For most active breeders-exhibitors, it's hard to find enough hours in the day. Between juggling work, family, and the many responsibilities associated with raising show dogs, downtime is a luxury. The Christmas/Hanukkah/New Year's break thankfully allows us to pause and reflect on the year that has passed, and where we want to set our sights […]

Photos courtesy of Wavemaker Staffords Lynn and Jim Caswell of Grayson, Ga., own, show, and breed Staffordshire Bull Terriers. They travel around the country promoting health, exercise, and the breed standard, with a focus on the total dog: temperament, structure, movement, and type. The Caswells have been involved with this breed for 14 years and […]

OK, try to pronounce it. I dare you: Nederlandse Kooikerhondje. But better get used to it because it’s now a member of the American Kennel Club’s companion events family. Which means, you’ll be seeing plenty more of these orange-red, parti-colored characters in the breed ring, Sporting Group, and Best in Show rings, as well as […]

Human athletic champions are known for saying, “If you fail to prepare, you’re prepared to fail.” This theory holds true for dog owners and their dogs, as well. Whether your dog is ultra athletic or sporadically active, our canine companions are people-pleasers who are ready and willing to jump, dive, flip, and race each and […]

After owning dogs his entire life, retired Marine Cpl. Justin Crabbe feels that having a dog is second nature to him. However, when he enrolled in the United States Marine Corps in 2008, it’s unlikely he realized the crucial role a dog would come to play in his life seven years later. Crabbe is now […]

These training tips offer great advice for anyone who is competing or thinking about competing in dog sports. They are brought to us by Alison Smith, co-owner and head trainer at Personal Paws Inc. in Toronto, Canada. She holds a master’s degree in Public Relations and Marketing but left the corporate world three years ago […]

This training tip is brought to us by Brian Burton, a co-founder of Instinct Dog Behavior & Training LLC in New York City. He’s currently a master’s candidate in Animal Behavior at Hunter College (CUNY) and is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Brian’s rescue mixed-breed dog, Sammy, is […]

By Joan Harrigan and Susan BeegelMuch is demanded of show dogs – they must be adaptable, calm, and tolerant in addition to meeting the requirements of their breed standards. Two Beaucerons, both champions and exhibited at the 2011 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, have show careers that are secondary to their day-to-day work. For Beaucerons […]

The Pumi is the latest breed to be recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), receiving full AKC status as a member of the Herding Group on July 1, 2016. This rare breed, with only a few new litters born in the United States each year, may be the new dog on the block, but […]

Pirate, a German Shepherd Dog, curls up in a laundry basket. The 7-year-old dog jumped in with little enticing, says owner Kathy Green, of Gold Bar, Wash. Header photo courtesy of Kathy Green When it comes to the Great Box Challenge, there simply are no limits—on size, shape, or container. And those loose parameters apply […]