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 […]

The Boston Terrier is a small but sturdy American breed. Also known as the “American Gentleman” for his tuxedo coat and polite demeanor, this intelligent dog was bred to be a companion. In 1870, in Boston, William O’Brien sold a dog (imported from England), who was a cross between a white English Terrier and a […]

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 […]

Dogs dancing were depicted in ancient pottery, and vaudeville-era included musical numbers with dogs. Modern musical freestyle dates back to the '80s, helped by "heelwork to music" displays at Crufts. Dogs of any breed capable of learning obedience and tricks can ultimately learn musical freestyle. In 2013, Zandra Brown took in a 5 1/2 –year-old […]

By Karissa Groves, age 14 Hi! I’m Karissa Groves, and I love dogs, all sorts of dogs—but I really love Bloodhounds! About four years ago, I went to a dog show with my grandma. When I saw kids there showing dogs, I asked her if I could start showing too. [gallery columns="2" size="medium" link="none" ids="28350,28351"] […]

Livestock-guardian breeds like the Anatolian Shepherd Dog have been bred for centuries to work much of the time independently of man. It comes as no surprise, then, that of all the dog-training commands, the recall command (“come”)—the most important obedience lesson of all—is the most difficult one to teach them. First-time owners are often taken […]

If I were a university professor and ventured the following opinion, I’d be stripped of my tweed jacket and PBS tote bag, denied tenure, and cast into the community-college wilderness. But seeing how I’m just a guy who works for a dog magazine, I can write this without fear of academic reprisals: One of the […]

Whole books, not to mention thousands of web pages, are devoted to describing the minutiae that distinguish one breed from another. However, the official AKC breed standards are supposed to be the breeders’ blueprints, so I found myself wondering if we could recognize the distinct personality of the Belgian Malinois based solely on its description […]

By Mary Fish ArangoWhen you add a pet fish to family life, you’re pretty much guaranteeing lessons about changing the water, life’s need for oxygen, and the daily responsibility of feeding and caring for another living being. A little later, you step up the game and get a pet guinea pig, hamster, gerbil, or rat. […]

  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 […]