Betty Garvin Seminars

The Dalmatian Club of America Foundation has established the Betty Garvin Memorial Speaker Series that features a prominent speaker at the annual National Specialty Show of the DCA. 

The goal is to attract renowned and relevant speakers to provide a valuable educational opportunity to those who attend the National. The yearly honoree will be selected by a small committee of members of the Boards of Directors of the Dalmatian Club of America and the Dalmatian Club of America Foundation.

Betty Garvin was a long-time friend of the Dalmatian breed. She served on the Board of Directors and as Secretary of the Dalmatian Club of America. She was one of the first female delegates to the American Kennel Club where she served for many years. She attended 40 consecutive DCA Specialties, and her family’s Korcula Kennels, Reg. produced some of the top winners and producers in the breed.

2023 DCA National Betty Garvin Memorial Speaker

The speaker for this year’s Betty Garvin Memorial Seminar Series at the DCA National is Cindy Smith, DVM, speaking on Stud Dog Management. Dr. Smith earned her degree from Washington State University in 1987. Her interest in small animal reproductive care began to flourish, which prompted her to begin practicing Small Animal Reproductive Medicine exclusively in 1993.  She is a Member of the Society for Theriogenology (since 2000) and a regular attendee to educational conferences on the topic of canine reproduction.  Dr. Smith has extensive personal experience with canine breeding and showing, which allows her to relate on a personal level with her clients. She bred and showed Maltese dogs for 25 years.

Her talk will be given on, Sunday, May 7 at 7 PM at the Cowlitz County Event Center in Longview, Washington

See everyone there!

Charlie Garvin
DCA President

Betty Garvin, Korcula Kennels, Reg.
March 19, 1920 ~ April 28, 2006

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This tradition honoring Betty Garvin, has continued each year at the National Specialty since 2007:
  • 2022 - Jennifer MacLeay, MBA, DVM, PhD, DACVIM - Chief Scientific Officer, Canine Health Foundation. “Update on Dalmatian Research”
  • 2021 - Bill Shelton: “Preservation of Purposely Bred Dogs.”
  • 2020 – No National Specialty was held due to COVID-19
  • 2019 - Jessica Hokamp, DVM, PhD, from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary medicine: Kidney Diseases in Dalmatians
  • 2018 ~ Dr David Twedt, DVM, DACVIM, Professor, Colorado State University: Copper Storage Disease in the Dalmatian
  • 2017 ~ Jason Gagne, DVM, DACVN, Nestle Purina PetCare: "Nutritional Management of Canine Epilepsy and Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome."
  • 2016 ~ Micah Halpern, PhD, Principal Scientist, GenSol Diagnostics. “Dalmatians, Dogs, and DNA
  • 2015 ~ Robert Hutchison, DVM, Animal Clinic Northview. “Improving the Odds of Having Healthy Puppies”
  • 2014 ~ David Waters, DVM PhD: "Whole Organism Thinking: The Challenge of Successful Aging and Cancer Avoidance in a U-Shaped World"
  • 2012 ~ Kirk Esmond, DVM: "I Want Puppies"
  • 2011 ~ Tim Robbins: "Following The Dalmatian Standard Around the World: 1905 - 2011"
  • 2010 ~ Terry Warren, CEO: AKC Canine Health Foundation
  • 2009~ Eddie Dziuk, CEO of Orthopedic Foundation for Animals(OFA): "CHIC, OFA, Dalmatians and Health Testing."
  • 2008 ~ Keith Murphy PhD: "A Tale of Canine Genetics: A Dog's Life is Getting Better All the Time"
  • 2007 ~ Danika Bannasch DVM PhD, Suzy Hughes DVM, & Mary-Lynn Jensen PhD: "A Seminar On Dalmatian Urate Stones"
Supporting Documentation from the Seminars
  1. DCA 2018: Copper Storage Disease Presentation (Slide PDF) by Dr Twedt – DCA National Specialty, May 2018

2. DCA 2014: “Whole Organism Thinking: The Challenge of Successful Aging and Cancer Avoidance in a U-Shaped World” ~ David Waters, DVM PhD

David Waters, DVM PhD. was the featured speaker at the 2014 National Specialty’s Betty Garvin Seminar with a talk titled: “Whole Organism Thinking: The Challenge of Successful Aging and Cancer Avoidance in a U-Shaped World.” Dr. Waters is well known for his studies on canine longevity, and the. Old Grey Muzzle Tour. His research has revolutionized thinking about the long-term effects of spaying. See A Healthier Respect For Ovaries Read Dr. Waters recent commentary on aging research in dogs titled “Longevity in Pet Dogs: Understanding What’s Missing”, which was published in a leading European veterinary journal. See why life course perspective (LCP) and whole organism thinking (WOT) provide fresh insights into uncovering the secrets of highly successful aging.