Spaniels go back to at least the 14th century, but their ancestry may be even older. As of 2025, the AKC recognizes 15 types of spaniel breeds.

This is an excerpt from Bo Bengtson’s 1994 AKC Gazette profile of photographer Joan Ludwig, who reigned for a half century as the acknowledged West Coast master of canine photography: If it’s true that a picture is worth more than a thousand words, then Joan Ludwig has spoken more to the dog fancy than almost […]

Based on American Kennel Club registration statistics, we rank the most popular dog breeds in America each year. The French Bulldog takes the No. 1 spot!

A sweet, calm nature, and a soft expression with distinctive markings on the coat and face, contribute to the majestic Bernese Mountain Dog's popularity. But this breed is also a hardworking farm dog, dating back in carting and drafting thousands of years.

Jean Nagle, of Jangle Havanese, has lived in the Fort Myers area of Florida since 2005. Her first breed was the Australian Shepherd, and she showed them for many years. While raising her family, she took a break from dog showing, but when her children were grown, she was ready to come back to it. […]

The Skye Terrier was used as a working dog in Scotland as early as the 1600s. Learn more about this breed's surprising history.

The Yorkshire Terrier is associated with the County of York in northern England. But the breed's roots actually go further back.

The sleek and graceful Saluki has hunted with mankind for thousands of years. Here are 10 interesting facts about the exotic Saluki.

Choosing dog brushes can be challenging. Here's what you need to know to select the right dog brush for your pet.

The American Kennel Club has released registration statistics for 2025. Who will be crowned the most popular breed?

Breed Weight Male Weight Female Affenpinschers 7-10 pounds 7-10 pounds Afghan Hounds 50-60 pounds 50-60 pounds Airedale Terriers 50-70 pounds 50-70 pounds Akitas 100-130 pounds 70-100 pounds Alaskan Malamutes 85 pounds 75 pounds American English Coonhounds 45-65 pounds 45-65 pounds American Eskimo Dogs 6-10 pounds (toy), 10-20 pounds (miniature), 25-35 pounds (standard) 6-10 pounds (toy), […]

Looking to add a Maltese to your family? Learn more about the breed and learn if the Maltese is the right breed for you.

One of the AKC’s more popular dog breeds year after year, Yorkshire Terriers offer a big personality in a tiny package. If you aren't familiar with the breed, some of these fun facts could help.

Cocker Spaniels are a good breed for families. Learn more about the breed to see if they're a good fit for you.

If you are unfamiliar with the spunky, sturdy breed known as the Havanese, you might make the mistake of thinking it is some sort of Poodle. Or, you might think it is related to the Bichon Frise. If you guessed any of these well-known breeds, you’d be on the right track, because all of them […]

"Wait, was that a Siberian Husky? Or was it an Alaskan Malamute?" Many dog breeds can be difficult to tell apart. To celebrate National Look-Alike Day, we're taking a closer look at six pairs of dogs that look remarkably similar to each other, but are actually completely different breeds. 1. Alaskan Malamute vs. Siberian Husky […]

From tenacious terriers to stunning sighthounds, learn more about the 8 AKC-recognized Irish dog breeds that hail from the Emerald Isle.

Losing that soft puppy coat is a normal part of your dog’s growth, but it can be alarming for owners. Learn what to expect about puppy coat shedding.

Frantisek Horak, the creator of the Cesky Terrier persevered through World War II and a communist revolution to create the new hunting breed.

Life may be a box of chocolates, but after you’ve nibbled enough bonbons, you know which flavor you like best. Over the past four decades, Nancy Edmunds of Travelers Rest, South Carolina, has owned quite a Whitman’s Sampler of purebreds, including Cocker Spaniels, Manchester Terriers, Whippets, Brussels Griffons, Poodles, and Afghan Hounds. But in 1985, she finally came across her forever breed: the Vizsla. After almost 30 years breeding those Hungarian […]

Most of the world's national kennel clubs recognize the Belgian Shepherd as a single breed with four distinct varieties, but AKC recognizes all four.

Bernese Mountain Dogs are active, intelligent, and loving. They can make great family dogs, but are they the right breed for you?

On a sunny morning in Walnut, California, private investigator Stephanie Hart received an urgent phone call. “Can you and your partner go on a stakeout in Tustin, California?” asked the defense attorney. “My client thinks her ex-husband is taking their son to his girlfriend’s house, and if the man’s mother or sister isn’t accompanying them […]

When Maria B. Moya was growing up, she always wanted a dog, but it wasn’t possible where her family lived. Then she got out on her own and moved to Hoboken, New Jersey. In her new town, everyone, it seemed, had a dog. Many of them were the trendy mixed-breeds, known as "Goldendoodles." Moya, who […]

There are times when it makes sense for a breeder to stamp more than just a "thumbprint" of influence on a breed. Dogs are generally thought to have descended from wolves. Kim Campbell Thornton's recent article "Looking Back to the Beginning" (AKC GAZETTE, September 1999) describes research that has determined, through DNA sequences, that the […]

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier owes its name – and arguably its continued existence – to a peripheral character in an 1815 novel.

Arguably the world’s first “fad dog,” the Maltese was a persistent motif in Roman culture. Learn more about Maltese history.

In 1977, 14-year-old Maris Sienstecker read about a pregnant blue whale dying a slow death on a whaling dock. The story upset the teenager to such an extent that she and her mother resolved to help other marine mammals avoid a similar fate. Together they founded Save the Whales. The Seaside, California organization dedicated its […]

This issue of Taking Command reviews major issues and emerging trends in legislation.  Among other developments, an increasing number of proposed laws seek to establish arbitrary dog care requirements that are not based on scientific criteria or accepted animal husbandry practices. For example, some states and communities have proposed laws that would require owners to provide dogs with “constant […]

AKC Group Standards Download AKC approved breed standards by complete group for use on any portable electronic device. Sporting Hound Working Terrier Toy Non-Sporting Herding Misc. Judges Study Guide No single written guide is ever comprehensive enough to be the only learning tool utilized in preparation for judging a new breed. We urge you to […]