In the glory days of niche publishing, it was common for just about any organization to produce a "trade publication" and provide it to their members. Yet, as the economy tightened and the growing cost of print publication became more difficult to absorb, magazines such as Dogs in Canada (DIC) were forced to rethink and redesign how they were to do business.

In the first 10 years of majority ownership of Apex Publishing, the CKC watched DIC grow. For a number of very successful years, DIC was an industry leader receiving awards from journalistic peers for both editorial and photographic work and was a leader in the market with the Dogs in Canada Annual.

As DIC gained recognition in Canada and internationally, it was concurrently becoming more costly to operate, publish and maintain our high standards of achievement. The magazine was also heavily subsidised by government grants and financially subsidised by the CKC in order to provide it as part of every CKC membership. As the unsustainable cost of production rose, the grants dwindled and it became inevitable that these circumstances would eventually force serious considerations to be undertaken. The financial impact upon the Canadian Kennel Club was weighing heavily and by September 2011, tough decisions had to be made by both the Apex and CKC Boards on the future of the magazine under the business model existing at the time.

A major regrouping has taken place since September 2011 and since January of 2012, both Apex and CKC Boards have reviewed the financial outcomes and considered how best to provide the "good things" we all associate with Dogs in Canada.

We are pleased to be in a position to have initiated a Request For Proposal (RFP) process and with great anticipation are seeking a qualified publishing partner "for production, advertising sales, editorial planning and development, design, print and circulation of the Canadian Kennel Club's Dogs in Canada magazine and Dogs Annual."

The initial and immediate rebuilding of the valuable Dogs in Canada brand has already occurred with the launch of a DIC blogsite at www.dogsincanada.com. This blogsite will be minimalist for the duration of 2012, but already has the Breeder Listings online, which are currently listed in the 2012 Dogs Annual. Top Dogs are back as well and the "unofficial" standings for Conformation have been posted and will be made official at the end of July, after a 30-day review period for point adjustment and verification. Obedience will follow next, then Agility and Field by the end of the summer! Along with these offerings, the blog site will be recalling some of the best of the past articles from the archives of Dogs in Canada magazine and Dogs Annual - and of course the Dog Blog!

It's exciting to be back and carry on the 40-year tradition of providing TOP DOG Awards to the Canadian dog fancy.

This new and manageable approach to the Dogs in Canada blogsite will be more timely, responsive and within the CKC reach and resources. It is intended to be a simplified approach for the duration of 2012 while we focus on plans and opportunities for 2013.

Follow along at www.dogsincanada.com as the long-standing tradition of Dogs in Canada moves with us into the future.