As her Golden Retriever entered the last week of pregnancy, Melody Lyons had made all the checks on her list. Like most breeders, she wanted to be ready for anything. Whelping box set up; heat lamps installed; milk replacer on the shelf. The veterinarian gave Carly a check-up and thought delivery would happen in about […]

This article originally appeared in AKC Family Dog magazine. Subscribe now! “Eat your fish—it’s brain food.” That’s what I was taught growing up. “Because, you know, fish are so smart,” I used to scoff. But it turns out that mother knew best. That magic component is a type of polyunsaturated fat, particularly the long-chain omega-3 […]

  One of my first memories about breeding dogs is that of my father building a whelping box for our Afghan Hound, Twiggy. I can remember Dad getting two boards 8 feet long by 1 inch thick by 12 inches wide, and 8 “L” brackets. He cut the boards in half and fashioned them together […]

During the holidays, Tractor Supply Company is bringing you and your pups the best in chew toys! Providing your litter with a variety of toys is a great way to enrich their playtime. Through play, puppies learn coordination, bite inhibition, and important social skills. Tractor Supply Company has you covered with every sort of play […]

Kalamals Kennel is a family-run show kennel in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where Eric and Julie Kalamaja have been cherishing and sharing their lives with their beautiful Alaskan Malamutes since 1988. Their focus is on health, temperament, longevity and total well-being, producing happy and affectionate companions, as well as champion show dogs. AKC: […]

The answer? Why not! If you live in a city or another area that doesn’t have easy access to the outdoors, paper-training is an easy and effective way to housebreak your puppy. Here's how: To start, you’ll need newspapers and an old vinyl shower curtain, or puppy training pads. Choose a room with a floor that is easily wiped clean, […]

AKC Breeder of Merit Debarah Billings hails from Bristol, Tennessee. Her breeding program and Windsong Biewer Terriers began in 2009. Her goal was and continues to be breeding for improvement as well as promoting the Biewer Terrier.   AKC: How did you get started in breeding dogs? Debarah: After retiring in 2008, I started my […]

Reputable breeders don’t just breed in the moment: They are thinking years, even decades ahead, thoughtfully breeding dogs that are typey, healthy, and sound enough to continue to benefit the breed long after they are gone. And that philosophy of paying it forward is even more satisfying when a second generation decides to plunk itself […]

How did you start breeding Old English Sheepdogs? Michaelanne: The OES was my dream dog as a young girl. When Doug and I got married, I was looking at ads for houses and there was an ad for Old English Sheepdog puppies for sale. We went to see them—just to look—and Doug purchased my first […]

I have never lived without a dog – actually multiple dogs - until I moved away to college. The last two years have made it very clear to me that once I’m finished with college, I never want to be outside of the dog circle. As a geology major, executive board member of the Geology […]