Photographs capture one second in time. And time is fleeting. It rushes forward without bias, emotion, or care. Perhaps that’s why photos mean so much to the dog fancy: They preserve the moment when a champion was at his best. Without them, such paragons would be lost to those who study the past before charting […]

The West Highland White Terrier originated long ago in the Scottish Highlands, where the breed was prized as a tough, efficient hunter of vermin and small game in the rugged landscape. He is closely related to several other terrier breeds from the region, including the Scottish Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Skye Terrier, and Dandie Dinmont Terrier. […]

Cocker Spaniels are known for their happy, friendly temperament, and the breed’s sweet personality is a big part of why it has been the favorite of many for centuries. With an ever-wagging tail, they look up at you eagerly with soulful eyes, their face framed by silky, long ears. The breed standard says the Cocker’s […]

They participate in exciting adventures — from racing in the Iditarod to transporting explorers in the Arctic — so sled dogs hold a special place in our hearts and imaginations. It isn’t every dog breed that can run for miles across the tundra, surviving bitter-cold conditions, blizzards, and the rigors of long-distance racing, while also […]

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, 47-year-old FDNY Fire Marshal Ronald Bucca contacted his wife to say that he was heading to the scene of New York City's World Trade Center, where a plane had crashed into Tower One. By the time he arrived, a second plane had crashed into WTC Tower Two, where […]

Sue Kotlarek of Romulus, MI, trains her two rescue mixed-breed dogs, Rodger and Jasmine, in numerous sports and competes successfully in all of them. Rodger is the first All-American Dog to earn the AKC Versatile Companion Dog title. His formal name is: Rodger Rowbinawitz VCD2 UD RAE AXP AJP NF NFP CA FDCH. Sue shared […]

In 1990 I walked into an indoor arena at the CCA national specialty with my Collie Perry and tried something we’d never done before, we’d entered the Herding Test level of one of the very first AKC Herding Trials. Neither one of us had ever even seen sheep before! The judges helped us out, and […]

Finding an AKC Sport that Fits Your Mixed-Breed DogSince 2010, the AKC has awarded thousands of titles to mixed-breeds. Why shouldn’t your clever, athletic mix join the fun? And why shouldn’t you enjoy the dog-park bragging rights that come with putting an AKC title on your dog? Here’s an overview of the competitions. Obedience Dog-and-handler […]

Many puppies and young dogs go through a period of submissive urination – releasing a small amount of urine when they are greeted by their owners or visitors. AKC GoodDog! Helpline Trainer Christie Canfield gives some great tips on dealing with this behavior. Submissive urination is a normal canine communications behavior.  Dogs squat and urinate […]

In the official Canine Good Citizen book, "CITIZEN CANINE," I described a procedure that I called "Sit and Watch." This is for dogs who lunge on leash when they see other dogs, or for dogs who become overly excited when other dogs pass by. It works like this: Teach your dog to sit-stay in a […]