If you are a judge, do you find it harder to go from judging Great Danes to judging Yorkshire Terriers, or to go from judging English Cocker Spaniels to judging American Cocker Spaniels? In other words, is it harder to turn the page in your mind and adjust for the vast differences between two breeds […]

by Sandra MurrayReprinted from: Essential Elements, ShowSight Magazine Any animal that lives within a tightly knit social group of its own kind has a “language.” Given that dogs are by nature pack animals, they have a rather extensive language that they use to communicate among themselves. Their language contains both physical and verbal components which […]

The Westminster Kennel Club recently announced that Mr. Thomas H. Bradley III is scheduled to judge Best in Show at the club’s 141st dog show Feb. 13–14, 2017. A lifetime participant in the dog sport, Mr. Bradley competed in his first dog show as a teenager in 1955, showing his German Shorthaired Pointer at the […]

We often hear dog shows accused of being nothing but “beauty contests.” In reality, they’re organized more like job fairs. At AKC shows, dogs are exhibited in seven groups organized by the original work the breeds were created to do. The dog judged best in each group becomes one of the final seven to vie […]

Over the years, a number of authors have projected the annual cost of raising a dog. In many cases, even with food, supplies and veterinary care considered, the estimated costs have seemed low. Two veterinary students from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine have recently updated the statistics related to costs involved in […]

Big dogs equal big love and loyalty. Here are the large dog breeds that earn their place at the top of the size chart. Most people will know the Great Dane but what about the lovely Leonberger? When considering getting a dog, size is a factor, but only one of them. The dog’s personality, activity […]

These Great Danes, Calla and Wrigley, waited six months for their owner to return from military service in Afghanistan. Spending many days at a dog daycare, they were used to people coming and going. But one day, someone walked through the door that had them bounding with joy— literally.  The feels are so real. Welcome […]

-- AKC Celebrates 125th Anniversary with a Look Back at First AKC Registered Breeds in History -- For the 18th consecutive year, the Labrador Retriever is the most popular purebred dog in America, according to 2008 registration statistics released today by the American Kennel Club® (AKC) But, while more than twice as many Labs were […]

The American Kennel Club® announced today that Director of Judging Operations, Peter Gaeta will retire on March 2, 2009. Gaeta joined AKC in 1999 as an Executive Field Representative in the Fort Worth-Dallas area. In July 2005 he was promoted to Director of Judging Operations and began working in the Raleigh AKC Operations Center. "Peter’s […]

Meet OTCH Sophie Sparkle Gypsy All the dogs in the shelter clamored to be seen – barking and jumping against their kennel doors. But Julie Kirkland kept coming back to the dog that seemed more interested in watching than getting attention. “As my husband and I were walking through the facility looking at the adoptable […]