By Cheri Rankin It all started when my daughter, Erin, wanted a "sled dog" for her fourth birthday (because she was enamored of sled-dog movies like Iron Will and Balto). I've been a dog lover all my life and had always had a dog growing up, but at that point we had not had a […]

“Most Popular Dog Names” is a common search term, with lists going out almost as regularly as your dog does. But we don’t usually come across ones that connect popular names to their specific breeds. Based on 2015 data sourced from members who included pet information in their profile settings on a social network called […]

By Love Banghart As you become involved with a new breed, it helps to seek out an individual who can share their knowledge and experience with you. Having a mentor is very much like having a good friend in a foreign country. They speak the language of the country. They know where to find the […]

When judging, take care that you don’t allow exaggerations to influence you. We are Americans, and many of us have a tendency when we look at a car to think that if a little chrome is good, then a lot is better! If a dog who moves alertly and with purpose is good, then an […]

AKC Gazette breed column, Chihuahuas—Don’t be in a hurry for that great one. It is far better for a breeder to move slowly toward an eventual goal by tackling one problem at a time, collecting virtues into the genotype and breeding away from faults through careful selection.We all start at the same place, but it […]

AKC Gazette breed column, Miniature Pinschers—It can take a little bit of patience before you can bring home that much-anticipated new puppy—but if you’ve chosen a good breeder, it’s worth the wait. Well, it’s done. You did the research by reading books and checking the American Kennel Club and the website of your chosen breed's […]

The Internet is full of advice on evaluating breeders, but there is almost nothing on how breeders view potential puppy buyers. Curious, I put together a questionnaire, and eleven breeders responded. Asked how they begin to weed out buyers, breeders agreed on the basics. The most critical requirement is that a buyer has the financial […]

AKC Gazette breed column: Survival of this rare terrier breed depends on getting the word out to potential owners about the Dandie's charm and personality. Everyone smiles when they see a Dandie Dinmont Terrier. They can’t help it. Whether on show grounds, sidewalks, or parks, the smiles are always there. The general public will ask, […]

AKC Gazette breed column—Our columnist for Chow Chows describes some of the ways that this smart and devoted breed makes a wonderful companion. There are many reasons for owning a Chow Chow. They are clean, quiet, beautiful, and intelligent. They are dedicated to their family and protective of each family member and the family’s belongings. Owning […]

AKC Gazette, “Times Past”—Joan Ludwig was a leading ringside photographer of the mid-20th century. She could take a routine win shot with the best of them, but what set Ludwig apart was her eye for the unexpected. Alone among her peers, she sought the offbeat, the comical, the ironic. The photo here is a classic […]