Each month, the American Kennel Club (AKC) profiles breeders to hear how they got started and learn about their breeding program and experience with AKC Marketplace. We recently spoke with Cathy Lewandowski of SoftMaple Curly-Coated Retrievers in Croghan, N.Y. Lewandowski is an AKC Breeder of Merit who has produced versatile, top-winning dogs. Lewandowski's love for […]

Marie Eguro has been breeding Shetland Sheepdogs occasionally over the last 10 years.  She has trained, bred, and raised numerous Obedience trial champions, as well as numerous Best in Specialty Show winners, and Herding Group placers.  She is proud to be an AKC Breeder of Merit. Eguro talks about how going beyond the basics of […]

Responsible dog breeders work very hard to place puppies in the right homes. Here is one story of how a breeder went about matching a family to the right Beagle puppy for them.

How on earth does a breeder distinguish look-alike puppies in a litter? In breeds that are all the same color, or have only slight color variations without unique markings, it can seem impossible. To track puppies’ growth and manage care, it’s critical to be able to tell them apart from each other. AKC asked these Breeders of Merit what they do to keep track of their babies.  Oksana Fagenboym, Rocknrolla Poodles On new-born puppies, I […]

Switzerland has brought us many wonderful dog breeds, but perhaps none as popular as the large, tricolored Bernese Mountain Dog. These gorgeous and affectionate dogs are built for demanding work and are instantly recognizable for their size and beautiful markings. But there is another Swiss breed with similar looks and origin. The Greater Swiss Mountain […]

Kalamals Kennel is a family-run show kennel in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where Eric and Julie Kalamaja have been cherishing and sharing their lives with their beautiful Alaskan Malamutes since 1988. Their focus is on health, temperament, longevity and total well-being, producing happy and affectionate companions, as well as champion show dogs. AKC: […]

AKC Breeder of Merit and Bred with H.E.A.R.T. breeder Beth Lilly, owner of Safari Schipperkes, fell in love with her first Schipperke, Smokey, more than 30 years ago. At first, she was “just your average pet owner.” But with encouragement from a friend, she became a dedicated fancier and in the past 23 years has produced 38 champions and had well over 100 health tests performed on them. Smokey passed away at 19 years of age, and Beth said she still misses him.  […]

Corkey Basset Hounds is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Christiansburg, Virginia, on 10 acres of wooded land. Nancy and Dan Corkey have been breeding Basset Hounds for almost 24 years, producing a plethora of pet companions and AKC champions.  

Sophia Norman and her American Eskimo Dog 'Sailor' are competing at the AKC Rally National Championship. But Sailor is more than just a Rally partner.

Kimberly and Colin Fritzer are AKC Breeders of Merit and the owners of Windrock Greyhounds in Grand Junction, Colorado. They are originally from Wyoming and plan to return to their home state next year. The Fritzers have been breeding Greyhounds since the early 1990s, having bred Afghan Hounds before that. Kimberly, who describes herself as “just an old farm kid,” is also a livestock judge with a very critical eye when it comes to animals. She has raised more than 350 champions and […]