Step lively, stand and stay put, and allow the judge to scrutinize every inch of you. Shimmy the tail, act dignified and thoughtful, but exude enthusiasm. Such is the job of a show champion. Grand Champion Riley, a 5-year-old Clumber Spaniel bred by Sarah Beaird and Dennis FitzPatrick, is a top-10 champion who finds winning […]

While all dogs should have a basic soundness, their construction varies depending on breed and purpose. Understanding a dog's conformation requires looking at the canine from all angles. Even though there is nothing you can do to change your current dog's genetics, you can prevent injury and work on strengthening weak areas. Let's be honest: […]

Around the country, dogs and their humans are gearing up for the event of the year: the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin. This means rigorous training as dogs nail those jumps, weave poles, and tire jumps—all while following a diet carefully designed for peak performance. We spoke to Dr. Catherine Lenox (DVM, DACVN), […]

Nearly 1,000 puppies between six and 18 months competed to become the AKC Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy/Junior of the Year, held Dec. 11 in Orlando, Fla in conjunction with the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin. CH Nauti Leighway Send More Boodles, a Havanese known as “Boodles” triumphed over all 931 dogs. “Boodles,” […]

The top ten owner-handled dogs (plus ties) in each breed from the 2020 qualifying period were invited to compete in the AKC National Owner-Handled Series (NOHS) Finals. The 611 competitors entered represented 196 different breeds/varieties. Best in Show honors went to GCH CH Eclipse Hive Talkin', a Berger Picard known affectionately as “Beegee” owned and handled […]

Dog owners reap many benefits from their canine companions – love and affection, nonjudgmental friendship, social connections, exercise incentives, stress relievers, guardians – and the list goes on. But, dog ownership also comes with significant financial costs. When buying a house, car, or living room furniture, most people carefully consider and plan for the costs. […]

Breeding dogs and producing puppies is a rewarding experience. Every litter is unique in some ways, and it takes many years to gain the experience to recognize signs of potential problems and know what steps can be taken to intervene and potentially save the lives of puppies. Breeders should be present when a dam delivers […]

Christina Merten is a wildlife rehabilitation technician at the Wildlife Center of the North Coast in Astoria, Oregon. Here, she recounts the story of her "once-in-a-lifetime dog", Jay the Papillon. A chance encounter with an old, sick, smelly dog turned out to be an unexpected gift. I was on my way to work as a […]

It’s been almost four years since this heartbreaking photograph captured a dog refusing to leave his owner, a Navy SEAL who was killed in action. And since then, this pair has left a legacy. Jon Tumilson was one of 30 American military members killed when a Chinook helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan in August of 2011. He […]

“Most Popular Dog Names” is a common search term, with lists going out almost as regularly as your dog does. But we don’t usually come across ones that connect popular names to their specific breeds. Based on 2015 data sourced from members who included pet information in their profile settings on a social network called […]