October 2026
The October 2026 issue of Showsight Magazine, 266 pages, free to read in full below.
Page 14
“Everyone has a story to tell.” So said Frank McCourt who shared his family’s story in the Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir Angela’s Ashes. Though his acclaimed book recounted an impoverished childhood growing up during…
Pages 32-34
At the American Kennel Club, our work is rooted in a shared commitment to dogs and to the people who dedicate their lives to them. Whether through our events and sports, breed education, responsible dog ownership, or…
Pages 42-44
Giving back to a breed often leads you on a path of service to the organization, but that’s not always an easy task. Parent clubs are the host organization of a breed; they are the mothership and own the AKC Breed…
Pages 50-52
Prestigious clubs are scrambling to add new judges Glenn and Rebecca Lycan to their panels. How refreshing it is to see two individuals come into the judging ranks who have spent their lives involved in American Kennel…
Pages 56-58
The world. My father worked for the United Nations. Growing up, we had extensive assignments in eight countries, then short-term assignments in another 15 countries. We’d go from one side of the world to the other. At…
Pages 62-63
If you’ve ever wandered the pet aisle or scrolled through dog products online, you’ve probably been tempted by something shiny, colorful, or cleverly worded. From grain-free foods to designer water fountains, companies…
Pages 68-69
If you ask anyone involved in the Conformation side of our sport what problems you feel are hurting it, you’ll get a variety of answers. Many will say too many shows, lower registrations, poor judging, and many other…
Pages 74-78
I still remember the World Dog Show in Stockholm, back in 2008. It was in the very same halls in mid-summer. It was at a time when these events were animated with folklore and promotion for the country. It was a treat…
Pages 82-84
WARNING – Potentially boring Science Break which will—I promise—help you become a better dog handler.
Page 88
Can you see the dog you have? Learning to recognize quality before choosing your next show dog
Pages 94-96
Breeding Standard Smooth Dachshunds under the Hialeah prefix since 2002, Lexa Richmond has produced more than 50 AKC Champions through a small, carefully managed program. While maintaining a primary career as a school…
Pages 100-102
Dog shows have changed in many ways over the last forty years. This article summarizes the factors that have driven these changes, the statistical reality of purebred dog registrations, cultural changes that have…
Pages 106-110
The Kennel Club of the United Kingdom, now known as the Royal Kennel Club, was founded April 4, 1873 – the American Kennel club was founded not long after that in 1884. The Kennel Club’s primary purpose was to promote…
Pages 112-116
AKC JUNIOR TASK FORCE SECRETARY AND ROCKY MOUNTAIN JUNIOR FOUNDATION PRESIDENT
Pages 120-122
This September, I participated in a regional show in my hometown, the first time my village (in Tuscany) ever held such an event. The organizing club presented the mayor who made a brief address, then the local priest…
Pages 124-126
The dog comes in the ring at nine or ten or twelve, grey through the muzzle, and the applause starts before the judge has looked at him. Everyone ringside knows what he was. He knows it too—he is entirely certain he is…
Pages 128-129
1. How did your journey as Professional Handlers begin, and what keeps you passionate about this career today? (We’d love to hear about your backgrounds, your mentors, and your first times in the ring.)
Pages 138-139
1. How were you first introduced to the sport of purebred dogs? To your breed?
Pages 140-142
1. How were you first introduced to the sport of purebred dogs? To your breed?
Pages 144-145
Our shows will be held at the Finney County Fairgrounds, Garden City, Kansas, on April 23, 24, and 25, 2027.
Pages 150-151
What were you thinking or feeling moments before you stepped into the center of the BIS ring?
Pages 154-162
What is the best part about judging at Montgomery? How many times have you judged this show? How many years have you been attending as an exhibitor? As a spectator?
Page 174
Can you describe your reaction to receiving an invitation to judge Best Bred By Exhibitor at the 2026 Montgomery County Kennel Club All-Terrier Show?
Page 184
Can you describe your reaction to receiving an invitation to judge the Junior Showmanship Finals at the Montgomery County Kennel Club All-Terrier Show?
Pages 186-187
Congratulations, Kadence, on your Best Junior Handler win at the 2026 Montgomery County Kennel Club All-Terrier Show. Is it a dream come true?
Pages 190-199
1. Have you invited friends, classmates, or neighbors your age to join you at a dog show? If so, what happened? If not, is this something you might want to do in the future?
Pages 202-203
My journey into training dogs for set work began on a whim in 1988, when I was 26 years old. At the time, I was working full time at the local cable company. I was also training dogs and teaching Obedience classes. I…
Pages 210-214
Competitive Weight Pull is a growing all-breed sport with a focus on strength, teamwork, and resiliency. The sport’s origins are traced back to sled dog racers who competed to see whose team could break a sled free…
Pages 220-224
But sometimes the obvious question is the one worth asking: What are we really judging? Are we judging the dog standing at the end of the lead? Or are we sometimes influenced by the presentation, the reputation, the…
Page 233
This month, the AKC Government Relations team provides a report from its conference held recently in Raleigh, North Carolina. Learn why so many AKC club members, staff, federation leaders, and advocates from across the…
Pages 234-236
The last Saturday in September brought AKC club members, staff, federation leaders, and advocates from across the country to Raleigh, North Carolina, for a day of networking, training, and interactive learning on how we…
Page 237
EXTRAORDINARY COLLECTION WILL DEBUT AHEAD OF DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS ON OCTOBER 1, 2026 AND REMAIN OPEN THROUGH JANUARY 10, 2027
Page 238
New York, NY – The American Kennel Club (AKC®), a not-for-profit organization that is the world’s largest registry of purebred and mixed-breed dogs, and a leading voice for canine welfare and responsible ownership, is…
Page 239
New York, NY – The American Kennel Club (AKC®), a not-for-profit organization that is the world’s largest registry of purebred and mixed-breed dogs, and a leading voice for canine welfare and responsible ownership, is…
Pages 240-241
As the National Dog Show Presented by Purina reaches its 25th anniversary year, Purina experts Dr. Callie Harris and Dr. Annie Valuska are playing a role in promoting the Thanksgiving Day twohour special, and they will…
Page 242
ENTRY OF 205 COULD REPRESENT MORE THAN 20% OF BULLDOGS COMPETING IN CONFORMATION.
Pages 244-245
Every all-breed dog show has three separate tiers of competition: Breed, Group, and Best in Show. (The National Owner-Handled Series, when offered, provides its own concurrent triple-tier tournament.) BIS is the…