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 you've ever seen a Dock Diving event, it's certainly an experience you won't forget. But did you know that Dock Diving is a relatively new dog sport? The sport was officially recognized by the AKC in 2014 and since then, over 6,000 dogs have jumped on in. We got a special inside look […]

The first thing to know about the Spanish Water Dog is that he is not really a water dog. Unlike the Irish Water Spaniel or American Water Spaniel, the Spanish Water Dog (SWD) is in the herding group, not the sporting group. Yes, he will work in water, but this ancient breed was developed to […]

  AKC Breeder Spotlight: Jennifer Young-Hopkins of Y-Farms Kennels Each month, the American Kennel Club (AKC) profiles breeders to hear about how they got started, their breeding program, and their experience with AKC Marketplace. We recently spoke with AKC Breeder of Merit Jennifer Young-Hopkins of Y-Farms Kennels in Zachary, La. Here, she answers questions about […]

BREED 2015 2014 2013 Retrievers (Labrador) 1 1 1 German Shepherd Dogs 2 2 2 Retrievers (Golden) 3 3 3 Bulldogs 4 4 5 Beagles 5 5 4 French Bulldogs 6 9 11 Yorkshire Terriers 7 6 6 Poodles 8 7 8 Rottweilers 9 10 9 Boxers 10 8 7 Pointers (German Shorthaired) 11 12 […]

Once again, the Labrador Retriever took Seattle’s top spot in the 2016 ranking of the most popular AKC-recognized dog breeds in the U.S. The Lab was also recognized as the #1 pup in Raleigh, Washington, D.C., and Dallas. The big movers and shaker in Seattle for 2016 was the Havanese, jumping from 12th to 5th, […]

Once again, the Labrador Retriever took Raleigh’s top spot in the 2016 ranking of the most popular AKC-recognized dog breeds in the U.S. The Lab was also recognized as the #1 pup in Houston, Kansas City, and Denver. The Havanese was a big mover and shaker in Raleigh, breaking into the top 10 at number […]

This year, the German Shepherd Dog took Miami’s top spot in the 2016 ranking of the most popular AKC-recognized dog breeds in the U.S. The German Shepherd Dog was also recognized as the #1 pup in Detroit and Albany (NY). The German Shepherd Dog took the top spot back from the French Bulldog this year, […]

Once again, the French Bulldog took San Francisco’s top spot in the 2016 ranking of the most popular AKC-recognized dog breeds in the U.S. The French Bulldog was also recognized as the #1 pup in New York City and West Palm Beach. New to San Francisco’s top 10 in 2016 was the Cavalier King Charles […]

Once again, the French Bulldog took New York City’s top spot in the 2016 ranking of the most popular AKC-recognized dog breeds in the U.S. The French Bulldog was also recognized as the #1 pup in San Fransisco, Honolulu, and West Palm Beach. The Labrador Retriever was NYC’s 2nd most popular dog, which ended the […]

Gracie's owner works at the bank and brings her along each day; she has become somewhat of an honorary greeter.  She has even developed her very own, lucrative—in treats, of course—business card retrieval business which has lead to internet stardom. Check out Gracie making a withdrawal from her own cookie-savings account.   .video-container { position: relative; […]

  With their active, friendly, and outgoing personality, it's no wonder Labrador Retrievers have been the AKC's most popular breed for 26 years in a row. The Lab is gentle, intelligent, and easy to train. They are excellent guide dogs, loyal members of search-and-rescue teams, and faithful K-9 owners. They're also perfect family pets and […]

Spring has arrived and, along with the welcomed warmer temperatures, comes the not-so-welcome pesky insects. This includes mosquitoes that can transmit disease to humans and pets. The Zika virus, transmitted through mosquitoes, has been in the news lately as a health concern for humans causing fever and joint pain and, of most concern for pregnant […]

Summer officially arrives next month, but hot temperatures have already hit many areas of the country. Get your kennel ready for the warm weather and assure your dogs are comfortable and avoid heat stroke even on the hottest days. Clean and service your fans and air conditioners prior to using them.   Make sure your […]

As you look down at the Best in Show judging from your seat in the nosebleed section at Madison Square Garden (or from your own couch), you might be inclined to offer your own take on which dog is worthy of the top honor at Westminster.“That pug is the cutest dog in the ring,” you […]

Polite applause and a smattering of cheers greeted Miss P as she strutted a final lap before the judge who would crown the Best in Show at Westminster.The 15-inch Beagle was clearly an underdog. The Madison Square Garden crowd loudly let it be known that their favorites were Swagger, an Old English Sheepdog, and Charlie, […]

Being selected for one of the US World Agility Teams is considered the ultimate achievement by many in the agility world. Now junior handlers who are 18 years old and younger have the same exciting opportunity. The European Open Junior (EOJ) Agility Championships will take place in Luxembourg July 13 – 16, and the 2017 […]

Coppertone, a rescue Miniature Dachshund, is already a star for her surfing prowess, but she received the national spotlight on New Year’s Day as part of the Surf Dog Float in the Rose Bowl Parade. The float, at 90 feet long and 148,000 pounds, set a Guinness World Record for the heaviest and longest float […]