The American Kennel Club’s Pick of the Litter is a monthly podcast that covers canine pop culture, its people, and news you can use.
Join us to hear from dog owners, handlers, trainers, lovers—and their dogs—at home and in the field, at shows, and anywhere that four legs are as good as two. From canine heroes to celebrated artists, listen in on the wide world of dogs.
On this edition of Pick of the Litter, a brief history of dogs on the Titanic, in honor of the 100th anniversary of its tragic maiden voyage. Also, handler David Fitzpatrick tells us about his willful Westminster Kennel Club Best in Show champion, Pekinese Palacegarden Malachy, and why he’s made a career handling this regal ancient breed: “They’re very aristocratic, they’re dogs that you sort of have to win over. You end up doing things their way, and they oblige you and do a few things for you along the way.” Such as winning
Not all great moments happen in the ring. Journalist Glenn Plaskin got his first puppy, a cocker spaniel named Katie (after his favorite celebrity, Katherine Hepburn) relatively late in life. She was the runt of her litter, but “I looked at those long drooping ears, and that blonde hair, and knew she was the dog for me.” Plaskin was concerned about training a dog on his own, then discovered by accident that his elderly next store neighbor had recently lost her own cocker. “I knocked on her door—and my whole life changed.”
Plaskin’s book Katie Up and Down the Hall, which is coming out in paperback this May, tells the story of how Katie created an extended family in his
Plaskin isn’t the only one with a good dog story. We’ve been asking our newsletter readers and Pick of the Litter listeners to tell us about “Best in Show” moments with their dogs, and getting great responses. You’ll hear a few of them on this program, featuring a “canonized” St. Bernard, a steadfast Golden Retriever, and an uncannily intuitive Collie.