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U.S. Congress:
Amendment to Farm
Bill Could Threaten
AKC Events & Hunt
Training
March 31, 2026
Please share this important
information with your club members,
family and friends.
An amendment to the House Farm
Bill (HR 7567) proposed by animal
rights groups threatens the future of
AKC performance events and
recognized hunt training techniques.
Please join AKC and leading
sportsmen’s organizations in
defending responsible dog
enthusiasts, sportsmen and trainers.
Please contact your member of the
U.S. Congress and respectfully ask
Congress to remove language
derived from the “Greyhound
Protection Act of 2025” (HR 5017)
from the Farm Bill before final
passage.
For more information…
USDA Extends
Comment Period for
Public Input on
Updating Welfare
Regulations
March 19, 2026
Today, the United States Department
of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (USDA
APHIS) announced that it is
extending the period for comments
about potential updates to its dog
welfare regulations. The original
comment period was to end today,
Thursday, March 19th. The
comment period will now end on
Thursday, April 20, 2026.
APHIS is seeking comments from
the public on appropriate standards
for (1) the care of breeding female
dogs at dog breeding facilities and
(2) exercise and socialization of
dogs subject to the federal Animal
Welfare Act (AWA).
For more information…
DA APHIS Seeks
Comments on Breeding
Female Care, Exercise,
and Socialization
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Today, the United States Department
of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (USDA
APHIS) announced that it is seeking
comments from the public regarding
appropriate standards for:
•
The care of breeding female
dogs at dog breeding facilities
and,
•
Exercise and socialization of
dogs subject to the federal
Animal Welfare Act (AWA).
For more information…
All Done for 2026!
On March 27th through the 29th, 2026, Warren County Kennel Club held our annual conformation
shows at the Roberts Centre in Wilmington, Ohio. We ran eight conformation rings, along with Farm
Dog and Fetch events as well. Moreover, on Friday, again hosted one of the eight National Owner
Handler Series (NOHS) Regional events leading up to the NOHS Finals in Orlando Florida.
We will soon hold the 2027 Show Committee meetings to discuss next year’s all-breed conformation
shows. So, if you have ever thought of getting involved behind the scenes of a real dog show, you
are more than welcome and absolutely invited to join us. For more information, come to our regular
meeting where we give our regular updates.
Another Drum Roll Please…
Once again, WCKC hosted the AKC’s National Owner-Handled Series (NOHS) Regional Event.
This was a very prestigious honor for those clubs hosting these shows in preparation for the series
finals in Orlando, FL in 2026.
The NOHS show was on Friday, March 27, 2026 before our regular conformation shows. Frankly,
we couldn’t have been more pleased and proud to be the only AKC club to be honored to hold this
event twice. Sadly, we were not awarded the honor for a third year in a row.
If you’re curious as to what the NOHS is all about, [Click Here] for more information.
Dog-OH-Rama Returns in 2026
Over Friday through Monday of Labor Day weekend, WCKC in conjunction with the GSDCGC will
once again present Dog-OH-Rama and we’re just beginning the planning now. This event involves a
number of performance trials made for the novice to experienced handler. The events planned for
this year include:
•
Fast Cat
•
Dock Diving
•
Temperament Testing
•
Farm Dog
•
Fetch
•
Canine Good Citizen Testing
•
Trick Dog
This year, in the tradition of the Olympics, we will add another event. For our conformation pals in
the canine community, we will hold an AKC sanctioned B-Match. This is the one event restricted to
AKC registered purebred dogs. But, if you have one, you’re more than welcome to enter.
There will be food, fun, and frivolity for all, so keep watching our website to get all the glorious
details on this most fun and fulfilling event for both you and your dog…which doesn’t have to be a
purebred, by-the-way…!
Calling All Dog Lovers
The past few years have been tough on WCKC and the dog sport in general. While performance
events such as Agility, Fast CAT, and Rally Obedience are holding their own or growing,
Conformation numbers are dropping considerably. This includes the interest in joining dog clubs,
leading some clubs to simply close their doors.
To attempt to reverse the trend, WCKC is always looking for new members to hopefully bring new life
into our club. And we’re not just talking Conformation only. We’re open to all venues and are
licensed by AKC for Conformation, Obedience, Rally-Obedience, and Fast CAT. So, if you’re into
any of those venues…or even if you just like dogs and want to come hang out with a bunch of crazy
dog people, come join us and see what we’re all about. The meeting time and location for our next
meeting is posted on the Events page and we sure would like to see you there.
© Warren County Kennel Club of Ohio, Inc., Lebanon Ohio, All Rights Reserved!
“I see dog stories as an antidote to the dire news that nothing is ever going to get better.”
- W. Bruce Cameron, American Author
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