While breaking out the red, white, and blue, you should also make a few preparations to ensure your dog is safe and comfortable during the celebrations. Confirm your dog’s microchip information is up-to-date. More pets go missing on the Fourth of July than any other day of year. If your pet is microchipped, take a moment […]

As any attendee can attest to, AKC's eighth annual Meet the Breeds event was a day full of excitement, education, and of course, fun. There were big dogs, small dogs, and even cats! Piers 92 and 94 were abuzz with talks of agility, responsible pet ownership, and of course, people deciding which breed was their […]

  One of my first memories about breeding dogs is that of my father building a whelping box for our Afghan Hound, Twiggy. I can remember Dad getting two boards 8 feet long by 1 inch thick by 12 inches wide, and 8 “L” brackets. He cut the boards in half and fashioned them together […]

If a leprechaun decided to disguise himself as a dog, chances are he would choose the Kerry Blue Terrier. Like the leprechaun, these joyful, full-of-life, and mischievous dogs are from Ireland, and it’s often said their hearts are sprinkled with Irish humor. The Kerry Blue Terrier is known as the Irish Blue Terrier in its […]

The English Foxhound is a versatile hunter and member of the Hound Group. This determined scent hound can be taught to hunt almost any ground-dwelling quarry, although traditionally it was used for foxhunting and can still be found in that same role today. Here are some fun facts about this sociable field companion. 1. The […]

The Neapolitan Mastiff (also known as the Neo or Mastino) is a huge, heavy-boned dog with awe-inspiring features. These members of the Working Group are enormous, and the average male weighs 150 pounds, but the bigger the better. There is no other breed that looks quite like the Neo, and they can be distinguished from […]

The Welsh Terrier is a medium-size sturdy, compact, and rugged terrier that originated in Wales many hundreds of years ago. In fact, some claim that it is the oldest existing dog breed in the entire United Kingdom. This spirited breed has a black-and-tan-colored, wiry coat, similar to an Airedale Terrier. Dogs are mentioned in the […]

The Plott is a member of the Hound Group that specializes in hunting big game such as wild boar, mountain lions, and even bear. These courageous and athletic dogs are also excellent raccoon hunters and excel at chasing and treeing these crafty animals. The Plott is a true American breed that was developed in the […]

The understated Border Terrier (BT) may be overlooked in his plain brown coat, but there’s a lot to love about this unique little dog. He developed as a working terrier that could go to ground, as well as follow the horses on a hunt, and he is built perfectly for both jobs. For centuries, hunters […]

Cold weather and the scattering of snow bring out “the frisky” in a lot of our dogs, but some breeds thrive and even excel in frigid conditions—many of them Nordic spitz-type breeds. Here are seven reasons why these breed types are so well adapted to arctic-like weather. 1. Big or hairy paws act like snowshoes […]