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. […]

The Anatolian Shepherd Dog has been bred for millennia to do one thing: guard livestock. Unlike Australian Cattle Dogs, German Shepherd Dogs, Polish Lowland Sheepdogs, and other breeds, he doesn't herd them. That's why he is a member of the AKC's Working Group, not its Herding Group. The words most closely associated with the ancient […]

City dogs need exercise and stimulation, just like their suburban and country counterparts. Sports like rally, treibball, and dog parkour are creative and fun forms of urban fitness. Even mushing through Manhattan can be accomplished with the right equipment and attitude. For a fulfilling life, a dog must have a yard, green grass, and room […]

From “Times Past,” AKC Gazette:  1. Say “shaggy dog” and the Old English Sheepdog is the breed most people think of first. Beneath the profuse double coat is a square, muscular, big-boned herding dog standing 21 or 22 inches at the shoulder. Their eyes (when you can see them) are dark brown, or blue, or […]

It is common knowledge that Anatolian Shepherd Dogs came to America to stay in the 1950s, imported by ranchers and working-dog aficionados. And it’s even better known that the Anatolian Shepherd Dog joined the AKC Working Group in 1999. What is little known, however, is the fact that two Turkish flock-guarding dogs—thought to be Anatolians—were […]

In 2000, director and actor Christopher Guest released a movie that would later become a comedy classic about the quirkiness of the dog fancy. "Best in Show," filmed in the format of a “mockumentary,” featured five breeder/handler teams as they campaigned their dogs to compete in “The Mayflower Dog Show,” a riff on the annual […]

Not a lot has changed regarding the fear and myths surrounding canine epilepsy since the first person observed seizing dogs when animal/human cohabitation started. Throughout history, thousands of people suffering from epilepsy have been killed because they were thought to be possessed by the devil. Sadly, despite all the scientific improvement and understanding of this […]

Popular pups mix fun and education to promote dog sports and responsible dog ownership The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is excited to announce the newest members of #AKCDogStars, an Instagram influencer program. This educational program aims to spread information about dog sports and responsible dog ownership while also capturing the realities of these dog’s lives […]

Monday, March 30 Welsh Springer Spaniel Tuesday, March 31 Belgian Laekenois Wednesday, April 1 Ibizan Hound Thursday, April 2 Puli Friday April 3 Airedale Terrier Monday, April 6 Sloughi Tuesday, April 7 Affenpinscher Wednesday, April 8 Lagotto Romagnolo Thursday, April 9 Rottweiler Monday, April 13 Finnish Spitz Tuesday, April 14 Welsh Terrier Wednesday, April 15 […]

When you mention dogs that work with sheep, most of us instantly think of those that herd them: Imagine Border Collies and Australian Shepherds darting with flashes of merle and sable among a bleating crowd. These wily workers keep their charges from wandering off, and help move them from place to place. But there’s another […]