Warrior Ancestors Many canine historians believe that huge, fierce Molossian dogs, kept by the Ancient Greeks, were brought to British shores by Phoenician traders in the sixth century BC and became the ancestors of the early mastiff-type dogs. These canine giants were used as dogs of war. Julius Caesar, in his account of the Roman […]

AKC Gazette breed column, Bearded Collies: Try something new with your dog in 2015 — there's a veritable feast of canine activities out there that he's likely to enjoy. I recently spent a pleasant afternoon cruising on Lake Ontario in a sailboat owned by friends who have two Bearded Collies of my breeding. The Beardies, […]

By Allan Reznik   By Allan Reznik (Reprinted with permission from Dogs in Review and author Allan Reznik, from the November 2014 issue of Dogs in Review magazine. People get into a new breed for all kinds of reasons: the need to downsize, a desire for less grooming, a thirst for greater challenges, even the search […]

Successful breeders know the strengths and weaknesses of each of their dogs. Pedigrees, when properly analyzed, can provide a roadmap of those positive and negative features. Computerized databases have made it easier to analyze pedigrees and to store and retrieve information, but breeders still must do their homework. Understanding a pedigree is more than simply […]

ASK AKC  Dear AKC: My question regards breeding. I have a young male Beagle, about a year and a half, and I'd like to breed him with another beagle. I am told by my veterinarian, who has bred beagles extensively in the past that it is next to impossible for a breeder to accept my dog […]

Doberman Pinscher Club of America National is a time when the Doberman family unites to celebrate our breed. Here are some highlights of our 2014 event. It was a whirlwind week of shows, parties, meetings, seminars, and shopping for everything Doberman. Here are some of the highlights. The event area was ready for the “showdown in the heartland.” Decorating […]

If you’ve landed on this page, you probably already know that the lovable Beagle is an irresistible pet. But these merry little hounds with the shoe-button eyes and melodious bark weren’t bred to be just the perfect companion hound. Here, five dog experts, past and present, explain the original working function of the breed and how […]

  Finishing touches are being applied to Monroe County Fairgrounds; Monroe, Michigan for the annual dog show, hosted this July holiday weekend by Ann Arbor Kennel Club. From Friday July 3rd through Sunday 5th more than two thousand dogs will compete in Conformation, Rally, Obedience and Barn Hunt. For the first time ever, Dock Diving […]

For purposes of imposing a consistent format at dog shows, the AKC family of breeds is divided into seven groups. The hounds, terriers, and toy dogs each have their own group. The herding dogs that move livestock are grouped together, and so are the big working dogs that pull, protect, patrol, and do other heavy work. Likewise, sporting dogs, […]

New York, NY – The American Kennel Club (AKC®) is pleased to announce the appointments of Mari-Beth O’Neill to Vice President of Sports Services and Keith Frazier to Vice President of Optimization and Support Services. “Through their years of dedication and demonstrated leadership they have helped us make strides in the sport and support services […]

As a dog trainer and an instructor for puppy socialization classes, I can’t help but notice that almost all of the purebred puppies I see (and many popular purposely-bred mixes) are not from good local breeders but were purchased through the Internet. It’s actually quite astonishing: On a whim, anyone can Google a breed, click […]

By: Mike Bothwell  A Cocker Spaniel Club of Georgia member shares his experience in taking part in the club's hunt test in December.   The air is crisp and the sky is a rich blue with stars on one horizon and the sun trying to rise on the other. Trees and hedgerows line fields that […]

With the Westminster Kennel Club dog show recently on TV, it inevitably stirs debate about purebred dogs. These days, a vocal segment of the population detests purebred dogs and their breeders. Whether this is a class issue, a generational issue, politics, or something else, it's hard to say, but it goes far beyond the facts […]

The Maine Golden Retriever Club has announced its selection of Claire Caro of Elizabeth, Colorado as the club’s 2016 Honorary Member.  Ms. Caro currently serves as Secretary of the Golden Retriever Club of America (GRCA).  She is a Life Member of GRCA and formerly served as the organization’s Treasurer for many years. “As GRCA’s New […]

For 54-year-old Army veteran Rob Shaw life is a rollercoaster of psychological turbulence triggered by PTSD, severe depression, and anxiety disorder. In other words, there is plenty of bite behind the bark. For the past three years, a dose of Pepper has been the best prescription medicine in his attempt to overcome the challenges, all […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC) is proud to announce the winners of the 2017 AKC® Lifetime Achievement Awards: Patricia W. Laurans (Conformation), Elizabeth (Tibby) Chase (Companion Events) and Jim Campbell (Performance). The Awards, created by AKC President Dennis Sprung, are presented in recognition of exceptional participation and achievement within the dog fancy. The finalists and […]

  Many people get involved in the dog world because they grew up around conformation, or competed in Juniors, or a family member or friend convinced them to try it out. But ultimately, it doesn't matter how you get involved, everyone is welcome and it's never too late to start. We had the opportunity to […]

Fidelio means faithful in Italian. In English, it’s Fido. And, oh, how appropriate that tag has proven to be for this 6½-year-old, 75-pound Bergamasco show dog. No flash and flair here. More substance and survival. Remember sportscaster Al Michaels’ terrific call in the waning moments of the U.S. hockey team’s epic win over the Soviet […]

Leo Roar gives his best friend some loving. Their love affair is mutual and seemingly nonstop. Tiny road warrior Mara Rose attended her second American Kennel Club National Championship last month in Orlando, Fla. But there was a big difference and an entirely new perspective for her this time around. In 2015, she was still […]

With a registered name like DC Jewels Peridot & Pearls MLC SAR-W, the dog you'd expect to see might be a prissy homebody that lavishes attention on people and strolls about in elegant attire. Not this little blonde dynamo, believed to be the first of her breed to earn an AKC search and rescue (SAR) […]