Big dogs equal big love and loyalty. Here are the large dog breeds that earn their place at the top of the size chart. Most people will know the Great Dane but what about the lovely Leonberger? When considering getting a dog, size is a factor, but only one of them. The dog’s personality, activity […]

We all know dogs we describe as amusing, entertaining, or downright hilarious. Dogs can make us laugh. But do the dogs, themselves, have a sense of humor? Do they know they’re being funny? Do canines find things amusing? Do dogs laugh, and if so, what makes them laugh? Is playfulness the same as a sense […]

If you believe your dog is suffering from symptoms of bloat, call your vet or emergency vet immediately. I hate this disease. When I first started as a vet, we gave a dog with bloat a 50-50 chance if he could walk into the hospital. Many were too weak and had to be carried in. […]

Hypothyroidism in dogs is common endocrine disease. It can be tricky to diagnose and needs lifelong management, but it is relatively easy to treat.

Dog books for kids remain staples of school reading lists. Here are 13 of the best children's classics featuring dogs.

Dog owners are nothing if not fickle in their tastes. Breed popularity is cyclical through the years and, too often, based on a dog’s random star turn in a movie, TV commercial, or YouTube video (with little research done on the breed’s exercise and grooming needs.) What Happened to Afghan Hounds? Most people are surprised […]

San Francisco junior handler Tatum Bartlett wins ANC Best Junior with her PBGV, Spotify.

A plethora of canine DNA health tests and genetic testing providers are on the market today, and it can be difficult for breeders to determine which tests are applicable and useful. Tests vary from one single test for a specific genetic variant related to a disease to multiplex panels that provide results for hundreds of […]

Susan Kustrup, owner of Tallie Farms Beagles in Manahawkin, NJ, has lived in New Jersey all her life. She is an AKC Breeder of Merit, having bred and shown dogs since 1977, and has bred and shown Tallie Farms Beagles for the past 15 years. She is a past board member of the Central New Jersey Hound Association.   AKC: How did you get started in breeding dogs? Susan: I started […]

Even though we give our dog a name, many times we also give them a nickname, as well. "Sammy" gets shortened to "Sam," for example. Similarly, Labrador Retrievers are often called Labs, just as Golden Retrievers are called "Goldens." But did you know that some breeds have special nicknames? These nicknames were crafted especially for […]