Does your terrier or Dachshund love to dig in the dirt? Maybe he squirms his way into animal tunnels and comes out with a surprise in his mouth. What is he thinking? Well, there's a reason Dachshunds and small terriers are classified as earthdogs. Rather than trying to stop this “bad” behavior, channel the go-to-ground […]

Among the marvels of human ingenuity is the way various breeds of dog were developed, mentally and physically, to tackle specific jobs. Consider the farmer’s eternal war against rodents and other burrowing mammals that devastate grain stores, raid henhouses, tear up fields, dig away riverbanks, and carry disease. As their number-one weapon in subterranean warfare, […]

It’s good to be King. On Feb. 12, the Wire Fox Terrier Grand Champion Kingarthur Van Foliny Home was crowned Best in Show at the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, presented by Purina® Pro Plan® at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The victory was nothing if not dynastic: Wire Fox Terriers are the […]

Among the marvels of human ingenuity is the way various breeds of dog were developed, mentally and physically, to tackle specific jobs. Consider the farmer’s eternal war against rodents and other burrowing mammals that devastate grain stores, raid henhouses, tear up fields, dig away riverbanks, and carry disease. As their number-one weapon in subterranean warfare, […]

Linda Jarvis, an AKC Breeder of Merit, started breeding Airedale Terriers in 1984. A resident of New Bern, NC, Linda is a past president and current board member of the Airedale Terrier Club of America and is very active in the sport of dogs, attending seminars and judging. AKC: How did you get started in […]

The top 10 owner-handled dogs from each breed came to compete at the AKC National Owner-Handled Series Finals on December 15. After intense competition at the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canine, the Best in Show honors went to GCHG CH Lamz Strike A Pose RN CAA CGC TKN, a Bedlington Terrier known affectionately as […]

The AKC National Owner-Handled Series (NOHS) Finals Best in Show honors went to GCHG CH Lamz Strike A Pose RN CAA CGC TKN, a Bedlington Terrier known affectionately as “Vogue” owned and handled by Gabrielle Gilbeau and bred by Laurie Zembrzuski & Gabrielle Gilbeau. The 2018 NOHS Finals Best in Show winner was crowned by […]

Amanda Halsey, a hobby breeder of Toy Fox Terriers (TFTs), lives in West Central Ohio. Her dogs are bred under the kennel name DynAsty Toy Fox Terriers. She has been breeding and showing TFTs for 16 years. AKC: How did you get started in breeding dogs? Halsey: I showed horses competitively, starting around age 12, and […]

The Manchester Terrier is named after the English city where much of the breed’s early development took place. Sleek dogs who possess a terrier’s ratting instinct and the graceful contours of coursing hounds, Manchesters are spirited, bright, and athletic. They combine the streamlined grace of a coursing hound and the instincts of a fearless Rat Terrier. […]

AKC Gazette breed column, Toy Fox Terriers This talented little dog is a smart, adaptable companion. The Toy Fox Terrier, or TFT, is a truly American breed of dog. We have heard so many stories from people of all ages who lovingly remember growing up with one of these devoted little clowns. Always willing to […]

Photos courtesy of Wavemaker Staffords Lynn and Jim Caswell of Grayson, Ga., own, show, and breed Staffordshire Bull Terriers. They travel around the country promoting health, exercise, and the breed standard, with a focus on the total dog: temperament, structure, movement, and type. The Caswells have been involved with this breed for 14 years and […]

If you're a musician, there's the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. If you're an actor, there are the Oscars. And if you're a dog breeder, the maraschino cherry atop a lifetime of hard work is to be named an American Kennel Club Breeder of the Year. After all, anyone can have a one-hit wonder, […]

Beneath the dainty, glossy, floor-length coat of a Yorkshire Terrier beats the heart of a feisty, old-time terrier. Yorkies earned their living as ratters in mines and mills long before they became the beribboned lapdogs of Victorian ladies.

The Wire Fox Terrier breed standard says they should be “on the tip-toe of expectation at the slightest provocation.” Once a mainstay of traditional British foxhunts, today’s Wire is a handsome and amusing companion and master show dog.

Smart, confident, and always entertaining at play, the adorable West Highland White Terrier (Westie, for short) has charmed owners for over 300 years. This diminutive but sturdy earthdog is among the most popular of the small terriers.

The Welsh Terrier is as alert and spirited as any self-respecting terrier, but a bit calmer than most—“game, not quarrelsome,” as breed fanciers say. The Welshman was bred to do battle with badgers, otters, and other dangerous opponents.

A diminutive satin-coated terrier with an amusing toy-dog personality, the Toy Fox Terrier is, as breed fanciers say, “truly a toy and a terrier.” They began as barnyard ratters but are today beguiling companions with a big personality.

The Tibetan Terrier, “Holy Dog of Tibet,” is an ancient watchdog and companion long associated with Buddhist monasteries. A profusely coated, small-to-medium-sized dog with “snowshoe” feet, this breed is affectionate, sensitive, and clever.

The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is a lively, friendly, affectionate dog with his family but can be somewhat of a one-person dog. With his strong protective nature and well-developed pack instincts, the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier gets along well with children (when raised with them), cats, and other dogs. He is a bold, tenacious hunter with seemingly unlimited energy whose […]

From his brawling past, the muscular but agile Staffordshire Bull Terrier retains the traits of courage and tenacity. Happily, good breeding transformed this former gladiator into a mild, playful companion with a special feel for kids.