Oct 19 2012
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Canine Review, Pure Dogs

I read the news today oh boy …

Did you receive Canine Review’s email blast yet? If you did, you’ll know the rumors are now official: Canine Review–Canada’s longest running independent dog show magazine–is folding.

Here’s the news that landed in thousands of mailboxes around the world last night and today:

The end of an era. The September issue of Canine Review will be its last as a print magazine.

Our final issue is online – view it HERE now!

Due to health issues, Merla has made the difficult decision to cease production of the magazine. You can read the full story by clicking here for her Publisher’s Comment on page 60 and here for the Editor’s Commenton page 4.

We will be continuing the website and once Merla is fully back up to speed there will be changes there too. In the meantime, the Gallery of Judges and the Kennel/Handler/Groomer/Club Directories  will still be maintained and added to. The Top Dog standings will be updated until the end of 2012 and their archives will remain in perpetuity.

Check back from time to time as we add new points of interest for the purebred dog community and dog lovers everywhere.

I’m sure when AJ’s owners decided to put their gorgeous boxer on Canine Review’s September cover, they had no idea he would be gracing  its last. Even Merla didn’t know what was coming at that point. The magazine has been Merla’s “baby” for a decade, and her passion long before that, so you can imagine how hard she struggled to avoid the decision to close, even as it became overwhelmingly apparent that shutting down was the only option left. Then, finally, in the midst of working on the September issue, Merla acknowledged that it would be the last.

What comes next? We’re still not sure. As the email blast mentions, Canine Review’s website, including its Gallery of Judges and directories will continue. I’m sure the Pure.Dog.Blog will continue too (either by myself or some new blogger is yet to be determined). And I have a strong suspicion that once Merla is back to herself, she’ll be back with new plans, whether that’s for an online magazine like no one’s seen before or some other yet-to-be-dreamed-up idea. Merla’s a dog lover, but she has more professional lives than a cat. You can’t keep a good woman down.

I’ve included my thoughts on the end of Canine Review as a print magazine in my editor’s letter, as mentioned in the email blast above. It chokes me up just thinking about adding anything to it, so I’ll end this post here.

But … do YOU have anything to say about the final issue of Canine Review? Leave your thoughts in the Speak! comment box below. Or send a note to Merla directly at Merla@caninereview.ca .

Sep 21 2012
6 Comments
CKC, Funny Fridays

not so funny friday

It’s hard to find the humour today …

For anyone that hasn’t heard, CKC is once again without a CEO–oops! title changed, make that Executive Director. It took them 10 months to fill the position, and now after being in the position less time than that, our fearless new leader is gone???

A brief note went out from CKC yesterday to members who have signed up for its “Good To Know” email news:

CKC news

The not so “Good to Know” latest news from CKC

Executive Director Nancy Carey Leaves CKC

Please note that, as of September 18, 2012, Nancy Carey has left the position of Executive Director, and the Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Senior Manager of Membership Services, Leila Bahorie, has accepted the position of Interim Executive Director.

Huh??? I haven’t been paying close attention to CKC lately, but I sure didn’t see that coming.

It seems like only yesterday that CKC was proudly announcing Nancy Carey appointment (actually, it was January 11, 2012 to be precise) and singing her praises:

Nancy Carey has been a leader and a force of change in both the corporate and non-profit sectors. Working at the executive level in the airline, tourism and economic development and trade association sectors, she has proven herself as a powerful influencer who develops and executes strategies and initiatives most critical to the organization …  Nancy has achieved great success in strategically growing and sustaining a member-based organization,  has managed many strategic alliances and partnerships in over 20 sectors … has served as board secretary and is skilled in board governance management … is also well versed in government relations and has worked with all levels of government …  Dynamic, proactive and politically astute, Nancy is an outstanding communicator and engaging leader and we welcome her leadership at the CKC.

So what happened?

There’s no statement about her dismissal?/resignation? in the synopsis of the most recent CKC board of directors meetings, held September 15 and 16. What we do know from some members who attended is that Ms Carey was there on Saturday–and that’s also when the BOD recused itself from the public gallery for a FIVE-HOUR in camera session. When sessions resumed on Sunday, no more Nancy … That was the 16th, and the official notice is dated Sept. 18th.

So what happens now? Another expensive executive search?Another short term for someone at the top?  Another transition period when CKC so desperately needs a united focus on a new vision?

There are so many things CKC needs to finalize and move ahead on. Because of the lengthy in-camera session, not all agenda items were covered–including a decision on who will publish CKC’s Dogs in Canada Annual and revive its magazine, albeit on an abbreviated publication schedule.

Canadian Dogs Annual CoverWith a competitor already selling ads for its new annual, does CKC have any chance now of putting out a successful annual? With so much insecurity, it’s doubtful that even loyal CKC members will wait to place their ads in the club publication when it will appear who knows when after the new rival’s. And the fact that the non-CKC annual about to appear on the scene uses a similar title (Canadian Dogs Annual vs. the official CKC Dogs In Canada Annual) and has set up a website with a logo that mimics Dogs In Canada’s old logo so closely that I’m surprised a copyright suit isn’t in the works … well, it’s starting to look like CKC’s annual is doomed before it re-starts. (Really Redstone Media Group–couldn’t you come up with a look of your own, not a copycat knock-off?)

So trying to find a bright spot, I guess the “good news” for today is,  if you’re interested in being executive director at CKC–the job is open!

The Oatmeal cartoon Funny dogCan’t end without giving you something to laugh at. Courtesy of my nephew, here’s something every dog lover can relate to: a cartoon called My Dog the Paradox, by the strange but brilliant “Oatmeal.”

It’s become so popular that it’s now available as a poster!

Are you worried about CKC’s future? How do you think the departure of Executive Director Nancy Carey will affect CKC?

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Sep 09 2012
5 Comments
Conformation, Pure Dogs

Dog Show Talk–Decoded!

English: A blue great dane being stacked at a ...

A Great Dane being stacked at a dog show. (Photo: Wikipedia)

How was your show weekend? When you first start showing, you enter a new world, complete with its own language (and etiquette). It’s confusing at first, but before long you’re confident enough about show jargon to talk about “bitches” in mixed company and in front of children without blushing. You know your dog has to be “finished” before it can “start” (its specials career) and that “bait” is not something you put in a trap, it’s what you put in your mouth to get your dog to stare adoringly at you without moving. Still, once you’ve grasped the basics, there’s another secret language to learn–the hidden meaning behind the spoken show terms. Understanding this is a more subtle art, since when you’re talking to one person (like a friend), what they say equals what they mean. Yet coming from a competitor, the words may need further translation. I remember how pleased I was when a fellow exhibitor told me my first show dog had “nice brindling.” Until I later learned that in my breed, that’s code for “I can’t think of anything else nice to say about your dog”! To help you out, here’s some common  secret show code–deciphered!

Got a favourite “secret code” to add to the list? Add it in the “Speak!” comment box.

What they say …

What they really mean!
 
About Judges
Noted Judge He put up our dog
Respected Judge He put up our dog twice
Esteemed Judge He puts up anything that crawls
Specialist Judge Puts up anything that looks like his own breeding
About a dog’s show record
Shown Sparingly Only when we had it in the bag
Handled brilliantly by Nobody else can get near him
Won in stiff competition Beat 4 puppies and a 9-year-old novice dog
Wins another Best In Show His second, under the same judge, our uncle
About a dog in general
Show Prospect Has 4 legs, 2 eyes, 2 ears, 1 tail
Obedience Prospect Smart enough to come in from the rain, but he ug-lee!
Multiple group winner At two puppy matches
About a dog’s conformation
Well-Balanced Straight as a stick in front and rear
Excels in type and style However, moves like a spider on speed
Large-boned Looks like a Clydesdale
Good bite Missed the judge, got the steward
Lovely head 2 eyes, 2 ears, 1 mouth, 1 nose
Excels in movement If he gets loose, put on running shoes
About a dog’s temperament
Personality Plus Wakes up if you put liver under his nose
Loves children For breakfast, lunch and dinner
Quiet, gentle-natured After four Valiums
About breeding
At stud to “approved” bitches To those bitches whose owner’s cheques are approved by our bank
Line-bred from famous champions Ch Whoozitz appears twice in the 6th generation
Terrific brood bitch Her conformation is the pits, but she throws big litters
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Sep 07 2012
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Funny Fridays

Does this box make my butt look fat?

It’s the return of Funny Fridays!

It’s been a rough week in my life. Which can only mean … it’s time for some YouTube silly dog videos!

How can you not smile after watching this one?

A hat tip to my sister Maryellen for sharing this Bulldog-in-a-Box moment. It made me laugh because my Stoney da Bulldog had a lifelong fear of boxes, developed while watching us pack for the big move from Winnipeg to Edmonton. The sight of a box would make my big boy anxious, thinking another move was in the works!

It also makes me laugh because my Frenchies also seem to love small spaces, just like the Bully in the video. Buy a nice big bed for them, and they’ll ignore it. Instead, they’ll all try to curl up in a small one together.

Now for those of you who are thinking that Funny Fridays should be renamed Bulldog Fridays, I recognize my bias;) And promise that next week’s will feature some other breed! If you have a favourite video, send it to me at puredogblog@caninereview.ca.

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Sep 06 2012
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Canine Review, Conformation

Dog Shows Shouldn’t Be “Catty” Affairs

Remember when dog shows were fun?

Me neither ….

Today, too often this is what it seems dogs shows are about!

But who hasn’t heard stories about how great shows were back in the Good Ole Days. Maybe the memories are tinged with rose-coloured nostalgia, but it seem that along with $5 entry fees, exhibitors knew how to be competitive in the ring but still share some camaraderie once they stepped outside it. And of course there are all the stories about post-BIS parties, something that’s hard to imagine in the present tense when so many exhibitor leave as soon as their group–or breed!–has been judged.

Shannon Scheer wrote about the difference between ”now” and “then” in her June column for Canine Review. Fortunately, Shannon also had some good news to share–some clubs are working hard to put the fun back in dog shows. Show Committees are realizing they can’t bring back $5, $10 or $15 entry fees, but they can put some good times back into their shows.

Shannon included some “groovy” photos of exhibitors showing dressed in psychedelic hippy garb to celebrate Tyee Kennel Club’s first ’70s-themed shows in May. Then there was NACA’s Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest and Grande Prairie Regional Kennel Club also had fun with a themed decade event, going even further back in time to the ’50s!

We had more ’50s photos from Grande Prairie than we could use in the magazine, so as the summer show season ends, here’s a little look back at more of the fun.

First, the ”money shot.” Who knew Elvis would find his way to northern Alberta?

“Elvis” hasn’t aged a day! At Grande Prairie Kennel Club’s ’50s theme day.

Whether they remembered the ’50s or not, everyone rocked the house. I’m a bit disappointed though that the ladies all wore “Poodle skirts.” Wouldn’t a Bulldog skirt look awesome!

Remember bobby socks?

And the gents were in fine form too!

Finally, the proud Sock Hop winners!

“Best In Show” on the dance floor.

Got some fun fotos from other summer shows? Send them to me, Lisa Ricciotti, at puredogblog@caninereview.ca and I’ll share them here in a later post. Those that aren’t blackmail material that is;)

Recognize some of the ’50-style dancers? I know some, but not all. Tell the world who’s who in the “Speak!’ comment box below.

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