The Massachusetts Joint Committee on Financial Services is scheduled to consider a bill on November 10 that would protect responsible dog owners by prohibiting insurance companies that offer homeowners insurance from refusing, cancelling, or imposing an increased premium on clients due to the specific breed of dog(s) kept on the property.  Summary: Senate Bill 501, […]

The breed standard for the Maltese sums it up: “The Maltese is a toy dog covered from head to foot with a mantle of long, silky, white hair.” But words can't really convey the flashy visual drama and glamour of a Maltese in full show coat. When a stunningly groomed Maltese champion enters the show […]

Did you know that the dog who played Toto in "The Wizard of Oz" was a Cairn Terrier? Learn more about this dog, as well as more Cairn Terrier facts.

As a dog trainer and an instructor for puppy socialization classes, I can’t help but notice that almost all of the purebred puppies I see (and many popular purposely-bred mixes) are not from good local breeders but were purchased through the Internet. It’s actually quite astonishing: On a whim, anyone can Google a breed, click […]

Artificial insemination has been done for many years, but the ability to freeze semen and chill and ship semen has dramatically changed the ability to do planned breedings with incredible success. Vaginal, transcervical, and surgical inseminations are now the norm for many kennels, and it is now possible to successfully breed with semen from almost […]

Cocker Spaniels are known for their happy, friendly temperament, and the breed’s sweet personality is a big part of why it has been the favorite of many for centuries. With an ever-wagging tail, they look up at you eagerly with soulful eyes, their face framed by silky, long ears. The breed standard says the Cocker’s […]

“You might be able to fool a kiosk, but you can’t fool a canine’s nose.” Those words were spoken by Paul Nardella, CBP Assistant Port Director for the Area Port of Philadelphia, after a woman who was traveling from Athens, Greece, to Philadelphia with almost $40,000 of undeclared currency and plants was caught by a […]

The Golden Retrievers of the Maine Golden Retriever Club are getting prepped for Halloween. They hope you have a spooktacular night tomorrow!

The Wisconsin Assembly has approved a measure that would allow citizens to use reasonable force to enter a vehicle if it is believed that a person or domestic animal inside the vehicle is in imminent danger.  Under Assembly Bill 308 as passed by the Assembly, a person would be immune from civil liability for property […]

Pari’s owner Mary Ann Igoe of Blackfoot, ID, tells us the story of how the now 5-year-old Pari came into her life and became a successful competitor. Pari and I were introduced in fall 2011 when I volunteered to walk a humane society dog in need of a home at a local Mutt Strut. When […]