Advertise on podcast: Examined and Excused: The Dog Show Podcast

What are the secrets, struggles, and hilarious moments that shape a legendary career in the show ring? In the eleventh episode of Examined and Excused: The Dog Show Podcast, Ian Lynch leads the conversation by asking Allison Alexander -his childhood idol- 20 unvarnished dog show related questions. Ian guides us through Allison's spectacular multi-decade career as a professional handler and her transition into judging. Allison shares her hard-earned advice for exhibitors, before the duo dives into some of the most bizarre, hilarious, and downright crazy dog show stories from her years on the road.

How do you get your foot in the door when the gate is locked? In episode ten of Examined and Excused, Allison and Ian dive headfirst into a serious and often frustrating roadblock in the sport: gatekeeping within the dog show community. The duo pulls back the curtain on how elite, exclusive mentalities create unnecessary barriers that impact eager newcomers, passionate breeders, and even incoming judges. Then, things get personal as Allison shares her own firsthand experiences navigating the complex world of finding a mentor for her judging career. How do we break down these barriers to protect the future of the ring?

What is it about the green carpet that makes our hearts beat a little faster? In episode nine of Examined and Excused, hosts Allison Alexander and Ian Lynch dive into the absolute magic of the crown jewel of the conformation world: the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. With the highly anticipated release of the 2027 Westminster judging panel, the dog world is buzzing with excitement. Allison and Ian break down the newly announced roster and take a trip down memory lane to look at why this show holds such a sacred place in their hearts, reminiscing about their very first times walking into the venue and capturing that unforgettable feeling of stepping onto the legendary green carpet. Allison shares her Westminster wins as a professional handler, and the thrilling behind-the-scenes stories behind it all.

In the eighth episode of Examined and Excused, hosts Allison Alexander and Ian Lynch dive into a historic moment for the canine world: the upcoming FCM Universal Championship Dog Shows in Mexico City. Joined by esteemed international judge and FCM official Gerardo Bernard, the duo pulls back the curtain on this monumental, first-of-its-kind event. Gerardo breaks down the unique logistics of the first-ever AKC-licensed all-breed conformation shows in Mexico and explains how exhibitors can navigate entering to compete for landmark Pan-American, Intercontinental, and Universal titles. Whether you are an owner-handler planning the trip across the border or a spectator looking forward to the livestream, this conversation delivers the ultimate insider playbook for a milestone FCI-AKC collaborative event that is shaping the future of international dog shows. AKC show entries (Four All-Breed shows for AKC fully recognized breeds and Breed Specialties): www.onofrio.comFCM Special attraction entries (For breeds not fully recognized by AKC): https://www.fcmentries.mx/libre/exposiciones/inscripcionexposicion/1Tournament of Champions entries (For champion dogs from any country and any breeds (fully or not recognized by AKC):  https://www.fcmentries.mx/libre/exposiciones/inscripcionexposicion/1List of breeds fully recognized by AKC: https://akc.fcm.mx/descargas/AKC-RECOGNIZED-BREEDS.pdfList of breeds not recognized of fully recognized by AKC: https://akc.fcm.mx/descargas/AKC-NOT-RECOGNIZED-BREEDS.pdf2026 Universal Championship Dog Shows information: www.akc.fcm.mxEmail for information: [email protected] Handling entries: www.onofrio.comAKC Junior Handler number request: https://images.akc.org/pdf/AEJRS3.pdfPoint Schedule applying to the dog show (Division 12): https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ScheduleofPoints-DIV12-2026.pdf

Allison and Ian pull back the curtain on some of the most dramatic and debated topics in the conformation world. In episode seven of Examined and Excused: The Dog Show Podcast, Ian shares the details -and the nerves- behind his recent decision to shave his show poodle. Then, the duo tackles a classic exhibitor debate: the pros and cons of indoor versus outdoor dog shows. Finally, things get real as Allison and Ian discuss the darker side of the sport. They share firsthand accounts of the times they witnessed dog fights and bites in the show ring, and what exhibitors can do to prevent them.

What are both owner-handlers and professional handlers fundamentally getting wrong in the show ring? In the sixth episode of Examined and Excused: The Dog Show Podcast, hosts Allison Alexander and Ian Lynch tackle the widely misunderstood concept of "type" and its impact on the sport today. Drawing from Richard G. Beauchamp’s seminal book, Solving the Mysteries of Breed Type, the duo breaks down the crucial difference between style, type and what overdone means. Finally, Allison and Ian issue a call for honest, unvarnished conversations about canine conformation to protect and better the breeds we love.

Can the dog show community learn a thing or two from our feline-loving counterparts? In the fifth episode of Examined and Excused: The Dog Show Podcast, hosts Allison Alexander and Ian Lynch dive into the surprising lessons dog fanciers can take from the cat show world. Ian opens up about the struggles of moving and the art of staging a home to hide a massive dog equipment collection. Then, Ian shares a story about meeting a top-winning Maine Coon exhibitor whose journey began with a simple Domestic Shorthair. This sparks a conversation on how cat shows successfully recruit newcomers by offering dedicated classes for household pets—creating an accessible bridge into the sport. Finally, Allison and Ian tackle the logistics of bringing more large, high-profile dog shows to Canada.

In episode four of Examined and Excused, things get personal as Allison and Ian break down their ultimate "icks" when it comes to the less glamorous side of taking care of dogs. They then dive into a historic moment for the canine world: the inaugural FCI Universal Dog Show in Mexico City, held in a groundbreaking partnership with the AKC. Is this collaborative international event the blueprint for the future, or just a lot of moving parts? Allison shares a hilarious, must-hear story involving literal cake at Crufts, and the duo gets vulnerable about the overwhelming emotions that lead to crying at the dog show. Finally, they tackle the big question: how can breeders, handlers, and clubs work together to bring massive, high-energy, celebratory dog shows back to North America?

In episode three of Examined and Excused, hosts Allison Alexander and Ian Lynch dive into the hit reality TV show, Going to the Dogs. The duo breaks down all the high-stakes canine drama from the debut episode of Going to the Dogs including Allison's own experiences as a contestant on the show. Then Allison and Ian get personal as they share their own hilarious, bizarre, and surprisingly emotional real-life experiences with professional animal communicators.

Where did all the exhibitors go? In the second episode of Examined and Excused, we take a hard look at why dog shows used to be massive, sprawling events and what has driven the recent decline in entries. More importantly, we talk about how to fix it.

Welcome to the very first episode of Examined and Excused: The Dog Show Podcast! Join hosts Allison Alexander and Ian Lynch as they dive into how they got their start in the sport and how their careers evolved over the years. In this episode, Allison shares her personal journey and transition from handling to judging, while Ian keeps it real with some hilarious and highly embarrassing stories from his early days in the ring. Plus, they tackle a serious and growing challenge facing the sport today: the distinct lack of mentorship opportunities for newcomers and how it affects the future of dog shows.