If a leprechaun decided to disguise himself as a dog, chances are he would choose the Kerry Blue Terrier. Like the leprechaun, these joyful, full-of-life, and mischievous dogs are from Ireland, and it’s often said their hearts are sprinkled with Irish humor. The Kerry Blue Terrier is known as the Irish Blue Terrier in its […]

Imagine, for a minute, you are involved in dog sports, and your four-legged partner is tightly connected to your left side throughout one exercise after another. Can you envision the challenges facing you in one venue after another if your field of vision in your left eye is less than 10 degrees to almost nothing, […]

Mark Daniels and Aura after he was awarded a Purple Heart for his service in Afghanistan in 2013. Credit: CherryBlossoms Photography.   “What oxygen is to the lungs, such is hope to the meaning of life.” -- Emil Brunner, Swiss theologian Hope has been an important ingredient in the lives of San Diego-based Marine Staff […]

Make no mistake about it, dog sport competitors are no different than finely tuned human athletes. These dogs long to get in the ring and give it their best, while performing in concert with their handlers. In the process, doggy dynamics are accented with plenty of psychological gymnastics. If ever there was a prototype for […]

She radiates joy, but it’s her fighting spirit that defines the heart of a 13-week-old German Wirehaired Pointer that is about to embark on a coast-to-coast flight to a new home. Appropriately, Joy is her name. And, adds her breeder, Laura Reeves, of Grants Pass, Ore., “This is the case of the right dog at […]

By now, I’m certain you’re sick of presidential politics and want this election to be over. Enter a welcome distraction: "Secret Service Dogs: The Heroes Who Protect the President of the United States" by Maria Goodavage, a New York Times bestseller. This insightful read serves up plenty of brief, punchy slices of dog life that […]

A special needs cheer team from Northeast Ohio has an extra special member joining their routines. The newest team member is Cyclone, a Golden Retriever who is a service dog for one of the cheerleaders. Cyclone helps 7-year-old Harrison Chmura, who is non-verbal, stay focused. Harrison's father, John Chmura says Cyclone has been a big […]

  One of the hardest things we have to do in life is say goodbye to our dog when it's his time. It's even harder when you have to say goodbye to the dog who was not only your best friend, but your protector, serving alongside you in Afghanistan. Lance Cpl. Jeff DeYoung spent nine […]

  Harley, a Yellow Labrador Retriever, may have lost her sight, but that doesn't stop her from making a difference in the lives of all she meets. Harley and her owner, Rita Harrell, travel to Shriners Hospital for Children every week and visit patients, reports CBS News. Harley is a therapy dog, and a very […]

On January 17th, Marcia Allen of Bettendorf, Iowa collapsed in her backyard. She was suffering from a stroke and unable to get up or yell for help. Luckily for Allen, she had a doggie guardian angel watching out for her. His name is Mack and he's the Black Labrador Retriever who lives next-door to Allen. […]

As any attendee can attest to, AKC's eighth annual Meet the Breeds event was a day full of excitement, education, and of course, fun. There were big dogs, small dogs, and even cats! Piers 92 and 94 were abuzz with talks of agility, responsible pet ownership, and of course, people deciding which breed was their […]

In anticipation of the 2016 North America Diving Dogs (NADD) and AKC/Eukanuba Dock Diving National Championships, the NADD Facebook page posted this:   Could records be broken this year? We thought we'd take a look at the current records and explain a little bit about what those mean in terms of diving dog competition. As […]

When most people think of boisterous, outdoorsy dogs, they think of the larger working and sporting breeds. Dogs like Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers are popular choices for those looking for an outgoing, extroverted dog. But there are a lot of small breeds with some pretty big personalities. Not all small breeds are satisfied being […]

The American Water Spaniel was developed in the Great Lakes region of the United States, and to this day remains uncommon outside of that area. It's a rare breed, and a special one. It's extremely talented and makes a highly loyal companion. Here are some things you may not have known about the American Water […]

The Spinone Italiano has always been near and dear to Italy, but only made a splash in the United States recently. If you haven't yet had a chance to get to know the breed, here are six interesting facts about the Spinone: 1. They Are Among the World's Oldest Hunting Dogs Until recently, the Spinone […]

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, also known as Korthals griffon, is a very rare breed, but it has seemingly endless talents. Here are some interesting facts about the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. 1. The Breed Was Inspired By Mendel's Research OK, so there's no definitive proof that the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon was inspired by scientist Gregor Mendel's research, […]

  Basic training and obedience are essential to having a happy and healthy dog. Not only does training help to correct unwanted behavior, it also helps to build the very special bond between owner and canine. We got to witness some incredible dogs perform their assigned tasks with precision in the AKC Obedience Classic and […]

  Any dog lover will say that life just seems better with a dog. Dogs keep us company, entertain us, comfort us, protect us, and seem to make life fuller and more complete. Who else is as happy to see you when you come home or is willing to binge-watch TV with you on a […]

The Labrador Retriever is the most popular dog in the United States, and for good reason. His physical capabilities and outgoing, eager-to-please temperament make him an ideal family pet and sporting dog. Contrary to his name, the Labrador Retriever doesn't come from Labrador, but from Newfoundland. There, it is thought, small water dogs were bred […]

  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 […]

U.S. goalball team member Jen Armbruster is ready for the 2016 Paralympics in Rio. The six-time Paralympian is decorated with a gold medal from the 2008 games in Beijing, a silver from Athens in 2004, and a bronze from Atlanta in 1996. She hopes to take home another medal in her last Paralympics, where she […]

Growing up with a Golden Retriever, I remember hearing people explain that the black spot on his tongue was the result of Chow Chow bloodlines somewhere in his breeding. Like most kids, I believed what I heard, but it turns out that black spots on a dog’s tongue have a much simpler explanation than an […]

Once again, the Labrador Retriever took Dallas’ top spot in the American Kennel Club’s (AKC®) 2016 ranking of the most popular AKC-recognized dog breeds in the U.S. The Labrador Retriever was also recognized as the #1 pup in Chicago, Austin, and Raleigh, among others. Yorkshire Terriers fell drastically in popularity this year in Dallas. The […]

Once again, the Labrador Retriever took Boston’s top spot in the American Kennel Club’s (AKC®) 2016 ranking of the most popular AKC-recognized dog breeds in the U.S. The Labrador Retriever was also recognized as the #1 pup in Raleigh, Houston, and Atlanta, among others. There were quite a few shifts and changes among Boston’s most […]

Once again, the Labrador Retriever took Washington, D.C.’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 Dallas, Chicago, and Portland. Shakeups were evident in Washington, D.C.’s top 10 most popular breeds. The Golden Retriever jumped from 9th […]

Once again, the Labrador Retriever took Atlanta’s top spot in the 2016 ranking of the most popular AKC-recognized dog breeds in the U.S. The Labrador Retriever was also recognized as the #1 pup in Denver, Boston, and Seattle, among others. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have climbed the ranks in Atlanta, increasing from eighth to fifth. Boxers, […]

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 […]

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 Chicago’s top spot in the American Kennel Club’s (AKC®) 2016 ranking of the most popular AKC-recognized dog breeds in the U.S. The Labrador Retriever was also recognized as the #1 pup in Washington, D.C., Seattle, and Boston, among others. The Labrador Retriever held strongly to the #1 spot in Chicago, […]