Knowing the right questions to ask prospective owners helps breeders get a feel for the type of home they will provide. As breeders it’s important to make sure to provide them with the information they need (the breed’s activity level and grooming needs, for example) to accurately answer these questions. Here are 10 questions to […]

Golden Retrievers — We now have the benefit of “clearance” testing and the mapped canine genome that could help guide intelligent crossbreeding decisions and the possibility that new breeds might eventually be developed. In the 19th century, as gentleman farmers and sportsmen kept breeding records of their canines and began to exhibit the best of their […]

Careful Breeding I am writing the column this time not as an individual who is experienced in the world of purebred dogs but as a layperson who lost a beloved pet. I recently lost my Doberman Pinscher, Amber, who was a family member to us. She lived with a Bulldog, two cats, and later two grandchildren […]

Never Stop Learning.One of my tips for being successful with your passion in the sport of purebred dogs is to never stop learning. Read the AKC standard for your breed and the other breeds in your group. Know what breed-specific characteristic are essential to define them. Know why they possess those traits and how they […]

A very attractive 50-something year old woman took her seat beside me on the plane. Within a few minutes, she looked at the carry-on bag under my seat and said, "What's in the bag?" I thought it was an odd question, but I replied. "A sandwich and some books." She began to laugh. "I'm so […]

They are two words that strike dread in many hearts (and pocketbooks): tax day. And for dog breeders, there’s good reason to be cautious. Dog-related deductions and other write-offs from activities that could also be hobbies can trigger a red flag at the Internal Revenue Service. But sound business practices will make tax season easier […]

When kids go on a campaign to get a dog, they’re in it to win it. They’re not going to let up until they’re zooming around the back yard or curled up on a club chair with a furry four-legged fido. So you may come to realize that it’s time to add a canine to the […]

Maybe this column should be titled “How Not to Buy an Italian Greyhound Puppy.” There are some definite “no-no’s” when it comes to shopping for a purebred puppy of any breed, but there are actually some things that apply to IGs that might not be an issue for other breeds. The first “no no” that comes […]

Raising puppies the right way helps to ensure that they will grow up to be happy and well-adjusted companions for life. There is a lot involved in properly raising a litter of puppies. Creating a “dream doggie” who looks like and acts like his or her breed should involves both genetics and nurture. Breeder Pat […]

AKC is supporting a bill moving in the New York Senate that would make it a crime to steal a pet from an owner's or lawful custodian's private property.