One week in Orlando. Flew home to child with, I just learned today, strep throat. And we move on Friday. This is how I am feeling right now: And that includes all the hair and assorted detritus scattered about. ... Read more »
AKC/Eukanuba
Celebrate Love
Friday, 11:30 am. I'm wandering the halls of the Orlando Convention Center as it's gearing up for this weekend's Celebrate Dogs event. I've already been there since Wednesday, working on a couple of projects before the main event, but now I'm just wrapping up interviews with Beatrice and Lambchop, otherwise known as: Stella on Modern Family; and Yakult on Suburgatory: I was really happy to get the chance to meet these celebrity dogs up close and personal. This is the first year the ... Read more »
AKC/Eukanuba this weekend: join the party!
Tomorrow's the big day! For air time info, check here but it should be either 2 pm or 12 depending on your time zone. There's also an online Twitter party that will be going on simultaneously using the hashtag #AKCEukshow. I'll be there with some more Eukanuba dog food vouchers during the PST air time, 12-2 PST. I hope you can stop in! The show will mostly be covering the Best in Show finals, but as you know there was a ton of other stuff going on too. I put together a slideshow of some of ... Read more »
Behind the Ribbon: An exclusive interview with new AKC Champ London!
As a non-dog show person, I was admittedly nervous going to a big dog show like the AKC/Eukanuba show. I don't know the lingo. I don't know how to conduct myself. I was worried that if I admitted I was as clueless as they come and didn't know a triangle from a drum that I might be laughed out of the place. After all, dog show people aren't like the rest of us, right? They're kind of stuffy. Pretentious, even. Out of touch with all of us regular folks slumming it in the trenches. As it turns ... Read more »
Dogs, DNA, and some really incredible pictures.
I've had dogs on the mind lately (what else is new?), but the world of purebreds has been there even moreso than usual. The AKC/Eukanuba show I attended in December will air on ABC on the 4th, as you probably gleaned by now since I haven't stopped yammering about it since then. In addition, I'm also going to Westminster on February 13th and 14th, for no reason other than I just wanted to see it, to marvel at the spectacle. It's such a strange confluence of worlds, society-minded dog fanciers ... Read more »
Let’s play “What Breed are you?”
When I was in school, there was a resident who could best be described as a holy terror. She ate senior students for breakfast, washing it down with the salty tears of our despair when she would mercilessly rip us to shreds in rounds. And hoo boy, did she love me. And by love, I mean, love to rip me up one side and down the other. I was an easy target; I didn't know much at the time. Her very favorite snack. "The patient in room two is a...." I studied the chart..."Belgian ... Read more »
PSA: Designate a Segway-er
So I'm super excited to watch the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship on the 4th! Four days of dogapalooza collapsed into two hours- it's a tall order. I have some fun posts/giveaways planned for next week to lead up to the air date, but in the meantime I wanted to give you a little glimpse into the behind the scenes cogs of a show this size. What can I say? I live for behind-the-scenes stuff. Dogs galore, camera crews, obedience trials, police dogs, Super Dogs, conformation, agility, and ... Read more »
Bostons, Breeders and the surreptitious obtaining of important phone numbers
I think it's interesting that the newest competition at the AKC/Eukanuba show in December was called the "Breeder's Stakes". I know they meant it one way, but really, there is a lot at stake, and I'm not talking about the cash prizes. It's defining 'good breeder'. There is a circular conversation going on in the world of animal lovers about what constitutes a "responsible breeder." Most people who breed their dogs call themselves a responsible breeder, even if they're not. Even if they are ... Read more »
AKC/Eukanuba: Stealing Smooches
Everyone knows you should start the New Year off with a kiss. I love kisses. I live for kisses. Unfortunately for me, when I'm at work most dogs are not really that happy to give smooches. Sure they do at first, but one go with the thermometer and the honeymoon's over. This is one of the reasons I was thrilled to throw on my civvies and hit the Meet the Breeds booths at the AKC/Eukanuba show as a regular Joe. I thought, maybe I could ask owners about their dog's proclivity for herding ... Read more »
What happens when you leave me to my own devices with a mascot and a camera
When Susi from DogKnobIt and I asked if we could dogsit the Eukanuba VP of Canine Communications, Pawl Griffin, for a bit at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, I'm not sure what they were thinking when they agreed. I'm glad they did, though. Because we had a ton of fun. He's a petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, but we decided to see what would happen when we asked breeders of other types of dogs for grooming advice. (For the record, that brilliant idea was Susi's. I thought we should take him ... Read more »
Bad Santa: Or, how I blew a dog’s chance at the National Obedience Title
I recorded my homecoming on Monday. I really did. I wanted to document the joyous reunion between me and my loving dogs. It went a little something like this: Opening: My hand on the doorknob. Whining behind the door. Me: HI GUYS! cacophony dogs running amuk kisses Me: I missed you SOO much! *looks up* screams And scene. ... Read more »
Blogger’s Stakes: Or, how I blew my first competition
I'm back from the whirlwind week at the world's biggest dog show, and I am POOPED. There could have been five of me running around and I still don't think I would have scratched the surface. But today, I want to share my favorite experience from the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, the Inaugural Blogger's Stakes. During the afternoon light check before the Saturday evening events, the bloggers were invited into the main arena for a mock show. Each of us was provided a stellar show dog, ... Read more »
World Challenge TODAY!
The excitement here is really something. Today is the first official day of the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, though the prep has been going on all week. Earlier, I watched the Bostons take the Breeders' Stakes preliminaries; the finals will be this afternoon. Aren't these dogs amazing? They just sit calmly and wait amidst all the cacophony. Tonight is the World Challenge, where people and dogs from 42 countries will be here to compete in a special World Challenge event. It's ... Read more »
I need to be a triplet
As you're reading this, I'm probably either getting patted down by a TSA agent or winging my way over the country on my way to Orlando. (By the way, no one tell my kids that Orlando is the home of DisneyWorld. I'm already in enough trouble as it is with them.) But I'm not going to see Mickey or the Harry Potter park (though trust me, it's tempting) because I already have enough to keep me busy with the AKC/Eukanuba show to fill an average 36 hour day. I printed out all the events that are ... Read more »
The Road to AKC/Eukanuba: Dress for Success
Here's the thing about dog shows: They are a to-do. I'm not the pro source about dog shows, as you know. I'm learning as I go, and the more I learn, the less I know. It's fascinating, the work that goes into becoming a champion, the hours spent grooming and training and driving from place to place and competing in the hunt for titles. But at the end of the day, for me, it boils down to this: people who are really into showing dogs are absolutely, 100% nuts for canines. And that I get. I ... Read more »
