NEWS AND COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AKC

EUKANUBA BREEDER CHALLENGE

Jan 19, 2010
Dear Parent Club Officer:

We are pleased to share this information with you from our friends at Eukanuba regarding the new Eukanuba Breeder’s Sweepstakes. Winning breeders from a series of regional competitions will be invited to participate in a final at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in December, with the ultimate winner to compete in the Eukanuba World Challenge. Please pass along to your membership and we look forward to seeing you out at the shows!

Eukanuba Dog Foods proudly announces the Eukanuba Breeder’s Stakes. The Eukanuba Breeder’s Stakes is an event designed to honor a group of unsung heroes – the purebred dog breeder. Breeders are the backbone of the sport, dedicating their lives to planning and producing generation upon generation of the finest and healthiest representatives of their breed.

The Eukanuba Breeder’s Stakes is an event designed to celebrate these noble efforts. This special competition is designed to evaluate an overall breeding program rather than the traditional approach of evaluating a single specimen. Respected expert judges will evaluate the breeder’s ability to consistently produce superior dogs of uniform type, health, and conformation - consistent with the breeder’s mission of improving their chosen breed.

Each breeder will exhibit 3 dogs from at least 2 litters chosen from their breeding program. The 1st exhibitor must be breeder of record on all 3 dogs, and all 3 dogs must be over one year old. Breeders will be able to enter on the day of the show.

The Eukanuba Breeder’s Stakes will be held at prominent North American shows between January and November. The first installment will take place in conjunction with the Rose City Classic in Portland, Oregon on January 23, 2010.

Each breeder will receive a gift bag for participating, and 4 places in each group will be awarded. Prizes for group placements are: 1st - $250.00 and 40 lbs of Eukanuba Dog Food, 2nd–4th - $100.00 and 40 lbs of Eukanuba Dog Food. The Group winners will compete for Best In Stakes, which earns an additional $500.00 plus a trip to the December 2010 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in Long Beach, CA on Dec. 4-5. The Best In Stakes winners of each regional competition will then compete at the AKC Eukanuba National Championship in December, 2010 for the final Eukanuba Breeder’s Stakes Champion. This will be an exciting win for this well deserving breeder as they earn the right to compete in the 2010 Eukanuba World Challenge.

For more information about the Eukanuba Breeder’s Stakes, please email Vicki Seiler or call (513) 622-2967.

Regards,
Lisa Peterson
Director of Communications, American Kennel Club

AKC LAUNCHES NEW CANINE LEGISLATION TRACKING SYSTEM

May 7, 2009 - The AKC is pleased to announce the launch of the new AKC Government Relations Legislation Tracking Service. This new service enables you to check the status of all 2009 canine legislation in each of the 50 states, as well as federal legislation.

To use this service, go to the AKC Government Relations web page, www.akc.org/canine_legislation and click on the large “AKC Government Relations 2009 Legislation Tracking” icon. This will bring you to a new page with a clickable map of the United States. To view federal legislation, click on the “US Fed” icon to the right of the map. You can also click on any state to view that state’s pending canine legislation, the latest legislative developments, the progress of specific bills, and, if applicable, AKC legislative alerts and messages. In addition, you can view the actual text of the bill or read a brief official legislative summary.

The AKC does not have a position on every bill posted; rather, this service is meant as a reference tool for you to see all the issues being considered in your state.

We hope you will enjoy using this new service of the AKC Government Relations Department.

Any questions or comments regarding this new service should be directed to the AKC Government Relations Department at (919) 816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org.

AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB AND MOTEL 6 OFFER COST-SAVING DISCOUNTS TO AKC REGISTERED DOG OWNERS

(March 3, 2009) NEW YORK – The American Kennel Club (AKC®), a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world, today announced a special agreement with Motel 6 and Studio 6 to offer all AKC registered dog owners a 10% discount on room reservations nationwide.

To reserve a room and activate the discount, all AKC registrants can log on to www.motel6.com and enter access code CP542764 for Motel 6 or visit www.staystudio6.com and enter the access code CP542765 for Studio 6 reservations.

“We are pleased to work with Motel 6 to offer AKC registered dog owners discounts during these tough economic times,” said Dennis Sprung, President/CEO, AKC. “Last year alone, the AKC sanctioned more than 20,000 events that drew more than three million entries. These added savings will help AKC registrants find a comfortable place to rest with their dogs on their way to and from competitive events or while they are traveling on vacation."

“The AKC is the premiere organization that oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States,” said Olivier Poirot, CEO for Accor North America, Motel 6 and Studio 6. “Motel 6 has been pet friendly since 1962, and we’re happy to offer AKC registered dogs and their owners even more savings on our more than 1,000 properties across the United States and Canada.”

Additional information on this program can be found online at http://www.akc.org/motel6_studio6/.

Contact:

AKC DIRECTOR OF JUDGING OPERATIONS PETER GAETA RETIRES

(Feb. 26, 2009) NEW YORK - The American Kennel Club® announced today that Director of Judging Operations, Peter Gaeta will retire on March 2, 2009. Gaeta joined AKC in 1999 as an Executive Field Representative in the Fort Worth-Dallas area. In July 2005 he was promoted to Director of Judging Operations and began working in the Raleigh AKC Operations Center.

“Peter’s decade of dedication to AKC has left a positive mark on the judging department and our organization,” said Darrell Hayes, Vice President, Dog Show Judges. “He will be missed by his colleagues and we wish him success in his future endeavors.”

Under his direction the department was expanded to include Judges Education and Gaeta was responsible for implementing and streamlining the AKC Judges Institute. In addition, he contributed to revisions in the judging approval policy and process. He devoted much time to addressing AKC kennel clubs and judges groups around the country and helping them understand AKC policies and procedures. He has written numerous articles for AKC and other fancy-related publications.

Gaeta has been a purebred dog enthusiast since the early sixties. While his first purebred dog was a Pug, his time in the show ring began with Great Danes. Later as a handler, Gaeta extended his expertise to a great variety of breeds. During his tenure at AKC, he and his wife Terri have enjoyed a house full of Bedlington Terriers. Gaeta will retire to Charlotte, NC, where he will pursue a judging career and return to what started it all: the search for a new puppy to play with.

JOHN WADE APPOINTED TO DIRECTOR OF JUDGING OPERATIONS

(Feb. 26, 2009) NEW YORK - The American Kennel Club® is pleased to announce the appointment of John Wade to Director of Judging Operations. Wade’s background includes 50 years of involvement in the sport and more than 20 years of business and management experience from various professional roles in highly competitive industries.

“We are pleased to welcome John to his new position with the AKC,” said Darrell Hayes, VP Dog Show Judges. “His deep knowledge of the inner workings of the sport, tenure as an esteemed AKC judge and career in business management brings extensive experience to the Judges department.”

John Wade became active in purebred dogs in 1959 when he purchased a Dachshund for his mother on Mother’s day. Early on, he worked for an AKC Licensed All Breed Handler and two terrier breeding kennels, eventually becoming a Handler. He also enjoyed success as a breeder and exhibitor of Dachshunds. Wade further pursued his interest and became a multiple-group judge. Wade joined the AKC staff in 1999 as a member of the executive field staff covering national specialty shows, a position he held for two years before returning to his career as an AKC judge. He gained approval to judge Best in Show, the Hound, Terrier and Working groups, some Herding breeds and Junior Showmanship.

Wade’s background includes extensive club affiliation having held every conceivable office in all-breed and specialty dog clubs, including The Dachshund Club of America. Throughout his years in the sport and despite his busy judging schedule, Wade remained connected to and committed to breeding, raising and exhibiting Dachshunds.

AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB OFFERS NEW TRAINING PROGRAM TO MAKE YOUR PUPPY THE S.T.A.R. OF THE COMMUNITY

(Feb. 23, 2009) NEW YORK - The arrival of a new puppy is an exciting time for any household. But what happens if your cute, cuddly pup turns into a chewing, barking, digging, and eating machine? Before long it becomes clear that your new arrival means there's a lot for you to do, and even more for him to learn.

To help all dog owners properly train their puppies, the American Kennel Club® (AKC) has introduced the AKC S.T.A.R.sm Puppy Program (www.akc.org/starpuppy). “S.T.A.R.” stands for what every puppy needs – Socialization, Training, Activity and a Responsible owner. The program, a natural precursor to becoming an AKC Canine Good Citizen,® provides all dog owners with the early guidance needed to get their puppies off to the best possible start in life and set them up to thrive as adult dogs.

“Puppies learn things from the moment they open their eyes,” said Mary Burch, Ph.D, AKC STAR Puppy and CGC Director. “We want to do our part to make sure all puppies have a good life. Early training and socialization along with teaching owners necessary skills is the key to guaranteeing a puppy will become an upstanding family member, a Rover who never roams, and a lover (not chewer) of your favorite shoes.”

Owners can get started by enrolling in a six-week puppy or basic training class that is instructed by an AKC Approved CGC Evaluator. Classes include valuable training tips for puppy owners - such as how to housetrain - and lessons on practical skills for puppies -such as coming when called. The program is open to all dogs. Puppies can begin training as soon as they have the necessary vaccines and they can enroll in AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy at any point up until their first birthday.

At the end of the training course, the CGC Evaluator will administer the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy test. Upon passing, owners and their puppies will be enrolled in the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program and will receive an AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy package which includes:

• A frameable certificate
• An Olympic style gold AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy medal
• AKC Puppy Handbook
• Discount enrollment in AKC Companion Animal Recovery
• Subscription to monthly e-mail newsletter that includes training tips

Additional information on AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy can be found online at www.akc.org/starpuppy. Visit http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/cgc_bystate.cfm to find a puppy training class in your area.

AKC CAUTIONS PET OWNERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON FIDO AT HOME AND ON THE ROAD

The American Kennel Club® warned pet owners and breeders about an alarming rise in dog thefts in recent months and offered tips on keeping pets safe with an appearance on NBC’s Today Show earlier this month. From parking lots to pet stores and even backyards, more dogs are disappearing. In the first three months of 2008, the AKC has tracked more than 30 thefts from news and customer reports, versus only ten for all twelve months of 2007. Read More... posted May 2008

AKC CANINE EXPERIENCE EDUCATIONAL EVENT

Please take a moment to recall how you got your start in the dog world. Many of us experienced our first taste for the thrill of competition at matches. Knowledgeable veterans shared their expertise and passion about the sport. They became mentors and lifelong friends.

The AKC invites you and your fellow club members to join together with other clubs in your area to share your knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm for our wonderful sport with potential newcomers by conducting an AKC Canine Experience (formerly called the AKC Education Match). Read More... Posted May 2008