As thousands of exhibitors, judges and spectators converged in Long Beach, CA in anticipation of the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, the AKC National Agility Championship and the AKC National Obedience Invitational, the AKC Gazette held its 3rd annual Gazette Forum. The lively discussion took place on Tuesday, December 2, and focused on the topic of international dog show competition.

Esteemed panel members included Ronnie Irving, Chairman of The Kennel Club in the UK; Virginia Lyne, Canadian judge; Michael Canalizo, long-time breeder and handler; Dr. Robert Smith, former AKC Board Member; John Outlon, international exhibitor; Robin Stansell, AKC's director of show operations; and AKC Gazette publisher George Berger. The panel was moderated by Matt Stander of Dog News

Forum attendees discussed various topics concerning international competition but primarily focused on some of the differences that are seen in the sport from country to country and the challenges faced in promoting more international competition. They touched on the differences in breed standards, the challenges that international judges face, the need to re-establish a World Congress of Kennel Clubs, processes for approval of new breeds, and much more.

The Gazette Forum is an important annual tradition where respected members of the sport have the opportunity to discuss critical issues, said Berger. The topic of international competition couldn't be more appropriate this year, considering that we have international entrants at the National Championship for the first time.

The discussion will be published verbatim in a future issue of the AKC Gazette.