Examined and Excused: The Dog Show Podcast
A weekly podcast aimed at conformation exhibitors, breeders, and purebred dog enthusiasts. Hosts Allison Alexander, a professional handler and founder of the Leading Edge Dog Show Academy, and Ian Lynch, a veteran broadcaster, comedian, and owner-handler, take listeners behind the scenes of the dog show world. Episodes explore the realities of showing, breeding, and competing with purebred dogs, from handling and presentation to ring culture and show politics. It is part conversation, part insider guide for anyone active in or curious about conformation sport.
Episodes
For the Love of Westminster
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 I
Interview with Gerardo Bernard from FCM: The Universal Championship Dog Show
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 fi
Shaved Down and Shook Up
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 a
What Your (Dog's) Type?
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 bre
What the Cat Show People are Getting Right
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 sha
Let Them Eat Cake
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 bl
Going to the Dogs
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 emoti
Death of the Dog Show
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.
The Origin Story
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
