‘Best in Show’ Author Receives Dog Writer Honor

Bo Bengtson, international dog show judge, publisher, breeder, and author of the acclaimed book “Best in Show: The World of Show Dogs and Dog Shows” (Kennel Club Books, 2008), was honored not once, but twice at the 2009 Alliance of Purebred Dog Writers awards luncheon on Sunday, Feb. 8, at the legendary Sardi’s restaurant in New York City. The annual awards recognize excellence in writing about purebred dogs, the sport, and issues of interest to the fancy.

Bengtson received the 2009 Stonehenge Award, named for 19th-century dog author Stonehenge. Friend and colleague Allan Reznik, Editor-in-Chief of Dogs in Review and Editor-at-Large of DOG FANCY and Dog World magazines, presented the award, which included a donation in Bengtson’s name from APDW to Take the Lead, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to people in the sport of purebred dogs who suffer from a life-threatening or terminal illness.

Bengtson also won the Arthur Frederick Jones Award (named in memory of acclaimed purebred dog writer and longtime editor of the AKC Gazette) for best book of the year, “Best in Show.”

Among the other Arthur Frederick Jones Award winners were Amy Fernandez for her feature article “History of Grooming” (Dogs in Review) and Richard Beauchamp for his column “Understanding Fronts” (Dogs in Review).