Pure Dog Talk
40 Episodes
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Pure Dog Talk is the VOICE of Purebred Dogs. We talk to the legends of the sports and give you tips and tools to create an awesome life with your purebred dog. From dog shows to preservation breeding, from competitive obedience to field work, from agility to therapy dogs and all the fun in between; your passion is our purpose. Pure Dog Talk supports the American Kennel Club, our Parent, Specialty and All-Breed Clubs, Dog Sports, Therapy, Service and Preservation of our Canine Companions.
710 – Harnessing Youth to Build New Clubs
Last Monday at 4:00 PM
Harnessing Youth to Build New Clubs
[caption id="attachment_14619" align="alignleft" width="297"] Ellie Ovrom with her Drent and her All American dog.[/caption] Host Laura Reeves is joined by Ellie Ovrom, Drentsche Patrijshond enthusiast, who has helped found two brand new clubs with just five years involved in the sport. “As I got more interested in purebred dogs and in performance sports,” Ovrom said, “I got involved with existing clubs and organizations around me, or in the case of the breed club, the national club, and as I was getting involved, I started to realize that some of the wa...709 – Adam Levy’s Secrets to Success of Top-Level Dual Dogs
10/20/2025
Adam Levy’s Secrets to Success of Top-Level Dual Dogs
[caption id="attachment_14601" align="alignleft" width="322"] Adam Levy and Devon Kipp Levy work magic emphasizing the dual dog.[/caption] Host Laura Reeves is joined by Adam Levy, breeder of Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, to talk dual dogs, retriever tests and what it takes to be successful at the top. Levy started in Chessies 16 years ago. In that time he has bred five BIS winners, including two with MH titles and field trial points. Working with his business partner Andrew Barbouche, Levy operates Next Generation Gundog Training in Minnesota. “Just beca...708 – Veterinarian and Author Joins Fight to Support Responsible Breeders
10/13/2025
Veterinarian and Author Joins Fight to Support Responsible Breeders
[caption id="attachment_14594" align="alignleft" width="248"] Dr. Nancy Kay, veterinarian and author, encourages clients to source their new dog from responsible breeders.[/caption] Host Laura Reeves is joined by veterinarian and author Dr. Nancy Kay to discuss her fight to support responsible breeders. Kay said that when she’s talking to clients about how to find a responsible breeder, she advises them, “If you're speaking with a breeder over the phone or online, first and foremost, the breeder insists that you come visit. They want you there. It's not nece...707 — Breast Cancer Awareness for You AND Your Dog
10/06/2025
Breast Cancer Awareness for You AND Your Dog
Host Laura Reeves is joined by Dr. Marty Greer for an important reminder about the risks of breast cancer in our dogs and how to prevent and treat it. October is Breast cancer awareness month: How does hearing the words “she’s got breast cancer” affect you? Bring tears to your eyes? Start a knot forming in the pit of your stomach? Make you want a second opinion? Create anger at being cheated? The diagnosis: We all know and have been affected by someone with this dreaded diagnosis. Maybe it is you...706 – Queen of Cords: Alice Lawrence on 55 Years of Corded Breeds
09/29/2025
Queen of Cords: Alice Lawrence on 55 Years of Corded Breeds
[caption id="attachment_14557" align="alignleft" width="373"] Alice Lawrence with BISS GRCHB Fuzzy Farm All Things Considered (aka Spaetzle, on the left) and YOLO (on the right) Moonshadow You Only Live Once At The Fuzzy Farm.[/caption] Host Laura Reeves is joined by Alice Lawrence, breeder-owner-handler of Komondorok, Puli and Havanese, to discuss her beloved corded breeds. Lawrence, along with her husband Steve, first owned an Old English Sheepdog. “We were brushing our arms off,” she said. “In 1972, we acquired our first Komondor and there's no looking back. And no, we...705 – Changing Hearts and Minds, One Livestream at a Time
09/22/2025
Changing Hearts and Minds, One Livestream at a Time
Host Laura Reeves is joined by friend of the pod Bobby Brian (BB) Lewis to talk about how he was able to change the minds of random members of the public using his YouTube channel. Lewis started his YouTube channel primarily to share with his puppy families and show how the puppies are raised. He said he was shocked by the amount of negative feedback and outright hate toward dog breeders that he received. “The easiest thing would have been to remove them from the channel. I mean, I do...704 – The New and Aspiring Judge’s Journey with Channing Sheets
09/15/2025
The New and Aspiring Judge’s Journey with Channing Sheets
“How you treat people is everything.” Host Laura Reeves is joined by German Shepherd Dog breeder and recently minted AKC judge Channing Sheets for a conversation about breeding dogs, the sport, judging and the honor of his first Westminster Kennel Club judging assignment. [caption id="attachment_14493" align="alignleft" width="550"] Channing Sheets with one of his GSD.[/caption] Sheets recounts his journey in dogs, starting with his dad’s bird dogs and hounds, through Keeshond and finally landing with his passion, the GSD. A member of the GSDCA Judges Educatio...703 – Hot Topic: New Rules for FSS Breeds
09/08/2025
[caption id="attachment_14468" align="alignleft" width="273"] Veronica Miller and a Portugese Podengo Medio.[/caption]
Hot Topic: New Rules for FSS Breeds
Host Laura Reeves is joined by Veronica Miller, Portugese Podengo Medio enthusiast, to discuss newly announced rules about FSS breeds. The August Board minutes launched a number of hot topics and discussions, including around limited registrations, but one of the hottest is taking place in the FSS community. The enthusiasts in this group are working with breeds progressing toward full AKC recognition. Many of these breeds are ancient and popular in other countries. “Since I came in in...702 – Diagnosing the Limping Puppy: Pano, HOD, OCD and more…
09/01/2025
Diagnosing the Limping Puppy: Pano, HOD, OCD and more…
Host Laura Reeves is joined by Dr. Marty Greer for a deep dive on all the causes of a limping puppy. They cover when to have the puppy seen by a vet and what differentials are in play for the diagnosis. Panosteitis. Hypertrophic osteodystrophy. Osteochondritis Dissecans. These are long, scary names of disorders that can adversely impact our puppies while they are growing. From the relatively benign Pano to the frequently surgical solution for OCD, every time we see a limping puppy, our stomachs clench. Greer walks listeners through al...701 – PennHIP for the Win on Reducing Incidence of Hip Dysplasia
08/25/2025
PennHIP for the Win on Reducing Incidence of Hip Dysplasia
[caption id="attachment_14411" align="alignleft" width="399"] Dr. Karen Potter showing one of her German Wirehaired Pointers.[/caption] Host Laura Reeves is joined by Dr. Karen Potter to discuss the value of PennHIP evaluations to reduce the incidence of hip dysplasia in a breeding program. “While yes, I do PennHIP my dogs,” Potter said, “I typically will go back and still get an OFA score on them. So I have both avenues to look at as I'm going through my breeding. With Penn Hip, we're able to have a number...700 — Laura On: Re-imagining Dog Shows and Dog Breeding
08/18/2025
Episode 700: Re-imagining Dog Shows and Dog Breeding
It’s become a tradition here at Pure Dog Talk to celebrate the important milestones. Episode 700 feels surreal to me! Since November of 2016, NINE years, I’ve been hopping in the van with you guys for your road trips, joining you on the treadmill and the lawnmower, at the grooming table and discussions around the dinner table. Crazy talk! But, here we are. This year we even kicked off a new adventure with the Marty and Laura Show, reaching out to the general public, your puppy buyers and your cousin’s uncle’...699 – Jake Bartells on NAVHDA, Epagneul Breton and Dog Clubs
08/11/2025
Jake Bartells on NAVHDA, Epagneul Breton and Dog Clubs
Host Laura Reeves is joined by Jake Bartells, a member of the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA) and breeder of Epagneul Breton. Their wide-ranging conversation about the inherent challenges of dog clubs is applicable to any club, of any type, anywhere.About NAVHDA
“NAVHDA is an organization of about 10,000 members,” Bartells said. “It's mainly a testing organization that gathers data in a registry and that's where it houses the data is through the registry. All of the tests are done per a standard. So you're judged...698 – Three Words That Strike Fear in Vets and Owners
08/04/2025
Three Words That Strike Fear in Vets and Owners
Host Laura Reeves is joined by Dr. Marty Greer talking about the three words that strike fear in both veterinarians and owners. “These three things are what can take a normal, easy, lovely day at the veterinary clinic and turn it upside down and cause clients to have to wait and then swear at their veterinary team because they don't understand why they have to wait because they had an appointment,” Greer said. Those three words, according to Greer, are GDV (bloat), Pyo (pyometra) and HBC (hit by car). Refr...697 – Dog Breeding as a Vision Quest
07/28/2025
Dog Breeding as a Vision Quest
Host Laura Reeves is joined by NYT best-selling author David Wroblewski discussing dog breeding as a vision quest. Wroblewski is the author of The Story of Edgar Sawtelle and Familiaris both based on the life and history of fictional dog breeder Edgar Sawtelle and his family. “This sort of primal connection that we have with dogs, to me fundamentally is about how to live a larger, better life in a really broad sense,” Wroblewski said. “One of the things that you mentioned, kind of like in the theme of the novels, is the im...696 – Swedish Lapphund and the Genetics of the Arctic Spitz Breeds
07/21/2025
Swedish Lapphund and the Genetics of the Arctic Spitz Breeds
[caption id="attachment_14251" align="alignleft" width="540"] Desiree Ramirez with one of her Swedish Lapphunds.[/caption] Host Laura Reeves is joined by Desiree Ramirez to discuss the Swedish Lapphund and the genetics of the arctic spitz “archetype” that developed into landrace dogs and then different breeds over centuries. Swedish Lapphunds are not Finnish Laphunds or Finnish Spitz or Norwegian Buhunds or Norwegian Elkhounds or Samoyeds or Karelian Bear Dogs. Currently registered by AKC in the FSS, there are only about 40 dogs in the US. They are their own unique bree...695 – The Tiny but Mighty Chihuahua with Kristi Green
07/14/2025
The Tiny but Mighty Chihuahua with Kristi Green
[caption id="attachment_14231" align="alignleft" width="416"] Kristi Green with BIS MBISS GCHG CH Knockout Pretty Little Liar.[/caption] Host Laura Reeves is joined by Kristi Green, talking about the tiny but mighty Chihuahua. From their slightly mysterious origins to best practices on finding and raising a well-bred dog, Green shares pro tips from her own successes and struggles. “I think that the biggest part about living with a Chihuahua is that they can be as good of a dog as you want them to be or as bad of a do...694 – What’s Your “Line in the Sand” for Breeding
07/07/2025
What’s Your “Line in the Sand” for Breeding
Host Laura Reeves is joined by Dr. Marty Greer for an important conversation about “what is YOUR line in the sand” when breeding dogs. This is a conversation around breeding ethics and having a “mission statement” for your breeding program. “I had a listener ask about a baby puppy with one testicle yoyoing and one maybe, maybe not there and what should they do? And Marty said, ‘Well, there's only a couple things and it won't take very long (to talk about), but I think that there's no reason not to breed that...693 – The Glen of Imaal Terrier’s Place in Ireland
06/30/2025
The Glen of Imaal Terrier’s Place in Ireland
We have friend of the pod Theresa Nesbitt back and you guys know how much I harp on the current dogs are living history, right? Like this is my jam. And that purebred dogs represent a specific place and a specific people in a specific time. Well, Theresa has taken that for the Glen of Imaal Terrier and done this huge deep dive on it. And her information and her stories are so fascinating. You know, in the green room off air we were talking about. How cool it is...692 — Pro Tips for Hot Dog Shows and When Safety Overrules Ribbons
06/23/2025
Pro Tips for Hot Dog Shows and When Safety Overrules Ribbons
Host Laura Reeves brings you Pure Dog Talk's LIVE@5 discussion of the hot summer dog shows and when safety is more important than ribbons. "Let's talk about what hot means. And everybody has their own understanding of it, right? So what is hot to someone like myself from the Northwest might be no big deal if you're from Phoenix. Understand that if you're hot, your dogs have similar acclimation and so it's really important to understand what your dog can tolerate. "I was doing my handling class...691 — Alaskan Klee Kai Move to Miscellaneous
06/16/2025
Alaskan Klee Kai Move to Miscellaneous
Host Laura Reeves is joined by Chelsea Watson for a discussion of the Alaskan Klee Kai moving to Miscellaneous this summer. [caption id="attachment_14178" align="alignleft" width="370"] Versatile, energetic and aloof, Alaskan Klee Kai join Miscellaneous.[/caption] According to Watson, the Klee Kai was developed in Alaska in the 1970s by one woman who wanted to create a “miniature Husky.” The breed was developed using Alaskan Huskies, with additions of Siberian Husky, American Eskimo Dog and Schipperke. The Klee Kai is 12-17 inches tall, with a variety of colors and coats available. Bred...690 — Conditioning for Canine Athletes
06/09/2025
Conditioning for Canine Athletes
Host Laura Reeves is joined by Dr. Ashley Nixon to discuss conditioning our canine athletes, whether for the show ring, dock diving, agility and more.
"Cardio's good for everybody," Nixon said, "but I think it's really important to consider the sport you're doing and what you're asking your dog to do. They can be cardiovascularly fit, but maybe they don't have the propulsion to do some dock diving or agility, right? So I think it's super important to kind of keep that in mind and not just say, hey, I walk...
689 – Infertility Problem Solving Protocol
06/02/2025
Infertility Problem Solving Protocol
Host Laura Reeves is joined by Dr. Marty Greer for a conversation about the problem solving protocol for infertility using a case study submitted in the private Pure Dog Talk Patrons group. Greer’s first recommendation for fertility issues is to have a complete semen analysis on the stud dog. “There are six parameters that we should look at for semen quality. It should be volume, sperm count, the motility, the morphology, the longevity and speed of progression. …(I)t's much easier to analyze the fertility on a male dog that is a female.” Greer co...688 – Dual Dogs Serve Dual Purpose
05/26/2025
Dual Dogs Serve Dual Purpose
[caption id="attachment_14045" align="alignleft" width="496"] Brittany puppy with big dreams.[/caption] Host Laura Reeves is joined by Bobby Brian Lewis to talk guided quail hunts in Georgia and how his dual champion Brittanies help create goodwill for purebred dogs and dog breeders generally in this very old Southern tradition. Lewis has been guiding quail hunts since he was a teenager and his dad is still guiding in his 80s. The vast plantations and preserves of Georgia are a perfect backdrop for these hunts, Lewis said. “A lot of people we take, they've go...687 – Movie Star Great Dane’s Owner Helps Educate the Public
05/19/2025
Movie Star Great Dane’s Owner Helps Educate the Public
Host Laura Reeves is joined by Bev Klingensmith, breeder, owner and trainer of the canine star of the new movie, The Friend. [caption id="attachment_14029" align="alignleft" width="671"] Bev Klingensmith and Bing on set filming The Friend.[/caption] Klingensmith’s dog, Bing, CH Flighty Foto White Christmas CD RA CA DCAT TKI CGC TT, plays the part of the Harlequin Great Dane in the movie which stars Naomi Watts and Bill Murray, about a solitary writer who adopts and bonds with a Great Dane that belonged to a late...686 – How to Battle Anti Breeder Legislation Around the US
05/12/2025
How to Battle Anti Breeder Legislation Around the US
[caption id="attachment_14021" align="alignleft" width="446"] Jennifer Clark joins fanciers at an event in Washington DC.[/caption] Host Laura Reeves is joined by Jennifer Clark, AKC director of legislative outreach, to talk about legislation in Oregon and what's happening elsewhere in the country and why it matters that fanciers get involved. “For those who are not in Oregon, or may not have been following it,” Clark said, “what this bill basically said initially is that the state has to start regulating anyone who breeds and sells in the state. So if...685 – Mastitis is not Metritis is not Pyometra
05/05/2025
Mastitis is not Metritis is not Pyometra
Dr. Marty Greer joins host Laura Reeves to walk through the differentials in diagnosing possible infections in the breeding bitch, including mastitis, metritis and pyometra.
“There's a lot of reasons that postpartum bitches can run a fever. So I think it's a really good topic because when you go to the vet or if you know if you're calling for a vet appointment or you're getting to the vet, it can be a little more muddy than you think it should be.
<...684 – Purina Events Center Reopens
04/28/2025
Purina Events Center Reopens
Host Laura Reeves is joined by Angie Minges, Director of partnership marketing and events for Purina to discuss the rapid response that reopened the Purina Event Center in time for PCA. [caption id="attachment_13976" align="alignleft" width="563"] Tornado damage at Purina Farms has closed the Visitor Center, but the Events Center is open for business.[/caption] The Purina Farm and Events Center outside St. Louis, MO was hit by an EF2 tornado on March 14. The barn and visitor center were badly damaged. The events center and surrounding grounds sustained significant wind damage wiping out...683 – Own Your Digital Property with an Optimized Website
04/21/2025
Own Your Digital Property with an Optimized Website
[caption id="attachment_13813" align="alignleft" width="431"] Matt Stelter from Better Breeder Institute with one of his collie puppies.[/caption] Matt Stelter from Better Breeder Institute joins host Laura Reeves for a LIVE@5 live podcast about SEO and how to optimize your website. “Somewhere along the line, conservation dog breeders took on the mindset that they should not be marketing themselves, apparently because it's just something that for profit or commercial breeders do,” Stelter said. “However, nothing could be further from the truth. It is a limiting belief that harms our conser...682 – Akitas: Guardian Dogs of the Samurai
04/14/2025
Akitas: Guardian Dogs of the Samurai
[caption id="attachment_13805" align="alignleft" width="441"] Colleen Sullivan and one of her Sondaisa Akitas.[/caption] Colleen Sullivan joins host Laura Reeves for a Love the Breeds episodes on Akitas. The breed, one of six national monuments in Japan, was introduced to the US by Hellen Keller in 1937. Originally used as guard dogs and companions for the Samurai warriors, the breed is quiet, clean and very devoted to their owners. Sullivan notes that the breed is best for owners who are willing to be leaders in the relationship and that same sex aggression...681 – Tube Feeding: When, Why and How with Dr. Marty Greer
04/07/2025
Tube Feeding: When, Why and How with Dr. Marty Greer
Dr. Marty Greer joins host Laura Reeves for a run down of when, why and how to tube feed neonates. New born puppies who can’t or won’t nurse for whatever reason may be fed with a tube passed directly to the stomach. “I just want people to know that dying of starvation is not an option at my house,” Greer said. “Different people have different thresholds and that's my threshold, is you are not going to die of starvation.” Marty and Laura walk through the “why”s of tube feedin...680 – Canine Health Foundation Celebrates 30 years
03/31/2025
Canine Health Foundation Celebrates 30 years
Stephanie Montgomery, CEO of the AKC Canine Health Foundation, joins host Laura Reeves to catch up on what the powerful non-profit has done and continues to do for all dogs. Montgomery, an Airedale fancier, joined CHF as the CEO in 2023, but “I was able to kind of blend my passion for science and dogs and started volunteering for the Canine Health Foundation as a scientific reviewer. And then I always say I'm a failed volunteer because now I'm working here. “We are celebrating our 30th year anniversary this year, founded in 1995. And what I wa...679 – Black Russian Terrier: “The Black Pearl of Russia”
03/24/2025
Black Russian Terrier: "The Black Pearl of Russia"
[caption id="attachment_13770" align="alignright" width="354"] Emily Fagan showing one of her Black Russian Terriers.[/caption] Host Laura Reeves is joined by Emily Fagan, breeder of Black Russian Terriers, for a Love the Breeds episode talking about the “big black fluffy bearded beasts” that have become her “spirit animal.” “Like they are the Black Pearl of Russia and they really are like the hidden gem. Most people, they see them and they're like, ohh, boy, that's kind of this big black scary kind of looking dog. And they’re so stoic and re...678 – Resurrecting a Legendary Product
03/17/2025
Resurrecting a Legendary Product
Tasha Mesina, new owner of Cindra, joins host Laura Reeves to discuss resurrecting a legendary grooming product.
“I had used the brand Cindra since the beginning of time on the Belgians and I loved it,” Mesina said. “Unfortunately, Cindra closed with COVID like many things did, supply chain issues, blah, blah, you know the story that everybody has. And I missed it. I really missed it.
“And I maybe didn't realize they had closed for a hot minute until I tried to find Super Coat and then it was like why...
677 – Overcoming Obstacles by Giving Grace
03/10/2025
Overcoming Obstacles by Giving Grace
[caption id="attachment_13611" align="alignleft" width="429"] Rebecca Fletcher with her Dogo Argentino.[/caption] Rebecca Fletcher joins host Laura Reeves to talk about her journey as a service dog trainer and breeder owner handler of Dogo Argentino, while overcoming extreme obstacles after losing her leg. Fletcher, a retired Marine, started her journey by training her own Dogo Argentino as her first service dog. “Don't give up, but give yourself grace,” Fletcher said. “Grace is absolutely vital. And I wasn't very good at it. I get mad myself. You know, I train service dogs for disabl...676 – Brucellosis or CHV? Deadly Diseases for Puppies
03/03/2025
Brucellosis or CHV? Deadly Diseases for Puppies
Dr. Marty Greer joins host Laura Reeves for a Veterinary Voice topic that can be devastating for breeders and deadly for puppies. Brucellosis and CHV (Canine Herpes Virus) can both decimate a litter. “If you lose even a single puppy in a litter, have testing done on that puppy,” Greer said. “Have a necropsy done of some form at your vet clinic or at a referral center or at a reference lab, so that you find out what happened because you can't learn from it if you bury your mistakes. You can't...675 – “Each puppy is another little sketch” – Liz Hansen and Sketchbook
02/24/2025
“Each puppy is another little sketch” – Liz Hansen and Sketchbook
[caption id="attachment_13591" align="alignleft" width="300"] Liz Hansen with Seasar at WKC.[/caption] Host Laura Reeves is joined by Liz Hansen, Sketchbook Standard Schnauzers, AKC’s Breeder of the Year nominee for the working group. With a degree from the University of Minnesota in scientific illustration, Hansen named her breeding program Sketchbook. “Sketchbook came just sort of naturally from that because these are little sketches I make. Each little puppy is another little sketch,” Hansen said. “Almost 26 years ago, another breeder and I ran into a problem. We had epilepsy s...674 – Irish Wolfhounds: Soulful Gentle Giants
02/17/2025
Irish Wolfhounds: Soulful Gentle Giants
Love the Breeds returns as host Laura Reeves talks with Jamie Souza Bartlett about Irish Wolfhounds, the gentle giants of the dog world. [caption id="attachment_13583" align="alignleft" width="318"] Jamie grew up with Irish Wolfhounds with her mom, Linda Souza.[/caption] “They're just, they're soulful, they're sweet. They're the gentle giants and I was very, very fortunate to grow up with them,” Jamie says. “Wolfhounds, much like a lot of breeds, were bred for a specific purpose, which was to hunt wolves in Ireland. Eventually, the wolves became extinct in Ireland, and consequently the wo...673 – Maripi Wooldridge on How to Make Your Dog a Winner
02/10/2025
Maripi Wooldridge on How to Make Your Dog a Winner
Host Laura Reeves is joined by Maripi Wooldridge, handler of the 1995 Westminster Kennel Club Best in Show winning Scottish Terrier, Ch. Gaelforce Postscript. More recently, Maripi’s Lakeland Terrier MM won the group here in 2022. Maripi takes us through how she thinks about making a dog a winner. [caption id="attachment_13576" align="alignleft" width="468"] Maripi Wooldridge judging the 2024 Wire Fox Terrier National Specialty show.[/caption] LR: If you want your dog to always be best in show ready? Any breed, what are your three top tips? MW: Conditioning bo...672 – Lumps and Bumps: From Benign to Bad
02/03/2025
Lumps and Bumps: From Benign to Bad
Dr. Marty Greer joins host Laura Reeves for a deep dive on the various lumps and bumps we see on our dogs, from benign to bad, from histiocytomas to osteosarcoma. “Histiocytomas are really, really common. And they are really scary looking because there are these pink bumps that show up on young dogs and they come seemingly out of nowhere. It's usually on the head, neck or on the feet, the front legs. You're gonna be afraid that it's something like a mast cell tumor. And mast cell tumors are bad, te...671 – Beagles! Phenomenal Little Hounds for Families
01/27/2025
