At the annual meeting of the American Kennel Club on March 14, 2023, the Delegates elected members to the AKC Board of Directors. The Directors elected were: Class of 2027 Charles Garvin, Delegate, Dalmatian Club of America Steven Hamblin, Delegate, Pekingese Club of America Daniel J. Smyth, Esq., Delegate, Burlington County Kennel Club In addition, […]

If you’ve ever watched an agility competition, you know it’s basically a canine obstacle course. The dog must run through tunnels, leap over jumps, and weave through poles. But the dog isn’t working alone – this is a sport of exquisite teamwork. A successful run requires taking each obstacle in a certain order, and the […]

You’re bringing home a new dog. You’ve searched for the right adult dog to become a member of your family. After careful thought and planning, the day has come. It’s important to recognize that, although you had a chance to think this through, your new dog has no idea that an unknown family, strange household, […]

“Is that a Labradoodle?” “No, it’s an Otterhound.” “A what? I never heard of them. What were they bred to do?” “Hunt river otters.” “Oh. My friend has a Labradoodle.” Probably every Otterhound owner has been part of a conversation like this. “Doodles,” whether “Labra–” or “Golden–,” are a popular trend, as are a number […]

I ask Julie Starbuck, from Peace River K9 Search and Rescue, if she remembers a time that left her feeling especially proud of Caliber, her German Shepherd Dog. “The first one that comes to mind is the time we were called to work a burned building. It had been burned the night before, and they […]

It was a call that all breeders dread. The young couple, who had adored their puppy, reported they had a new baby, leaving no time for their dog. Teri NeSmith did not hesitate. “I gladly take any of my puppies back if the owner lets me know that they don’t want the dog. In fact, […]

Two days until Christmas and Chandler Ray could not wait to get home. A heavy rain did not deter the 23-year-old as he left his girlfriend’s place in Raleigh, North Carolina, to make the two-hour trip to see his family. His drive had barely started when his vehicle hydroplaned on the wet road, flipped, and […]

Growing up in Michigan, Cindy followed her grandmother around whelping and caring for several different kinds of babies - puppies, kittens, peeps, and various other farm animals. The retired nurse studied canine genetics at Michigan State University and says she inherited her love for breeding and training  from her family. Hartman now lives in South […]

From the time he was born three years ago, FISH’s life has been one irony after another. He’s a dog that was born in the Texas desert that you can’t keep out of the water today. And, if that’s not enough, when he arrived at 3 weeks old along with four siblings and their mother […]

 Traci Mitchell is an AKC Breeder of Merit Bronze, who breeds Black and Tan Coonhounds and an occasional Smooth Fox Terrier. The name Carlin is Irish Gaelic, meaning Little Champion in honor of her first Smooth Fox Terrier. She splits her time between southern California and southwest Iowa. She has lived in California all her […]