If you’ve landed on this page, you probably already know that the lovable Beagle is an irresistible pet. But these merry little hounds with the shoe-button eyes and melodious bark weren’t bred to be just the perfect companion hound. Here, five dog experts, past and present, explain the original working function of the breed and how […]

Golden Retrievers — We now have the benefit of “clearance” testing and the mapped canine genome that could help guide intelligent crossbreeding decisions and the possibility that new breeds might eventually be developed. In the 19th century, as gentleman farmers and sportsmen kept breeding records of their canines and began to exhibit the best of their […]

Bloodhounds were brought out to aid in the hunt for the two convicted killers who broke out of Dannemora state prison. For at least a century and a half, the breed has played a major role in law enforcement. Name a high-profile fugitive, and there’s likely to have been a Bloodhound on his trail. Perhaps […]

Bruce was in bad shape physically and emotionally when the Keslers adopted him. But with their love and care, Bruce blossomed and today he helps others through a therapy program called Canines for Christ. He recently earned the AKC Therapy Dog Distinguished title for making more than 400 visits! Bruce THDD owned by Steven & […]

If you haven’t yet microchipped your dog, hear us out. There’s a reason this process, which involves implanting a rice-sized chip between a pet’s shoulder blades, is so popular and highly recommended by veterinarians, breeders, and animal-rescue organizations. In fact, it’s even become law in Ireland, England, and Scotland for all dogs to be microchipped. […]

Pat Mann, owner of the first All-American Dog to earn the AKC Obedience Trial Championship, Twister, tells us how to teach the advanced Obedience exercise of Directed Jumping in which dogs learn to distinguish between two jumps with their owner’s hand signal. In watching many exhibitors in the Utility A classes, it seems that Directed […]

When you think of howling, you might think of wolves. But howling is also a common dog behavior, too. So why do dogs howl? Is it a throwback to their wolf ancestry? Or are there different reasons behind the call?

Years ago our Komondors routinely wore the “fur saver” choke collars very popular in our breed. These collars have elongated (thus fewer) links, smooth edges, and do minimal cord damage. One afternoon my husband Alan and I were relaxing on the deck when our Komondor, Eos, began to display what I first thought was a […]

This article is brought to you by Christie Canfield of the AKC GoodDog! Helpline training team. The helpline is a seven-day-a-week telephone support line staffed by experienced dog trainers. It can be bewildering. Enter a pet supply shop to buy your dog a present and face aisle after aisle of different toys. Which one and […]

Originally published in the AKC Gazette. Writing in 1667, Nicholas Cox describes small land spaniels of courageous mettle, “strong, lusty and nimble rangers, of active feet, wanton tails and busy nostrils”—still a good description of the Cocker Spaniel. A less flattering description was given in 1647 by the “Witch-Finder General,” whose dubious job it was […]