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 Stephanie Mazzarella has had Xoloitzcuintlis for 30 years. She and her husband live on seven acres outside of Atlanta, Georgia, and have a home in Florida as well. She has produced many AKC and international champions and trained Xolos as service dogs. Many Amoroso Xolos are also serving as therapy and […]

There are two kinds of breeders: Those who think that the history of their breed commenced with their arrival, and those who understand that they are part of a larger, grander tapestry.  John Buddie of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, is one of the latter.  A retired schoolteacher and the 2015 AKC Herding Breeder of the Year, Buddie has been rearing his Tartanside Collies for 55 years – and counting. Starting […]

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 […]

Joseph and Brenna Carlisle are AKC Breeders of Merit Bronze and AKC Bred with HEART breeders. Their kennel, Heritage Hounds, is located on about 80 acres just outside of Birmingham, Alabama. Brenna has bred and shown Standard Longhaired Dachshunds her whole life, and Joseph has bred Treeing Walker Coonhounds and competed in competition hunts with […]

AKC Breeder of Merit Kym Burch-Ryan has raised and shown Australian Shepherds since 1993. She lives on a 20-acre farm in Roxbury, Kansas. Her daughter Brandi shares her passion for the breed; she has shown Aussies since she was 8 years old. Kym’s younger daughter, Hadlei, is also now showing Aussies. AKC: How did you […]

Talk about a three-peat – just make sure you spell it with a capital “P.” A winning family trio for more than four decades, David and Pamela Peat of Scottsdale, Arizona, along with their daughter Maggie first made a name for themselves in the sport with Longhair Dachshunds. Their Pramada kennel has produced more than […]

Susan Kustrup, owner of Tallie Farms Beagles in Manahawkin, NJ, has lived in New Jersey all her life. She is an AKC Breeder of Merit, having bred and shown dogs since 1977, and has bred and shown Tallie Farms Beagles for the past 15 years. She is a past board member of the Central New Jersey Hound Association.   AKC: How did you get started in breeding dogs? Susan: I started […]

Finding a responsible breeder you trust is your first—and most important—step to finding your new best friend. Breeders are invaluable resources. Not only are they a bridge between you and your perfect dog, but you can also rely on them throughout your dog’s lifetime. Think of a breeder as your own private guide to all […]

The annual AKC Breeder of the Year award honors exceptional breeders who have made an impact on their breed and dedicated their lives to improving the health, temperament, and quality of purebred dogs. On December 14 at the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin, Elizabeth and Daniel Karshner were selected as winners of the 2019 AKC Breeder of […]

Adding a puppy to your family is a big decision that comes with lots of preparation. An interview with your prospective pup's breeder is a big part of that.

Adrienne Scott is an AKC Breeder of Merit who has realized a lifelong dream in her small hobby kennel, Prairie Crest Beaucerons, of Maysville, Missouri, devoted to preserving the centuries-old Beauceron breed. She has produced many champions and, through health testing, improving temperaments, and structure, she strives to produce the best Beaucerons possible. Adrienne has traveled […]

Most reputable breeders will require you to sign a contract before you bring your new puppy home. How do you know what's typical in a dog breeder contract?

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 […]

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.  

Barbara Lundy owns Patchwork Pet Resort in Marshall, Texas. She has traveled the world showing her champion Bedlington Terriers, but her true love is the Bichon Frise. She has spent her career caring, grooming, training, showing, boarding and breeding four-legged furry children. AKC: How did you get started in breeding dogs? Barbara: I began working with German Shepherds when I was 9 years old. My […]

–Award Presented at AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin – Gail S. Wolaniuk and Joan E. McFadden were presented with the 2020 AKC Breeder of the Year award for Unique Standard Poodles at the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin on Sunday, December 13, 2020.  The annual award honors those breeders who have […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to recognize breeding programs from the Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups as 2020 AKC Breeder of the Year group honorees. “We are proud to honor these esteemed breeders,” said Dennis Sprung, AKC President and CEO. “Each of them has made important contributions to the […]

–Award Presented at AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin – Elizabeth and Daniel Karshner were presented with the 2019 AKC Breeder of the Year award for their Little Ponds Bulldogs at the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin on Saturday, December 14, 2019.  The annual award honors those breeders who have made an […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to recognize breeding programs from the Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups as 2019 AKC Breeder of the Year group honorees. “The breeders honored with this award have made important contributions to the sport and future of purebred dogs,” said Dennis Sprung, AKC President and […]