Pure Dog Talk

Breeding the Perfect Dandie Dinmont Front: 50 Years of Preservation with Betty-Anne Stenmark Legendary preservation breeder and AKC judge Betty-Anne Stenmark joins host Laura Reeves to celebrate 50 years of King's Mountain Dandie Dinmonts, sharing invaluable insights on structure, puppy selection and what it takes to breed, select and judge a historically correct Dandie Dinmont Terrier. From navig...

Surviving the "Pupocalypse": How Preservation Breeders Can Adapt and Thrive in a Slow Market Host Laura Reeves and Dr. Marty Greer dive deep into the sobering post-COVID "puppy bust" data, exploring how corporate veterinary pricing is pricing out everyday owners and sharing crucial survival strategies for both pet owners and preservation breeders. The post-COVID landscape has brought a dramatic sh...

How to Go From Novice to Group Winner: Owner-Handler Success Secrets with Karine Beaulieu [caption id="attachment_16651" align="alignleft" width="300"] Karine Beaulieu presenting one of her Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers.[/caption] Host Laura Reeves sits down with Karine Beaulieu, a Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier owner-handler and preservation breeder from Sudbury, Canada. Karine discusses her rapid fi...

Drop-Coated Dog Care: Grooming & Breeding Secrets with Pat Keen-Fernandes [caption id="attachment_16535" align="alignleft" width="183"] Pat Keen Fernandes judging the YTCA Top Twenty.[/caption] Host Laura Reeves sits down with legendary handler Pat Keen-Fernandes at the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America National Specialty to discuss the strict weekly bathing regimen required for drop-coated br...

Protecting Dogs from the Dangerous Return of the New World Screwworm Host Laura Reeves and veterinarian Marty Greer discuss the alarming resurgence of the New World Screwworm, outlining vital travel precautions, key symptoms to watch for and the medications used to treat this invasive parasite. The Return of a Lethal Threat: After being successfully managed since 1966 using a sterile fly release p...

Dog Show Tips for Beginners: Navigating the Learning Curve Host Laura Reeves welcomes Matt Stroud (known to some on Facebook as "Kermit the Dog"), an enthusiastic owner-handler of Schipperkes. Matt shares his journey from being a shy high schooler navigating 4-H with a poodle mix and a Yorkshire Terrier, to returning to the dog show world as an adult with his Schipperkes. Navigating the Learning C...

Understanding Puppy Heart Murmurs and Congenital Heart Disease In this episode of Pure Dog Talk's "Veterinary Voice," host Laura Reeves and Dr. Marty Greer explore the complexities of congenital heart disease in puppies, offering essential guidance for breeders on diagnosing, treating and navigating cardiac health in their litters. The Importance of the First Vet Visit & Puppy Murmurs Dr. Gree...

 Patrick McManus on Harmony, History and Pugs [caption id="attachment_15774" align="alignleft" width="399"] Patrick McManus judging the Pug Dog Club of America National Specialty.[/caption] Host Laura Reeves sits down with pug breeder, AKC judge and artist Patrick McManus to explore the fascinating intersection of fine art, breed type and the living history of purebred dogs . The ultimate Renaissa...

New Purina Pro Plan Grant Program Levels the Playing Field for All Dog Clubs Host Laura Reeves is joined by Purina’s Heidi Hartman to discuss the exciting evolution of the Purina Parent Club Partnership (PPCP) into the brand new Pro Plan Grant Program . For years, the PPCP distributed funds based on Pro Club member receipt uploads, which unintentionally favored highly popular breeds with large clu...

Wheels Off, AirTags On: The Ultimate Survival Guide to Flying Your Dog Host Laura Reeves gets the ultimate intel from Alicia Morrison Jones—an Afghan Hound breeder who clocked roughly 200,000 miles flying her own dog before going behind the counter as an Alaska Airlines employee. Ditch the travel anxiety with this ultimate survival guide to flying your dog, featuring insider secrets on crate hacks...

Syringomyelia in Cavaliers and Beyond: What Every Breeder Needs to Know Dr. Marty Greer joins Laura Reeves to answer a listener question and break down one of the most serious and underdiagnosed neurological conditions affecting small breed dogs. If you've never heard of syringomyelia, you're not alone — but if you breed Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Brussels Griffons, Pomeranians or other small...

Navigating Dog Show Economics and Governance with Pam Mandeville [caption id="attachment_15667" align="alignleft" width="398"] Pam Mandeville showing one of her homebred Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers.[/caption] Host Laura Reeves is joined by corporate expert Pam Mandeville to discuss dog show economics, AKC reforms and why getting involved in kennel club governance is just as crucial as US politics...

Secure Your Dog's Future: The Lifesaving Benefits of Pet Trusts and Estate Planning Laura is joined by estate planning attorney and author Cecilia Amo to discuss how to secure the future of your purebred dogs and avoid the expensive, time-consuming default government plan known as probate. Why You Need More Than Just a Will Many dog owners assume a simple will is enough to protect their pets, but...

Semen Viability & “Semen Math”: Maximize Success with Fresh, Chilled & Frozen Dr. Marty Greer returns to break down semen viability, the six parameters of semen analysis, practical “semen math,” and strategies for maximizing success with fresh-chilled and frozen semen. Marty joins Laura to demystify semen viability and the practical realities of breeding with fresh, chilled and frozen seme...

Dog Breeders Under Fire: the National Legislative Push Against Responsible Breeders A sweeping mandatory sterilization bill in Hawaii refuses to die. It's part of a coordinated national campaign targeting responsible breeders and dog sports. Responsible dog owners and breeders across the country are facing a coordinated legislative push that threatens the future of purebred dogs, working dog sport...

AKC Purebred Preservation Bank: Saving Dog Breeds from Extinction More than half of AKC-recognized breeds are now considered low-entry, and the number of breeds registering 10 or fewer litters per year doubled between 2022 and 2024. Host Laura Reeves sits down with Dr. Charlie Garvin—AKC Board of Directors member and chairman of the AKC Purebred Preservation Bank (PPB)—to unpack what that means fo...

Buddy the Beagle, Children's Books and Dog Show Life with Will Alexander Will Alexander joins host Laura Reeves to talk about his charming new children's book series starring Buddy the Beagle, plus judging, podcasting and the timeless chaos of navigating dog shows without GPS. Longtime dog show handler and judge Will Alexander returns to Pure Dog Talk with something unexpected in his portfolio: a...

Hypnosis for Dog Handlers: Calm Your Mind, Free Your Dog In this fascinating episode, host Laura Reeves welcomes Radek Blažo, a dog show enthusiast and certified hypnotherapist from Slovakia, whose two passions — purebred dogs and cognitive behavioral hypnotherapy — have collided in a surprisingly powerful way. Radek's dog journey began at age 15 in Slovakia, when his father took him to visit bree...

Assembling the "Engine" in Canine Structure Veteran breeder and judge Stephanie Seabrook Hedgepath joins host Laura Reeves to break down the dog's "engine" -- rear construction from croup anatomy and tail set to hock length and bend of stifle — helping breeders and judges understand how structure drives movement and longevity. The entire rear assembly in a dog is the engine that propels it forward...

Fenbendazole Side Effects in Dogs: What Breeders Need to Know About Rare Reactions Fenbendazole (Panacur) has been a go-to dewormer for veterinarians and breeders for over 40 years — but a rare, life-threatening blood disorder in a 10-month-old French Bulldog is prompting a closer look. Dr. Marty Greer joins host Laura Reeves to share what happened, what it means, and why being an informed consume...

WKC Toy Group Winning Handler Tim Lehman on Campaigning a Maltese and Drop-Coat Excellence Fresh off his Toy Group win at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Tim Lehman joins Pure Dog Talk to share the story behind Cookie, the breathtaking Maltese who captured hearts at the Garden. From a childhood obsession sparked in a Minnesota library to standing in the Best in Show lineup under the spotligh...

Postpartum Complications in Dogs: Dr. Marty’s Whelping Survival Guide Whelping doesn’t always end with a tidy pile of healthy puppies and a relaxed, glowing mama dog. Host Laura Reeves is joined by our favorite best friend in veterinary medicine, Dr. Marty Greer, to walk through the most common (and most dangerous) postpartum complications breeders face — from retained puppies and metritis to mast...

Gut Health, Brain Health and the Science of Better Dogs [caption id="attachment_15060" align="alignleft" width="363"] Dr. Lobos with her own dogs Finn and Journey.[/caption] What if your dog’s digestion affects more than just stool quality—what if it influences immunity, stress responses and even behavior? Host Laura Reeves is joined by Dr. Ruth Ann Lobos, Senior Veterinarian with Purina Pro Plan,...

Legendary Handler Andy Linton on Quality, Conditioning and Presentation [caption id="attachment_15022" align="alignleft" width="338"] Andy and Penny shine at the DPCA Top 20.[/caption] Host Laura Reeves sits down one-on-one with legendary professional handler Andy Linton for an in-depth conversation about a lifetime in the sport. From his beginnings as a Southern California teenager more intereste...

From Pugs to the Green Carpet: Charlotte Patterson on Judging the Toy Group at Westminster [caption id="attachment_15011" align="alignleft" width="491"] Charlotte Patterson awarding David Fitzpatrick first in the Toy Group at Westminster Kennel Club in 2017 with "Chuckie."[/caption] In this episode of Pure Dog Talk , host Laura Reeves sits down with one of the true legends of the sport, Charlotte...