visits to vets and animal shelters will be developed. Mailings such as those used by AKC CAR are effective only to a point. A face-to-face sales interaction would only put the program over the top!

IKC's "Benched Show"

The Chicago-style benching concept used by IKC eliminated the use of actual benching materials provided by the club. Space was provided for each exhibit, depending on the size of the animal. Exhibits of the SAME BREED were benched together in breed benching areas. All dogs entered by an exhibitor or agent/handler could be benched together. Benching together of different breeds was only allowed in the "multi-breed" area. Aside from saving the club bundles of money, this innovative step forward maintained the tradition and purpose for which bench shows were originally intended to accomplish. Spectators, of whom there were tens of thousands, could actually meet and talk to breeders and owners of dogs. If there is a legitimate concern about getting more people involved in owning purebred dogs and in registering them with AKC, one alternate solution is this form of bench showgoing. There are today only six benched shows in the States. Certainly, in the mid-sized cities, where spectators tend to come to look at certain breeds but are discouraged to find the breed they are interested in gone immediately after having been shown, this Chicago-style benching is an excellent alternative. Furthermore, the bench show itself reinforces the value of people with an interest in the same breeds to exchange face-to-face in a hands-on situation breed comparison and information. Something sorely missing from the dog show scene today.

I

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Dog News August 11, 2006

LOU AUSLANDER, the innovative leader of the International Kennel Club of Chicago, is at it again. LOU is always thinking of ways to improve the Chicago show. This year they will hold their benched show (only there won’t be any benching) on February 23-26, 2007 as they have for the last 106 years. In order to lower the cost of the show and keep entry fees at the present price, the club will introduce “Chicago Style Benching.” The show will be set up and run like a bench show, the only thing missing will be the benches. This cost saving measure allows the club to donate $5 from each full entry fee to the Canine Health Foundation and to return $5. for each full entry fee for breed clubs holding specialties. Plus this year TAKE THE LEAD will be at International hosting a complimentary continental breakfast on Saturday morning thanks to the generosity of Nestle Purina. WILLIAM H. DEILY, JR. has been hired by the American Kennel Club as Director of Inspections, replacing the recently retired STEVE ROBINSON. DEILY, a former special agent for the FBI, has bred and shown Irish Setters and Dachshunds and was a licensed AKC Field Trial judge. KAREN ASHE will be judging in her native Norway this summer. She will travel there with her two sisters to visit family members and friends. Big changes are upon us for one of the great dog show weekends that signals the start of the fall shows. The Friday TUXEDO PARK KENNEL CLUB will move to New Jersey on the grounds of the Saturday SOMERSET HILLS KENNEL CLUB show. The mainstay of the weekend, the WESTCHESTER KENNEL CLUB, will host for the first time back-to-back shows at their Lyndhurst venue on Sunday and Monday. Look for THE KENNEL CLUB OF NEW JERSEY to take over the Monday date next year. The September 8,9,10,11 shows are all superintended by MB-F DOG SHOWS. Horrible news out of China is the mass destruction of well over 50,000 dogs. As the cases of rabies rise throughout the country, in part because of the rise in families having pet dogs, the government ordered this mass murder. Only police and military dogs were spared from this horrific act. Just three percent of dogs in China are vaccinated against rabies. There were 2,651 reported deaths from rabies in 2004. Given this government ordered action, I would not sell any dogs to China at this time. Our deepest sympathies to SABIN HAMILTON on the loss of her beloved mother HELEN SUESS. She has been overwhelmed by the sympathy expressed to her by her many friends in the dog world. Congratulations to German Shepherd Breeder-Judge MINNA KOLTES, on her engagement to Judge BOB BUSBY. The upcoming KNICKERBOCKER DACHSHUND CLUB specialty show, to be held on February 11, 2007 will be held in the memory of the late PEGGY WESTPHAL, certainly a fitting honor for a lady who produced so many top winning Dachshunds in her lifetime.

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Down Memory Lane, Two Firsts....

Leave it to Lou Auslander and IKC to come up with the novel idea of holding a bench show without actually benching the dogs! Think of the money and time to be saved. IKC will provide marked areas for crates and setups on the floor of McCormick Place in lieu of benching. If this works well, it could revolutionize the world of the remaining bench-show-giving clubs. With costs increasing over 40 percent to hold this show, and increases to the exhibitors just fractionally higher, this idea will both preserve the tradition of the bench show (modified greatly, of course) and enable IKC to continue its great community and charitable work for dogs. Lou's “Letter to the Editor” about this program is contained in this issue of DOG NEWS. That's the “FIRST” first.
The second first concerns the Full Litter Registration program announced in DOG NEWS last week. It seems AKC has started a new and long overdue program whereby breeders may, at their option, register all dogs in a litter at the time of litter registration. This is similar to the single-tier registration in effect forever in the U.K. and comparable to the CKC scheme. As strong proponents of this concept, we were personally delighted to hear that AKC was introducing this pilot program. And at a discounted price for one year, to boot! Well, wouldn't you know, on the day the press release was received, we were ready to register a litter born in our house. Lo and behold, we became the first people to do so! Hopefully, lots more of you will be following suit. Of course, this is but an initial step. Now, the people we sell the pups to will hopefully register them in their name as well, but at least as breeders we are now assured that the entire litter is registered and named.
Last week, I asked the “Question of the Week” about showing dogs in 100-degree heat. Most everyone agreed that it was not a wise move. Certainly, when racetracks cancel entire slates of races for the day due to the heat, one would think concern would surely spring up in the dog world. Handlers with full strings of dogs in air-conditioned trucks, motor homes and vans may be able to rationalize the situation. Income, of course, being their major factor. And perhaps under some circumstances this is acceptable. Not to me, but I can see their point of view. What is totally unacceptable is the flying in and/or driving in of dogs from outside their territories in these instances. I mean, coming in with the single entry is nothing more than going for the win—just as flying out after two days in one hot place to go elsewhere is win-oriented. Certainly, there are differences in opinion as to whom, if anyone, should step in and monitor these situations. The traditionalist in the sport puts the onus on the owner. Personally, I think it is high time AKC stepped into the picture. Just as the New York Racing Association convened a meeting of jockeys, veterinarians, stewards and owners in order to get a consensus to call off the day's races in Saratoga. This at a loss of $14 million in betting receipts. So AKC must establish a procedure to handle dog-related heat problems—real or anticipated.
And whilst on this subject, how many times in a week or a month do you think a dog should be allowed to be exhibited? And one step further, how many assignments in a two-week period should a judge be allowed to accept? Or are these problems with which AKC should not be involved? From where I sit, they must establish policies in these areas as well, and forthwith, too. •

2006 Photo Album

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