Every three weeks, Maggie Kudirka’s Pomeranians—Momma Mia and Miss Vickie—get chicken. The treat is part of a ritual Maggie has maintained since 2014, when she learned that she had metastatic breast cancer. She was 23 years old. Chemotherapy infusions every 21 days keep her alive. She has endured more than 90 sessions. “I’ve gotten used […]

The Belgian Laekenois will soon be the AKC's newest recognized breed. For an in-depth introduction to the breed, come back on July 1. Her name was Diva but nothing could have been further off the mark appearance-wise in June 2018 when a bedraggled Belgian Laekenois first set foot permanently in Sharrii Hunt’s life. Chevalric’s Darling […]

It all started about seven years ago, when Jim Moritz, a mailman from Somerdale, New Jersey, was browsing Craigslist. “It was 11:30 at night, and I saw him there,” Jim recalls. “I said, ‘Oh my gosh. He’s so cute.’ ” The face that caught his eye—and captured his heart—was Buddy, an 8-year-old Cocker Spaniel whose […]

Around the country, dogs and their humans are gearing up for the event of the year: the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin. This means rigorous training as dogs nail those jumps, weave poles, and tire jumps—all while following a diet carefully designed for peak performance. We spoke to Dr. Catherine Lenox (DVM, DACVN), […]

Nearly 1,000 puppies between six and 18 months competed to become the AKC Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy/Junior of the Year, held Dec. 11 in Orlando, Fla in conjunction with the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin. CH Nauti Leighway Send More Boodles, a Havanese known as “Boodles” triumphed over all 931 dogs. “Boodles,” […]

In the COVID-19 era, you better be careful when uttering the word fever. But rest assured, Biewer Fever is all about smiles and plenty of engaging inquisitiveness tossed in for good measure. Welcome the Biewer (pronounced Beaver) Terrier to the American Kennel Club’s full-fledged competition family in the Toy Group. As the AKC’s 197th recognized […]

Seventeen-year-old Ariella Harris was the first person in her family to show dogs. Today she's the number one Junior Handler Doberman Pinscher handler in the country. Although she might be the first dog fancier in the family, Ariella's family members are no strangers to working with animals. As a third-generation horse-woman, Ariella is proud to […]

It's kind of fitting that a dog named "Snowhill’s Zygmund Marley" is a Polski Owczarek Nizinny (PON in the United States) who answers to a name like Ziggy. Chances are, this is a breed (Polish Lowland Sheepdog) many of you have never heard of. In 2019, the breed ranked 173 out of 193 in popularity. […]

Sisters Lian Chase and Jade Chase from Peyton, Colorado, are powerful competitors in the show ring—and they're still teenagers. Lian, who is 18, got involved with showing dogs through 4-H when she was 9 years old, and began with AKC shows when she was 11. Younger sister Jade, 15, also began showing dogs through 4-H […]

Cassidy Hayes first stepped into the ring as a toddler—and this year she'll be competing at Westminster for the second time. While she still might be considered young, this 16-year-old from Indiana is already deeply committed both to the sports of purebred dogs and to making dog shows welcoming for newcomers. Family Fun "My parents […]