Canine Hotline - July/August 2025
Updated: Sep 10, 2025
Board Meetings: 1st Tuesday of each month, 7:00 p.m.
General Meeting: 2nd Tuesday of every month, 7:00 p.m.
Location: Church of the Nazarene, 913 E New York Ave, DeLand, FL 32724
President Terry Wagner
Vice President Dee Pounds
Secretary Ginny Merchant
Treasurer Maria Avellino
AKC Delegate Cathy Driggers
FAKC Delegate Cathy Driggers
Show Chair Susan Shephard
Board of Directors
Kati Boswell • Susan Graves • Bain Foster • Dee Pounds • Windie Rhodes • Susan Shephard • Bill Herr
📩 Meeting Minutes from the General Meeting are now available as a PDF download.
Second Reading
Linda Miller
Ron Miller
Amy Spillers
Aliyah Spillers
Helen Kohm
Jacob Gault
Tammy Fletcher
First Reading
Debra Reigh (July)
Patty Keena (July)
🎉 Celebrating Our Membership Anniversaries 🎉
This month, we’re proud to recognize and celebrate the commitment of our WVKC members whose dedication to the club has stood the test of time.
Gale Parr (joined 2007)
Pam Jarosz (joined 2019)
Audria Ross (joined 2023)
Deborah Clancy (joined 2019)
Bill Herr (joined 2021)
Krystal Cliver (joined 2023)
Joyce Lodge (joined 1986)
Ginger McCormick (joined 2019)
Ginny Merchant (joined 2014)
Joe Patrick (joined 2023)
Sue Zeiher (joined 2022)
Thank you all for being an important part of WVKC’s ongoing journey!
🎂 Happiest of Birthdays! 🎂
WVKC sends warm birthday wishes to our members celebrating another trip around the sun:
🎉 Katelyn Melvin - Aug 07
🎉 Valerie Wagner - Aug 10
🎉 Marj Blomquist - Aug 20
🎉 Linda DeCastro - Aug 23
🎉 Jim Danhauer - Aug 24
🎉 Ginger McCormick - Sept 3
🎉 Gale Parr - Sept 6
🎉 Susan Shephard - Sept 6
🎉 Dee Pounds - Sept 12
🎉 Melinda Everett - Sept 18
We hope your special day is filled with joy, puppy kisses, and a few extra treats! 🐾🎈
WVKC Nominating Committee Report
The Nominating Committee, consisting of Deb Clancy, Maria Avellino, and myself, Susan Shephard (Chair), met via text message and is pleased to submit the following slate of officers and directors for consideration by the WVKC Board:
President: Terry Wagner
Vice President: Ginny Merchant
Secretary: Dee Pounds
Treasurer: Maria Avellino
Director: Susan Graves
Director: Susan Shephard
Director: Windie Rhodes
Additionally, our alternate committee member, Morgan Poulin, has been notified that her services will not be required this year.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Shephard, Nominating Committee Chair
🐶🎪 WVKC Dog Show Is Fast Approaching!
Our upcoming dog show is right around the corner, and we’re gearing up for another fantastic event showcasing the very best in purebred dogs, sportsmanship, and community spirit. We may still need volunteers, so if you or someone you know can help, let us know!!
📅 Show Date: Friday, Sept. 19– Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025
📍 Location: Volusia County Fairgrounds
🕒 Volunteer Shifts Available All Day
Not showing a dog? This is the perfect way to be part of the action, learn more about the sport, and support the club.
New to volunteering? No worries — we’ll show you the ropes or pair you with someone experienced.
🐾 To sign up, contact: Susan Shephard, Mark Driggers, or Dewayne Graves
Let’s make this show a success together! 💙🐾
Get Ready for the WVKC Annual Fast CAT Cluster!
WVKC is excited to partner with Dog Sports Unlimited as we host our 2025 Annual Fast CAT Cluster — a thrilling opportunity for dogs to show off their speed and have some fun! This event is open to everyone, not just exhibitors, so whether you’re showing or not, bring your dog and join the fun.
Join us Friday through Sunday September 19-21 at the Volusia County Fairgrounds.
6 Fast CAT events over 3 days. Two concurrent events held each day.
Fast CAT is a 100-yard dash where dogs of all breeds and mixes can enjoy the thrill of the chase in a safe, timed run. It’s a fantastic way to bond with your dog and cheer on fellow members. For full details and registration information, visit 2025 WVKC Fast CAT Cluster Details
Upcoming Conformation Shows
Show | City | Date | Closes |
WVKC | Deland | Sept 19-21 | Sept 03 |
Greater Naples DC | Fort Myers | Oct 11-12 | 09/24 |
Brandon FL KC | Plant City | Oct 25-26 | Oct 08 |
Central Florida KC | Ocala | Oct 31-Nov 2 | Oct 15 |
Treasure Coast | Ocala | Nov 6-9 | Oct 22 |
Seminole Dog Fanciers Assoc | Ocala | Nov 13-16 | Oct 29 |
Fort Lauderdale Dog Club | Ocala | Nov 21-23 | Nov 05 |
Winter Wonderland Cluster | Perry, GA | Nov 25 - Dec 1 |
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Suwannee Valley Kennel Club | Newberry, FL | Dec 5-7 |
We're ready to share all the brags and cries!
Got a brag or cry you'd like to share? Email us!
Policy Watch: AKC Floats Letting “Limited Registration” Dogs (If Intact) Show in Conformation
What’s on the table
In late spring, AKC leadership began discussing a change to the Conformation eligibility rule (Rules Applying to Dog Shows, Chapter 11, Section 1) that currently bars dogs on Limited Registration from breed competition. Board minutes (May 2025) and the June Secretary’s Page confirm the topic is actively under review, with staff presenting data on Limited Registration trends and Conformation entries and sending the matter on for further committee discussion. Amazon Web Services, Inc.+1
What the rule says today
AKC’s rulebook and Conformation FAQ are explicit: a dog with AKC Limited Registration “shall be ineligible to be exhibited in a breed competition in a licensed or member dog show.” Limited Registration itself means the dog is registered, but its litters cannot be registered, and the dog is eligible for most AKC sports—just not Conformation. AKC ImagesAmerican Kennel Club+1
How a rule change would happen
Under AKC’s governance, the Delegate Body (not the Board) ultimately votes on changes to the Rules Applying to Dog Shows. Items are typically read at one Delegate meeting and voted at a subsequent one. Delegate meetings are held March, June, September, and December each year. So even with Board support, any Limited-Registration change would wind through committee(s), then reading(s) and a later vote by Delegates, before an effective date is set. American Kennel Club+1
UKC’s contrasting model (for context)
UKC already runs Altered Conformation—separate classes for spayed/neutered purebreds—specifically to let owners get structural evaluations and to give breeders a broader look at their program’s produce. Those divisions are parallel to regular classes (not mixed together). ukcdogs.com+1
Perspectives from around the sport
1) “Don’t dilute Conformation’s purpose” (common criticism)
Many breeders object that Conformation’s core mission is evaluating breeding stock. If a dog is on Limited (i.e., not intended for breeding), critics ask why it belongs in breed competition at all. Some also worry about “points inflation” and the possibility that Limited dogs could affect majors or top rankings if mixed into regular classes. (Representative opinions appear in public exhibitor discussions.) Facebook
2) “Limited is a breeder’s tool—don’t blur it” (historical view)
Limited Registration was created in the late 1980s as a breeder-control tool—to register pups while preventing the registration of any offspring from those not meant to be bred (e.g., pets, dogs with disqualifying faults, or health concerns). Proponents of the status quo argue that letting Limited dogs into breed competition undermines that original intent. Canine Chronicle
3) “Conformation also educates & builds community” (pro-access view)
Others counter that showing isn’t only about future breeding. They see value in welcoming owners who hold Limited dogs—especially newcomers—into a ring experience that teaches presentation, structure, and sportsmanship, and that still doesn’t change the dog’s breeding ineligibility. Some editorials in the fancy have questioned whether past policies (e.g., widespread use of Limited) may have unintentionally throttled new‐exhibitor pipelines. Showsight Magazine
4) “If AKC allows it, keep it separate” (middle-ground)
A frequent compromise suggestion mirrors UKC: create a separate Limited (or Altered) track that does not compete head-to-head with fully eligible breeding stock for points or titles, preserving the breed-stock benchmark while broadening participation and education. (UKC’s altered program is the working example.) ukcdogs.com
What the AKC is (and isn’t) considering—so far
Considering: Making intact dogs on Limited Registration eligible in some fashion to participate in Conformation. The Board has reviewed data and moved the discussion into the rulemaking pathway. Details (e.g., separate vs. regular classes) have not been finalized or published at this writing. Amazon Web Services, Inc.+1
Not changing (today): The existing rule remains in force until Delegates vote and an effective date is set. Limited Registration still bars entry in breed competition as of now. AKC ImagesAmerican Kennel Club
What this could mean for exhibitors & clubs
For breeders: If Limited dogs enter Conformation in any capacity, breeders may rethink how (and when) they use Limited vs. Full Registration. Some are already saying they’d withhold papers more often; others prefer a separate Limited/Altered path that keeps points and championships for breeding prospects. (These are policy choices with real downstream effects on owner relations and club culture.) Facebook
For exhibitors: A separate Limited/Altered track could be a welcoming on-ramp for learning the sport with a pet-quality dog—without affecting regular points/majors. If mixed into regular classes (again, we don’t have that detail), majors and rankings could shift, which is why many fanciers object. ukcdogs.com
For clubs: More entries can help shows thrive, but any change would require clear premium wording, ring scheduling, and education for stewards/judges. Clubs should also plan messaging for newcomers about the distinction between Limited, Full, and Altered eligibility. (AKC show manual & judges’ guidance will matter here.) AKC Images+1
WVKC’s take & how to engage
What you can do right now
Read the source materials: AKC rulebook & FAQ on Chapter 11 §1, the AKC page on Limited Registration, and the latest Board minutes/Secretary’s Pages. AKC ImagesAmerican Kennel Club+1Amazon Web Services, Inc.+1
Talk to your Parent Club & our AKC Delegate: Delegates ultimately vote the rules. Share a thoughtful position (pro, con, or compromise) so they can represent you. American Kennel Club
Send WVKC feedback: If members favor a separate Limited/Altered path, we can memorialize that in a club letter to the Dog Show Rules Committee.
Meet the Mudi: Hungary’s compact herding powerhouse
The Mudi (pronounced “MOOD-ee”) is a medium-sized, all-purpose farm dog from Hungary, prized for intelligence, agility, and versatility. Recognized by the AKC in 2022, the breed sports a naturally wavy-to-curly, low-maintenance coat in many colors (including merle), and tails may be of any natural length—none preferred over another. American Kennel Club+1AKC Images
Temperament & living with a Mudi
Expect an alert, energetic, highly biddable worker that’s “sensibly suspicious,” making an excellent watchdog without being over-aggressive. Around trusted people they’re playful and affectionate, but like many herding breeds they can be a bit aloof on first meeting and tend to use their voice freely. Early, ongoing socialization is important.
Activity, sports, and care
Mudik thrive on a job and shine in sports such as agility, rally, tracking, herding, flyball, disc, and barn hunt. They pair best with owners who enjoy daily training and mental work; positive-reinforcement methods suit their sensitivity. Grooming is simple—regular brushing keeps the wash-and-wear coat tidy—but barking can be a management priority, especially in close quarters. American Kennel Club, Mudi Club Of America
Who should—and shouldn’t—own one
A Mudi is a great fit for active, engaged homes that want a versatile sport or farm partner and will provide structure, training, and outlets for energy. They’re generally good with children and other animals when raised and socialized accordingly, but their intensity, voice, and independence mean they’re not ideal for first-time owners or for noise-restricted apartment living unless committed to training. Mudi Club Of America+1
Fun facts
This is a genuinely rare breed—only a few thousand exist worldwide—yet it remains a true working dog in its homeland, sometimes even naturally bobtailed. If you’re looking for a small-to-medium herder with big heart and bigger drive, the Mudi delivers.
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