Pure Dog Talk

This Veterans Day special episode of Pure Dog Talk honors our nation's military veterans by re-examining how we support their mental health, stability and wellness after service. Host Laura Reeves is joined by Marine Corps combat veteran BJ Ganem, founder of Sierra Delta, for a timely conversation on moving beyond a victim mindset and empowering veterans through purpose-driven canine partnerships.



Injured in Iraq in 2004, BJ faced severe post-combat struggles, isolation and heavy prescription reliance. His turning point came not from an expensive fifty thousand dollar service dog, but from an untrained English Bulldog who gave him a reason to get up and take action every single day. As we honor service members this Veterans Day, BJ shares how Sierra Delta is reshaping veteran support by giving former service members the tools, training and agency needed to heal alongside their dogs.






Key Discussion Points



A Timely Veterans Day Message:Why honoring veterans means restoring their leadership, dignity and active agency rather than viewing them as broken victims.
Rethinking Veteran Service Dogs:Moving past multi-year waitlists and fifty thousand dollar cost barriers to reach the millions of living veterans who need everyday purpose and companionship.
The Sierra Delta Model:Providing thirty-five hundred dollar training grants that let veterans choose local professional trainers and set personalized goals for their dogs.
Building Daily Purpose:How rescue dogs, purebred puppies and family pets provide the structure, accountability, and connection veterans need after military service.
Inclusion Across Generations:Supporting all military veterans regardless of era, service branch or VA disability rating status.





About BJ Ganem & Sierra Delta

BJ Ganem is a Marine Corps combat veteran and the founder of Sierra Delta, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing veteran wellness through canine connection. Sierra Delta unites veterans, dog trainers, breeders, shelters, and communities to foster long-term stability and mutual support.




Resources Mentioned

Sierra Delta: https://sierradelta.com
Pure Dog Talk: https://puredogtalk.com

In this episode of Pure Dog Talk: Anatolian Tales, host Laura Reeves speaks with veteran preservation breeder Sandie King of Alaturka Kennels. Together, they break down one of the most common misunderstandings about the Anatolian Shepherd Dog: the vital distinction between a traditional guard dog and a true livestock guardian dog (LGD).



Drawing on more than 35 years of experience, Sandie explains how these ancient working guardians balance incredible physical power with remarkable gentleness around family, livestock, and vulnerable farm animals.

Welcome to the Clubhouse interview series on Pure Dog Talk, hosted by Laura Reeves as part of the Pure Dog Talk Club Partnership Program. The Clubhouse interviews feature in-depth conversations with national club leaders, breeders and longtime members to deliver authentic breed history, working realities, and reliable educational resources directly to listeners. Created to assist dog organizations with modern technical challenges, the partnership program combines featured podcast interviews with strategic digital optimization support. By providing high-authority backlinks from the Pure Dog Talk platform, the program raises a club website’s domain reputation score and boosts search engine rankings on platforms like Google. This digital visibility ensures that when prospective dog owners search for a breed, official health standards and credible parent club education rank at the top of search results instead of inaccurate online sources. Whether you represent a national breed club, an all-breed organization, or a specialized sporting group, this initiative is designed to elevate your club’s digital presence. Visit the Pure Dog Talk website today to learn more about partnership benefits and sign up your club!
KEY TALKING POINTS

Guard Dog vs. Guardian Dog:Ordinary guard dogs react with immediate aggression, while livestock guardians rely on bluffs, deep fence line deterrence, and protective composure.
Ancient Heritage:The breed combines Tibetan Mastiff muscle with Turkish Sighthound speed, giving them agility and a bite force three times that of a Pit Bull alongside a 30 MPH top speed.
Surprising Gentleness:Real-life accounts of working Anatolians helping clean newborn goats during birth and nursing stray kittens on the farm.
Training Principles:How mother dogs train three-week-old puppies to live safely with chickens, and why physical force destroys an Anatolian's working mindset.
Legacy of Moose:A look at the iconic dog who became the breed's first Grand Champion and a two-time National Specialty winner.


GUEST INFORMATION

Sandie King is the founder of Alaturka Kennels, breeding working Anatolian Shepherds since 1985 with a commitment to preserving their original Turkish heritage and working ability.

By popular demand, this episode tackles one of our most frequent listener-requested topics in purebred dog breeding: managing the infertile bitch and overcoming failed pregnancies. Host Laura Reeves is joined by renowned veterinary reproduction specialist Dr. Marty Greer to break down the science, clinical protocols, and practical steps breeders can take when a female dog fails to conceive or hold a litter.

In this deep dive, Dr. Greer details an evidence-based protocol using targeted non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to overcome common conception and uterine implantation hurdles. If you have ever struggled with a bitch missing, resorbing, or experiencing unexplained reproductive issues, this conversation provides actionable veterinary insights to help safeguard your breeding program.

Episode Highlights:
Listener-Requested Focus:Why canine infertility occurs and how breeders can work directly with their veterinarians to diagnose and treat underlying reproductive challenges.
The Post-Ovulation NSAID Protocol:How administering targeted NSAIDs on days 2, 3, and 4 post-ovulation reduces oviduct inflammation during fertilization, and how treatment on days 15, 16, and 17 supports uterine attachment during implantation. Research demonstrates this protocol can achieve up to a 50 percent pregnancy success rate in bitches with prior failures.
Uterine Recovery Windows:Why female dogs require a minimum of 4.5 to 5 months between heat cycles for complete endometrial healing before rebreeding.
Primary Causes of Infertility:Identifying the impact of cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH), uterine cysts, dietary phytoestrogens, and tick-borne diseases such as Lyme, Anaplasmosis, and Ehrlichia.
Veterinary Diagnostics:Best practices for antibiotic stewardship, pre-breeding health testing, timing optimization, and managing fertility decline in dogs over six years of age.


Resources: Access additional breeder guides, research papers, and veterinary protocols in the Pure Dog Talk library.

In this episode of Pure Dog Talk, host Laura Reeves sits down with Ed Collins, AKC Delegate for the Anatolian Shepherd Dog Club of America, to discuss what it takes to raise, socialize, and breed functional Livestock Guardian Dogs. Ed breaks down the delicate balance between natural maternal rearing and early sensory stimulation, explaining why human socialization is vital for keeping powerful working guardians safe and manageable. He also shares deep insights into Anatolian Shepherd breed standards, exploring head structure, tail sets, and the physical balance between Mastiff and Sighthound characteristics across landrace types.


Welcome to the Clubhouse interview series on Pure Dog Talk, hosted by Laura Reeves as part of the Pure Dog Talk Club Partnership Program. The Clubhouse interviews feature in-depth conversations with national club leaders, breeders and longtime members to deliver authentic breed history, working realities, and reliable educational resources directly to listeners. Created to assist dog organizations with modern technical challenges, the partnership program combines featured podcast interviews with strategic digital optimization support. By providing high-authority backlinks from the Pure Dog Talk platform, the program raises a club website’s domain reputation score and boosts search engine rankings on platforms like Google. This digital visibility ensures that when prospective dog owners search for a breed, official health standards and credible parent club education rank at the top of search results instead of inaccurate online sources. Whether you represent a national breed club, an all-breed organization, or a specialized sporting group, this initiative is designed to elevate your club’s digital presence. Visit the Pure Dog Talk website today to learn more about partnership benefits and sign up your club!

What You Will Learn in This Episode:

Early Puppy Rearing Protocols:Why the mother leads the first three weeks of life and how environmental sensory stimulation is introduced after puppies open their eyes.
Safe Livestock Introductions:Introducing seven to eight week old puppies to farm stock under strict human supervision to prevent injuries from pushy livestock.
Socialization vs. Working Instinct:Why heavy human handling and obedience training create cooperative working dogs without ruining their natural guardian instincts.
Balancing Sighthound and Mastiff Traits:Understanding how geographic landrace origins influence body style, from heavy plains types to leaner mountain dogs.
Conformation Challenges:Why head structure is one of the hardest physical traits to consistently set in a breeding line.
Ethical Breeding and Longevity:How smart breeding practices, health testing for hip and elbow dysplasia, and historic frozen semen help giant working dogs thrive past 13 years of age.

Field of Champions: Celebrating Form and Function in Purebred Dogs



Can a purebred dog excel in the conformation ring while preserving the instinct and drive to work in the field? In this episode of Pure Dog Talk, host Laura Reeves speaks with event organizer Greg Wessel to explore the revival of the historic Field of Champions.



Originally popularized across the Midwest and at landmark venues like Detroit's Cobo Hall, this reimagined special attraction shines a spotlight on the true essence of preservation breeding: form AND function. As Laura reminds us, life is far too short to hunt over an ugly dog. The Field of Champions bridges the gap between ring aesthetics and working performance, honoring purebred dogs that conform to their breed standard while proving their working capabilities in the real world.




Important Event Details and Deadlines

Event Name:Field of Champions (AKC Approved Special Attraction)
Host Club:Land O'Lincoln Golden Retriever Club, held in conjunction with the Skokie Valley Kennel Club Fall Harvest Cluster
Date and Time:Friday Evening, November 20, 2026, starting at 5:00 PM (held after the completion of the regular all-breed judging)
Location and Venue:Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E Peterson Rd, Grayslake, Illinois 60030
Event Superintendent:BaRay Event Services (BaRay Events)
Closing Date:Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Entry Platform:Online entries and official premium list available through BaRay Events
Admission:Spectators are welcome ringside with free admission to cheer on these versatile dogs





Understanding the Theme: Form AND Function

Unlike traditional conformation showcases, the Field of Champions requires dogs to possess verified working credentials before they step into the ring:

Mandatory Dual Qualification:Every entrant must hold an official AKC Conformation Championship (or a Certificate of Merit for Miscellaneous and Foundation Stock Service breeds)ANDan approved parent club or AKC working performance title.
Instinct Over Taught Drills:Qualification criteria focus on natural, breed-specific instincts rather than solely taught obedience tasks. Disciplines include hunt tests, field trials, tracking, scent work, lure coursing, Fast CAT, earthdog, herding instinct, draft and carting, water rescue, and barn hunt.
All-Breed Scope:While rooted in sporting dog history, the modern Field of Champions spans all seven AKC variety groups plus Miscellaneous and FSS breeds, recognizing that working instinct exists across the entire canine spectrum.
Preservation Focus:Spayed and neutered champions are welcomed to compete, ensuring that retired breeding stock and titled performers who represent the breed ideal can participate.
Three-Judge Best in Show Panel:The event culminates in a final evaluation by a diverse panel of judges with deep backgrounds in both physical conformation and performance work.





Connect, Enter and Learn More

Listen to more episodes and join the community at Pure Dog Talk
Download premium lists and submit entries viaBaRay Event Services