The American Kennel Club is the world's largest registry of purebred dogs, and uses these statistics to rank the most popular breeds — and the rarest breeds. The numbers are in: these are the rarest dog breeds according to AKC registration statistics. In 2025, 202 total breeds were counted in the registration statistics. In 2026, […]

For the first three to four weeks of puppies’ lives, meal time is not a hard job for breeders. But once those puppy teeth erupt, many Moms avoid nursing, plus growing puppies need more nutrition. Breeders must decide when to start weaning litters and what to feed them during the transition from Mom’s milk to […]

In November 2015, a 2-ounce Cocker Spaniel named Jordi was born. Her breeder, Kathy Korab, was not only shocked by her small size but by her leg as well. Her front right leg was deformed, folded in toward her body. On top of that, the mother had rejected the entire litter and all three puppies needed to […]

  Purebred dogs are purpose-bred dogs and come in all shapes and sizes. The characteristics that make each of these dogs unique also help them perform the function for which they were bred. The physical appearance of the dogs illustrates this, and is also an important part of the breed’s history. For example, the thick […]

Do you suspect your dog is having vision trouble? Perhaps they're nervous in dimly lit spaces or bumping into things in unfamiliar environments. Although many conditions could be responsible for your dog's vision loss, one possible cause is progressive retinal atrophy, also known as PRA. This is a genetic disease of the retina in the […]

[caption id="attachment_113469" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Skinner in the lab[/caption] This blog is designed to be used as a resource. We have categorized the posts so that you can review what is important to you. Here are some past posts that I hope everyone considers every time they work with their dog. The most important blog posts […]

[caption id="attachment_113469" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Skinner in the lab[/caption] This blog is designed to be used as a resource. We have categorized the posts so that you can review what is important to you. Here are some past posts that I hope everyone considers every time they work with their dog. The most important blog posts […]

The AKC board of Directors formed the AKC Detection Dog Task Force in 2016 to explore and implement solutions to the shortage of American-bred explosives detection dogs. Currently, the demand for US-bred and born detection dogs far exceeds available supply, while reliance on foreign-bred sources introduces many risks. The US government currently purchases 80-90% of […]

Emberly CA RATS DM owned by Kathryn Smiley of Kingsport, TN Emberly is a mixed-breed dog also known by Kathryn as “The Very Rare Spotted Dog.” Kathryn first met Emberly as an 8-week-old puppy at Young Williams Animal Shelter in Knoxville, TN, and says “our futures changed forever. With her heart, stamina, and a boundless […]

Sheila Dempsey of West Virginia, owner and trainer of multi-talented All-American Dog - He's A PatchWork Puppy CD BN GN RAE OAP OJP OFP (also known as Patches) tells us how to teach your dog to Back Up – one of the exercises required at the AKC Rally Excellent level and one that many Rally […]