by Sandra MurrayReprinted from: Essential Elements, ShowSight Magazine   Reprinted from: Essential Elements, ShowSight Magazine As a youngster she had won her breed’s National Sweepstakes. Not long after that win, she finished her championship with three 5 point majors, all at large regional specialties. During her specials career she earned multiple Group placements and Best […]

  Riley peered through the tunnel, as if he were Alice about to tumble down the rabbit’s hole into Wonderland. Such a small space, such a big dog, it seemed impossible. Yet, on a bright, sunny Sunday morning in May, Riley’s trusted, well-loved human, Jay Cruz, was asking the 14-month-old Mastiff to squeeze his whole […]

Clean Eyes and Ears are Essential to Your Dog’s Health Your dog’s coat is only one part of good grooming hygiene. Eyes and ears require every bit as much attention. It’s a good habit to clean your dog’s eyes with every bath, but you shouldn’t neglect to clean any noticeable discharge from the eyes. Check […]

While you are outside tossing tennis balls to your terrier, or playing fetch with your fun-loving retriever, you should be aware that there are parasites called hookworms and roundworms that prey on dogs and puppies, and can adversely affect the health of your pet. What You Should Know About Hookworms and Roundworms As temperatures rise, so does […]

Your dog depends on you to help him stay healthy. Good dental hygiene can play an important role in keeping your dog in top form. Clean your dog's teeth and check his gums regularly. A bad tooth or gum disease could be giving your dog a lot of pain. Look for signs of discomfort and have […]

In choosing the best dogs for a breeding, skilled breeders do not look at win records as the major deciding factor. It is the pedigree and how the individual dog “fits” with the breeding program that really counts. How does the experienced breeder choose which dogs to consider pursuing as part of her breeding program? […]

We've all been there: We're walking with our dog while cooing something really embarassing (of course in a baby voice), like, "Aren't you the most handsome boy who ever lived? YES! YES, you ARE!" We don't even realize we're talking out loud or how ridiculous we sound until we see our neighbors staring at us. Oops. What […]

AKC Gazette breed column, Bearded Collies: Try something new with your dog in 2015 — there's a veritable feast of canine activities out there that he's likely to enjoy. I recently spent a pleasant afternoon cruising on Lake Ontario in a sailboat owned by friends who have two Bearded Collies of my breeding. The Beardies, […]

  Background The Conflict of Interest Committee (CIC) was appointed by the Chairman in November 2003. Its charge was to "evaluate all areas of possible conflict of interest situations within AKC and the sport. It should detail the conflict provisions now in place and make recommendations for possible modifications or further provisions if required. Its […]

Some people live by the motto "bigger is better," and it extends to their dogs too. There are many large dog breeds, each with different care and training needs. Exercise Most large dog breeds were bred for a purpose or function. Some breeds were meant to be hunters, others guard dogs. Dogs with great endurance […]