When pursuing success in breeding dogs, there is no substitute for hard work, and there is nothing more necessary in that endeavor than establishing a great female line. “Great bitches come from other great bitches” was the advice of my mentor, Alma J. Starbuck. And she knew of what she spoke, having produced one famous […]

Xena is the former recipient of an AKC Humane Fund Award for Canine Excellence (ACE) honorable mention honor for her work as an exemplary companion dog to a little boy who has autism. Xena was found as a young puppy; she had been badly abused and it was uncertain if she would survive. But she […]

A little more than five years ago, the American Kennel Club opened the door for mixed-breeds to compete. On the first weekend of competition in April 2010, a former shelter pup named Katylee qualified in AKC Rally on three straight days to earn her AKC Rally Novice (RN) title. She became the first mixed-breed dog […]

Incredible Nose Earns Top Titles and Finds Lost Pets Griffin Fielding TDX owned by Maureen Fielding of N. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Seven-year-old Griffin came into being through an accidental mating between a black German Shepherd female and a German Short-haired Pointer male.  “He is a fine hunting dog with a strong work ethic, making […]

Few U.S. dog owners would be surprised to hear that federal law prohibits bringing a dog into the United States from countries that are not rabies-free, unless it is fully immunized against the disease. But if you live near a border and travel across borders on a regular basis, it can be easy to forget […]

River Birch Bohland CD RAE owned by Brittany Rupp of Gully, MN River came to Brittany’s home as a 12-week-old fluff ball, thanks to a “Free Puppies” sign in the yard of a farm in rural Minnesota.  “She’s the first puppy I’ve ever had, and it didn’t take long for me to realize that if […]

Carol Donnelly acquired Belli on a co-ownership agreement with breeder Vicki Sandage, and thus started a wonderful journey where this Pembroke Welsh Corgi would become the breed’s first triple champion. Carol first started working with Belli in agility, introducing many of the elements of the sport in a puppy-friendly setting. Carol uses Frisbees to build speed, and […]

  There are certain rituals leading up to when puppies are due that put the wheels of memory in motion for me. While going through the checklist of supplies, temperature-taking, setting up the whelping box, and keeping a watchful eye, I recall other litters and individuals, from the day they were born to the day […]

Jesse Belle and Cindy Stewart-Mackes of  Pedricktown, NJ, placed third in the large dog agility competition. Tack and Rhonda Koeske  of The Villages, FL, placed third in the small dog agility competition. The event took place July 11-12 in Boston, MA, and is a preliminary event for the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge finals that are […]

MACH4 Bob’s Hundred Dollar Dawg MXB2 MJB2 T2B OF owned by Dr. Bob Potter DVM of Sussex, NJ, and Sandy Mainardi of Lincoln Park, NJ Ginger is a rescue originally purchased from a pet shop with papers that show her to be a mix of Shetland Sheepdog and Australian Cattle Dog.  The original owners bought […]