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 […]

The 2020 AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin on Dec. 12 and 13 hosted 3,680 dogs who all competed for the coveted title of Best in Show. The competition began with each dog competing for best in their breed. Best in Group Best of Breed winners then advanced to compete in the group competitions. Each […]

​To see him now, whippy tail wagging as he greets a group of children or takes a treat from his old pals at the waterfront, it’s hard to believe that he once cowered at the sight of a human hand. To see him now, as he zips from weaves to jump, to tunnel, to tire, […]

On the day we celebrate all things American, let’s remember that dogs have played a vital role in the formation of our national character. They occupy such a special place in our hearts that some states have designated particular breeds as local treasures. Here are five AKC breeds that are official state dogs. STATE DOG […]

The owners of certain AKC breeds have come to accept that, sooner or later, they’re going to be asked some version of, “what’s the difference between the [their dog] and the [similar breed]?” It happens to owners of Norfolk and Norwich terriers; Bernese Mountain and Greater Swiss Mountain dogs; Cocker Spaniels and their British counterpart, […]

Vicktory Over Adversity Seeing Audie, tail wagging as he greeted a group of children, it was hard to believe that he once cowered at the sight of a human hand. Watching Audie, as he zipped and weaved from tunnel to tire in a noisy agility ring, it was hard to believe that he once fled […]

When judging, take care that you don’t allow exaggerations to influence you. We are Americans, and many of us have a tendency when we look at a car to think that if a little chrome is good, then a lot is better! If a dog who moves alertly and with purpose is good, then an […]

Originally published in the AKC Gazette. Writing in 1667, Nicholas Cox describes small land spaniels of courageous mettle, “strong, lusty and nimble rangers, of active feet, wanton tails and busy nostrils”—still a good description of the Cocker Spaniel. A less flattering description was given in 1647 by the “Witch-Finder General,” whose dubious job it was […]

In order to confidently evaluate any dog, you must have experience and intimate knowledge of his breed. This should enable you to decide whether the dog is just a nice specimen or an outstanding example that should be used in an extensive breeding program. This background information stored in your own personal computer (your brain) […]

According to an article on Continental Toy Spaniels by Baron Albert Houtart, the spaniel family, regardless of size, belongs to the “braccoid” classification of the canine species, as defined by Pierre Megnin. One distinction that Houtart makes is that all spaniels characteristically have short hair on the skull, muzzle, and fronts of the legs with […]