Pure Dog Talk

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 breeds, the genetics behind eliminating face staining and the crucial need for mentorship and pet trusts within the purebred dog community. Episode Highlights The Golden Rule of Drop Coats:Learn why a strict bathing regimenevery five to seven daysis the single most critical factor in...

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 program, the New World Screwworm has crossed back over the U.S. border. Confirmed cases have already appeared in livestock and dogs.How Screwworms Differ from Normal Maggots:Unlike typical fly larvae that only infest damaged or...

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 Curve Matt candidly discusses the fragmented and confusing realities for newcomers, noting that while the sport is more visible than ever, basic logistics—like navigating superintendent websites to enter shows—can be o...

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. Greer emphasizes the crucial need for a thorough veterinary exam before placing any puppies in their forever homes to protect the breeder's reputation and ensure the puppy's health. A heart murmur occurs when blood flows backward through the heart, creating...

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 Renaissance man, McManus is known as a dedicated pug breeder and judge, as well as an incredible artist whose unique Cubist renderings of dogs are breathtaking. Purebred dogs serve as "living history," representing a specific place, people and time. As...

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 club memberships, leaving smaller clubs with minimal funding. The new Pro Plan Grant Program is designed to level the playing field, ensuring that a small breed club with just a handful of members ha...

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, cargo hold myths and the non-negotiable rules you need to know before takeoff. The Truth About the Cargo Hold:Stop panicking about the baggage hold.It is fully pressurized and temperature-regulated, often running about 10 de...

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 brachycephalic breeds, this episode could change how you think about your breeding program. Dr. Marty Greer walks Laura through the difference between Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia (SM), two conditions that often get lumped together but aren't quite th...

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 for the future of purebred dogs. Pam Mandeville brings a deeply unique perspective to our sport. Pam is a Georgetown lawyer and MBA graduate who spent years as an AKC project manager and in corporate America, plus she's bred...

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 the law views dogs as property. If you leave money to a friend in a will and ask them to care for your dog, there is absolutely no...

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 semen. Whether you’re a first-time breeder or seasoned pro, this conversation delivers veterinary-backed guidance on how to assess semen quality, plan collections and protect valuable genetic material. Key topics covered: Semen Math: Dr. Greer walks through the core formula: ejaculate volume × sperm conce...

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 sports and preservation breeding. Host Laura Reeves breaks down the landscape and brings in Lynn Muramaru, board member of the Pacific Pet Alliance, to detail the fight happening in Hawaii right now. Hawaii's Mandatory Spay-Neuter Legislation The Hawaiian Humane...

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 for the future of purebred dogs and what breeders can do about it today. Dr. Garvin traces the PPB's origins to the Otterhound Club's pioneering reproductive bank, established in 2017, and explains how the AKC step...

AKC Purebred Preservation Bank: Saving Dog Breeds from ExtinctionAKC Board member and PPB Chairman Dr. Charlie Garvin joins host Laura Reeves to explain how the AKC Purebred Preservation Bank is using frozen semen donations to protect low-entry breeds from genetic collapse and 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...

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 children's book series. Inspired by his real-life beagle — a 1992 American National winner nicknamed "Bud Man" — Will wrote the first book, What Is My Name? at his kitchen table on a whim. What followed was 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 breeders and he fell in love with Lhasa Apsos. He eventually traveled to Italy to learn the craft of handling and later came to the United States, where mentors like Melissa Pepke and professional handl...

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. Stephanie and Laura unpack the anatomy and biomechanics behind a correct rear assembly, why balance matters more than any single piece, and how faults in the rear (or the front) can break a wo...

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 consumer of veterinary drugs matters more than ever. Marty shares her experience with a young French Bulldog who developed severe pancytopenia — dangerously low white blood cells, platelets near zero, and declining red blood cells — after a 10-day c...

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 spotlight at Madison Square Garden, Tim’s journey is a testament to mentorship, meticulous coat care, purposeful breeding and staying in the path of kindness.  

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 mastitis, eclampsia, and even the terrifying “SIPS” bleeding that shows up weeks later. If you’ve ever had a bitch crash after delivery… or you’re hoping you never will… this is the episode that helps you sta...