Lenore Hedemark, a 14-year-old from North Carolina, is the number-one American Hairless Terrier Junior Handler for the past two years. As an up-and-coming show photographer and active competitor, Lenore began showing dogs at 11 years old. She stepped into the ring for the first time with her aunt's ex-racing Greyhound registered with a Purebred Alternative […]

Dogdom has quite a few breeds that take their inspiration from other species: The dainty Papillon is named for its butterfly-evoking ears. The Shar-Pei is always channeling its inner hippopotamus. And a number of Asian breeds, from the Pekingese to the Tibetan Spaniel, were intentionally bred to evoke the king of beasts in miniaturized form. […]

Necessity is the mother of invention, the saying goes. And no dog illustrates that better than the Black Russian Terrier. This relatively new breed – barely two decades in the making – was developed after World War II, when Europe was divided into two geopolitical spheres: the Western bloc led by the United States and […]

A passion for terriers and dog shows led 17-year-old Royal Miller, from Pennsylvania, to become ranked as #7 Junior Handler in the Terrier group. "I never expected to be in the top 10 in my group because of COVID-19," Royal explains. "Yet there I was, winning in juniors and moving up to #7 in the […]

Great Britain has given us a large and boisterous family of dogs called the terriers. Latin buffs know “terrier” derives from “terra,” which means earth. And this scrappy bunch is born and bred to go to ground to battle critters that defend themselves tooth and nail – literally. Today, many terriers have left badger holes […]

“When Harry Met Minnie: A True Story of Love and Friendship,” by Martha Teichner. Celadon Books. $26.99. OK, admit it. When you see that book title your first thoughts turn to the popular 1989 romantic comedy, “When Harry Met Sally,” starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan. Some of the same elements are in this tender, […]

Sometimes, in the name of ideology, families get torn asunder. During the Civil War, brothers faced each other across Union and Confederate lines. After World War II, the Berlin Wall separated families, and fates. And in dogs more than a century ago, we had a similar philosophical divide between the fighting dog known as the […]

Architecture isn’t just about bricks and mortar. In the angle of a gambrel, or the carving over a doorway, we can sometimes glimpse the spirit of an age. But buildings are static things, their importance often eroded over the decades until a preservationist steps up to remind us of their historical significance. In this respect, […]

-Toy Breed Becomes 197th To Be Recognized- [caption id="attachment_120259" align="aligncenter" width="300"]             Courtesy of the Biewer Terrier Club of America and AKC[/caption] The American Kennel Club (AKC®), the world’s largest purebred dog registry and leading advocate for dogs, announced today that the Biewer Terrier has received full recognition, and is […]

In the COVID-19 era, you better be careful when uttering the word fever. But rest assured, Biewer Fever is all about smiles and plenty of engaging inquisitiveness tossed in for good measure. Welcome the Biewer (pronounced Beaver) Terrier to the American Kennel Club’s full-fledged competition family in the Toy Group. As the AKC’s 197th recognized […]

The Boston Terrier and French Bulldog are both adorable companions sharing fabulous ears and smooshy flat faces. These small and compact members of the Non-Sporting Group are both popular with city dwellers as they adapt well to an urban environment. But when you see them walking down the sidewalk, can you tell them apart? Although […]

Dogs can suffer from diabetes mellitus, which resembles Type I or insulin-dependent diabetes in humans. In this condition, the pancreas does not make any insulin, the hormone needed to move sugar from the bloodstream into the body’s cells that use it as fuel. Insulin must be given as treatment for the body to function. Since […]

Jean Tuggle and Emily Foster became friends after they each got a Black Russian Terrier from the same breeder. They lived in the same area, and a mutual love of the breed led to a partnership in a breeding program. Jean has called many places home, being from a military family (she was born in […]

One of the most famous dogs in movie history is little Toto, following Dorothy along the yellow brick road to see the wizard of Oz. Toto was played by a Cairn Terrier named Terry. You might think every little wire-haired terrier you see is a Cairn, but in fact there is a similar breed called […]

As one of the AKC’s top 10 breeds year after year, Yorkshire Terriers are popular toy dogs, offering a big personality in a tiny package. Here are six surprising facts about Yorkies and the people who love them: 1. Yorkies are called the “Tomboy Toy.” Don’t be fooled by this toy breed’s tiny stature—they are […]

Despite the word "terrier" in their name, the Boston Terrier is actually in the Non-Sporting Group and is known for being a world-class companion breed. With their large, round eyes, intelligent expression, and unique "tuxedo" coat, the Boston Terrier makes people fall in love with them at first sight. Here's what to know about this […]

Bred from the Bulldog, terrier, and more, the public was fascinated with the Bull Terrier, a good-natured dog that wasn’t spoiling for a fight.

English novelists of centuries past gave us timeless characters who hopscotched from the printed page into our cultural consciousness, from Daniel DeFoe’s “Robinson Crusoe” to Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein.” And in the dog world, there is one exceedingly rare terrier that owes its name – and arguably its continued existence – to a peripheral character in […]

Getting ready to welcome a Yorkshire Terrier puppy into your home for the first time? Be prepared for that high Terrier energy and many important firsts in your young dog's initial weeks, months, and year of life. One of the most beloved and famous breeds of the toy group, Yorkies—known for their diminutive stature—require extra […]

Heroism during wartime can propel an average Joe into the spotlight. Just ask the Airedale Terrier. Called the “King of Terriers” because he is the largest in that family of earth dogs, the Airedale is believed to be the result of crossing various terriers with another British original, the Otterhound. That shaggy-haired hound contributed not […]

Taylor Schwartz, of Lakeville, Minnesota, partners with Belfox and Misty Hollow Smooth Fox Terriers to both breed and show. She got her start in the breed when she was asked to show a puppy. That puppy eventually came home with her, and “the rest is history,” Taylor said. “I have been fortunate to partner with Terri […]

With a true terrier temperament, Welsh Terriers are friendly and feisty, and can have a knack for trouble. Learn more about this black and tan breed.

Who's the best puppy? More than 1,300 puppies later, we have an answer. Hundreds of puppies and junior dogs ages six months to 18 months competed for AKC Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy of the Year on Friday, December 13. Only one came out on top: "Pierce" the Wire Fox Terrier. Fleet St Forged At Hampton Court […]

Fleet St Forged At Hampton Court, a Wire Fox Terrier known as “Pierce” triumphed over more than 1,300 dogs ages six months to 18 months to become the AKC Royal Canin National All-Breed Junior of the Year, held today in Orlando, Fla in conjunction with the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin. “Pierce,” owned […]

Barbara Miller of Glen Head, New York, is synonymous with Norfolk Terriers. And not just those from her top-winning Max-Well Kennel. The 2007 AKC Breeder of the Year (and 2002 AKC Terrier Breeder of the Year), Miller was the president of the parent club when her breed amicably split in 1979, creating the drop-eared Norfolk Terrier and the prick-eared Norwich Terrier. However, her earliest years in […]

The popular Yorkshire Terrier or 'Yorkie' is often confused with the rarer Silky Terrier or 'Silky,' a breed for which it played a part in the development.

Kathy Wakefield, from Tualatin, Oregon, grew up with two Rat Terriers — Kelly and Turbo. They were her best friends and learned every trick quickly and willingly. As an adult, Kathy decided it was the right time to get her own dog. She met a few different breeds, but they didn't feel like the right […]

Leaping over a broad jump, hopping through a hoop, and digging furiously underground to find rats. Add in a sniff-out session, some snappy switchbacks around poles, and a 100-yard dash in tizzy time and it looks like a dog in supersonic shenanigans. If this sounds like a flashy, popular breed who always stands in the […]