California’s Coolest ClusterOn the July 4 holiday weekend, with temperatures ranging between a high of 75 degrees and a low of 61 degrees, the El Camino Real Summerfest cluster of dog shows and obedience and rally trials made good on its promise as “California’s Coolest Cluster.” Beautiful Seaside Park in Ventura is the perfect venue for one […]

Carole Lee Richards got her first Weimaraner in 1978. She was just looking for a pet at the time, but her interest in the breed quickly grew, and eventually she bred her first litter and was competing in dog shows. Since then she has bred many champions, become an AKC judge, and handled Weimaraners in […]

With the Westminster Kennel Club dog show recently on TV, it inevitably stirs debate about purebred dogs. These days, a vocal segment of the population detests purebred dogs and their breeders. Whether this is a class issue, a generational issue, politics, or something else, it's hard to say, but it goes far beyond the facts […]

Labrador Retriever puppy. Courtesy Barra Labradors Bringing a dog into your life is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. It is a serious commitment to care for an individual who will rely on you completely—for food, shelter, health, and happiness—for a decade or more. In exchange, this puppy or adult dog […]

There is a lot to think about at Ewe-topia. Keeping focused, maintaining control and following instructor Joe Kapelos’ directions. If you’re a city dog owner like me with an energetic Velcro-mate like Maggie (a 5-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi), this 10-acre slice of heaven in Roy, Washington, southwest of Tacoma, is paradise. For Maggie, Ewe-topia is […]

Fidelio means faithful in Italian. In English, it’s Fido. And, oh, how appropriate that tag has proven to be for this 6½-year-old, 75-pound Bergamasco show dog. No flash and flair here. More substance and survival. Remember sportscaster Al Michaels’ terrific call in the waning moments of the U.S. hockey team’s epic win over the Soviet […]

Leo Roar gives his best friend some loving. Their love affair is mutual and seemingly nonstop. Tiny road warrior Mara Rose attended her second American Kennel Club National Championship last month in Orlando, Fla. But there was a big difference and an entirely new perspective for her this time around. In 2015, she was still […]

Along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail at Buzzard Rock, in Virginia, Rhetta overlooks an area she and owner Will Ransom passed through. This section of the trail gives hikers some of the best views of the highest peaks in the state. To reach this point, it is a moderate steady climb through woods and high […]

Bonnet started as Horton's Novice A dog. The pair competed successfully all the way to a UDX title. The Norwegian Elkhound survived a stroke and was "truly a hero," showing her owner "what was important in life that I did not already know" he says. While he doesn’t have an iconic Superman "S" on his […]

Step lively, stand and stay put, and allow the judge to scrutinize every inch of you. Shimmy the tail, act dignified and thoughtful, but exude enthusiasm. Such is the job of a show champion. Grand Champion Riley, a 5-year-old Clumber Spaniel bred by Sarah Beaird and Dennis FitzPatrick, is a top-10 champion who finds winning […]