The digging, the barking, the chasing: Welcome to Westie world. Don’t panic. There’s no need to sign him up for couch time with an expensive Park Avenue shrink. All you have to do is take a moment to consider what has been genetically hardwired into the spunky little critter. Once you know what drives your […]

Some dogs, just like good wine, age with grace. They are sound and wise and still have some spark well into their senior years, and through their endurance they have demonstrated value to the breed There are many advantages to using a quality older male as a litter sire. Not only do you know that […]

For a lot of new dog owners, it can be difficult to determine how often you should bathe your puppy or adult dog. The truth is, the answer depends on a lot of factors. “How frequently a pet needs a bath greatly varies based upon their breed, lifestyle, length of coat, and how much homework […]

There seems to be no shortage of fun-filled adjectives to characterize the Barbet, one of two dog breeds earning full American Kennel Club recognition on January 1, 2020. For starters, try playful, quirky, goofy, clownish, and loving. According to the biggest Barbet boosters – longtime Barbet Club of America (BCA) officers – "loyal" and "smart" should […]

Every year in December (or January for a few years) since 2001, dog owners from around the world come together for the American Kennel Club National Championship presented by Royal Canin. This year, the event takes place in Orlando, Fla., with a nearly week-long series of events culminating in the Best in Show finale. Starting December […]

The Tibetan Terrier is one of many Tibetan breeds recognized by the AKC. Learn more about the breed with these Tibetan Terrier fun facts.

“My dog comes to me when we’re at home, but at the park, it’s like I’m not even there!” Could you say this about your dog? A reliable recall, or “come when called,” might be the most important thing to teach your dog. It can also be hard to teach, usually because we unwittingly sabotage […]

Originally published in the AKC Gazette. Writing in 1667, Nicholas Cox describes small land spaniels of courageous mettle, “strong, lusty and nimble rangers, of active feet, wanton tails and busy nostrils”—still a good description of the Cocker Spaniel. A less flattering description was given in 1647 by the “Witch-Finder General,” whose dubious job it was […]

As the weather improves, the flowers bloom, more COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, and new legislative successes are reported, optimism is in the air. However, there’s still plenty of challenges ahead in canine legislation. As an “off-election”, or odd-numbered year, all 50 state legislatures are in session.  And, as is commonly the case after an election, […]

Election Day 2018 is November 6. In these last days leading up to the election, candidates are vying for your vote. You may receive phone calls, visits from volunteer door knockers, or even a direct appeal from the candidate. As you walk to your polling place for early voting or on Election Day, you may […]