Shoreline man honored with AKC Lifetime Achievement Award

John Cox of Shoreline has been honored by the AKC

AKC Announces Recipients of the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Awards

New York, NY – The American Kennel Club® (AKC) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2016 AKC® Lifetime Achievement Awards: Patti L. Strand (Conformation) of Portland, Oregon, John Russell (Performance) of Gainesville, Texas, and John Cox (Companion Events) of Shoreline.

The Awards, first created and awarded in 1999, are presented in recognition of exceptional participation and achievement within the dog fancy. The finalists and winners, based on nominations from AKC member clubs, have impacted the dog sport on a national level through club involvement, judging, exhibiting, breeding and teaching.

The honorees, who were selected from votes cast by AKC member clubs, will receive engraved Revere bowls on Friday, December 11, 2015 at the Delegates luncheon held in conjunction with the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in Orlando, Florida. A sterling silver Tiffany and Co. bowl, engraved with the names of all recipients past and present, is on permanent display at AKC headquarters in New York City.

Companion Events: John Cox of Shoreline, Washington

John received his first Saint Bernard, Nicklus, in 1969. This puppy went on to become the breed’s most-titled (at the time) American and Canadian Champion, as well as American and Canadian Utility Dog. Since Nicklus, John has lived with eight other Saints earning additional championships and UDTs, and a Pembroke Welsh Corgi earning a Tracking title.

He started all over again in 1998, with a Saint puppy Kris, imported from Belgium. Kris surpassed John’s other Saint’s record as the most-titled Saint Bernard Champion with 39 titles to his name (nine Master titles in Agility, UDT, TD, RAE2, DD, plus a VCD2.) His current Saint, Ms. May, completed her Bronze Grand Championship along with a BN, PCD, GN, PCDX, CDX, CGCA. She now holds the breed’s record as the most-titled Grand Champion at the different levels. All John’s dogs are owner-handled to all titles.

John started judging AKC obedience in 1978, making 2015 his 37th year of judging. Over the years he has been writing the “Dog Talk” and “Random Little Tidbits” articles for Front and Finish. It is his hope that the articles will point out to handlers where points can come off and maybe the team’s scores will go up with a better understanding of the Obedience Regulations. It is not always the dog that errors!

After 40 years of research, John has built a Saint Bernard National Archives with data on the Saint Bernard reaching back to 1879. The Archives has the names of every Saint Bernard who earned AKC titles, plus conformation/performance records, firsts of the breed, and records of the breed.