The Scottish Terrier is among the most recognizable of purebred dogs. It has been a mainstay of American iconography since its great wave of popularity in the 1930s, when the breed was a celebrity fad. Humphrey Bogart was a Scottie owner. So were Charles Lindbergh and Shirley Temple. Both Bette Davis and Joan Crawford were […]

It is common knowledge that Anatolian Shepherd Dogs came to America to stay in the 1950s, imported by ranchers and working-dog aficionados. And it’s even better known that the Anatolian Shepherd Dog joined the AKC Working Group in 1999. What is little known, however, is the fact that two Turkish flock-guarding dogs—thought to be Anatolians—were […]

  Looking at these ragamuffin little dogs, you have to ask yourself, why on earth would anyone consider a Löwchen? They have a funny clip, which certainly defines the breed and which we, as breeders, love—but to the general public who keep them in a typical puppy clip, they really don’t look like what people […]

On Wednesday, September 10, Elizabeth II surpassed her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria to become the longest-reigning monarch in British history—and that’s a ton of history! The 89-year-old Elizabeth set the record at 5:30 p.m. (BST) by having reigned for 23,226 days, 16 hours, and approximately 30 minutes. Around here, Elizabeth is best known as a true-blue […]

Standard Poodle Ch. Blakeen Jung Frau was from the famous line of Poodles owned by Hayes Blake Hoyt, a woman who lived the word “elegant” in and out of the show ring. Jung Frau’s breeding was impeccable. Her father was legendary Swiss import Duc, 1935’s Westminster winner. In 62 shows entered, Jung Frau won the breed […]

If I were a university professor and ventured the following opinion, I’d be stripped of my tweed jacket and PBS tote bag, denied tenure, and cast into the community-college wilderness. But seeing how I’m just a guy who works for a dog magazine, I can write this without fear of academic reprisals: One of the […]

I’m a caricaturist. I draw funny faces. That is, I draw faces funny. It’s an important distinction. Any decent draftsman can draw a funny face; a caricaturist finds the funny in a nondescript or even beautiful face. And caricaturists who aspire to a certain level of sophistication, those of the "New York School" whose dean […]

If Harry Whittier Frees were born in 1979 instead of 1879, he’d be the reigning king of dog memes and lolcats. These shots were taken 100 years ago, when the eccentric photographer’s work was going viral in the form of picture postcards. Like today’s Instagramers, Facebookers, and Photoshoppers, Frees built his fame by exploiting new […]

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 […]

It’s been almost four years since this heartbreaking photograph captured a dog refusing to leave his owner, a Navy SEAL who was killed in action. And since then, this pair has left a legacy. Jon Tumilson was one of 30 American military members killed when a Chinook helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan in August of 2011. He […]

The breed standard for the Maltese sums it up: “The Maltese is a toy dog covered from head to foot with a mantle of long, silky, white hair.” But words can't really convey the flashy visual drama and glamour of a Maltese in full show coat. When a stunningly groomed Maltese champion enters the show […]

5 Good Dog Books We Can't Even Give Away!Books arrive here at our New York offices by the bushel, sent by publishers in hopes of an AKC Family Dog review or a plug in our social media. For every book we review there are dozens more that, for reasons not always connected to their quality, […]

In the COVID-19 era, you better be careful when uttering the word fever. But rest assured, Biewer Fever is all about smiles and plenty of engaging inquisitiveness tossed in for good measure. Welcome the Biewer (pronounced Beaver) Terrier to the American Kennel Club’s full-fledged competition family in the Toy Group. As the AKC’s 197th recognized […]

Most of us can remember a special school teacher who had a profound influence on our lives during those formative years. In our lives breeding and showing dogs, a great mentor can have an equally powerful influence: teaching us, guiding us, and inspiring us. Talk to the iconic figures in our sport and they will […]

Most weekends you can find 15-year-old Sicily Coniglio from Roscoe, Illinois, at dog shows. Sicily comes from a family involved in the dog world and has been involved with dogs since she was a young child. “I was practically born in a grooming salon watching My mother groom and do seminars" Sicily explained. Her passion […]

In the fall, our thoughts naturally turn to education. This year, with so much downtime, it’s especially important to get back to basics. There are always bright and shiny distractions to tempt us… that state-of-the-art tack box, the hydraulic grooming table, the sparkly new St. John suit. Newcomers in particular might think these expensive trappings […]

Angel Warren already had two rescue dogs when she got started in her local 4-H dog program at age nine: Durango, a Miniature American Shepherd, and Aspen, a Border Collie mix. "It was my first introduction to dogdom and I was immediately intrigued," Angel remembers. This intrigue is what led Angel to get her first […]

A young family I know recently made a commitment to quality time by banning cell phones at the dinner table. It started as more of a dare than a serious lifestyle change. The husband is a marketing maven, the wife a high-powered lawyer, and the two kids own every electronic device on the market. One […]

Native New Yorkers tell it like it is, and Elliott B. Weiss — the Best in Show judge at this year’s AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin — is no exception. “I was a teenager, and I grew up without a dog,” he explains about how he got involved in the sport of purebred […]

Bonnet started as Horton's Novice A dog. The pair competed successfully all the way to a UDX title. The Norwegian Elkhound survived a stroke and was "truly a hero," showing her owner "what was important in life that I did not already know" he says. While he doesn’t have an iconic Superman "S" on his […]

The 2017 AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday, December 16, and Sunday, December 17. Entering its 17th year, the National Championship has seen many historic firsts, memorable moments, and new attractions guaranteed to keep interest high among spectators and exhibitors […]

Did you know that when a puppy buyer searches on AKC Marketplace, Breeders of Merit litter listings are the first ones they see? This is because Breeders of Merit receive special AKC Marketplace benefits. These include: Free litter listings for their qualified breed(s) Priority placement in search results Breed-Specific Breeder of Merit identification Breeder of […]

Looking to get your doggy-fix this weekend? Look no further than the Beverly Hills Dog Show presented by Purina®. With nearly 200 different dog breeds and a red carpet for the pups and their handlers to strut their stuff, this will be a competition unlike any other. The Beverly Hills Dog Show is held annually […]

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 […]

With a joyful bark and bound, Philo, a 5-year-old Samoyed, pressed his shoulders against his padded harness. Behind him, a cart loaded with gray concrete cinder blocks slowly moved forward, as his handler called out, “Work, work, work.” On that day, Philo pulled a load of more than 1,800 pounds—winning the event at Doggie U […]

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, […]

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 […]

On Tuesday, May 11, an Illinois House Committee will consider Senate Bill 153, which would provide an animal a court advocate in cases involving the health, safety, or an injury of a dog or cat. SB 153 is similar to bills introduced in other states this year, and is part of an effort to alter […]

Texas House Bill 1818, which seeks to limit most Texas pet stores from selling purpose-bred dogs, has been assigned to the Senate Business and Commerce Committee, which is expected to consider it next Tuesday, May 18th.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) and a broad coalition of interest groups strongly oppose HB 1818. With legislative deadlines […]

Having trouble deciding on a name for your hunting dog? You've come to the right place. The following list of hunting dog names should give you some inspiration. Let's start with some names inspired by hunting itself: Chase/Chaser - A great fit for tracking dogs. Scout - Also great for trackers. If you have two dogs, and you're a fan of […]