Once again, the Labrador Retriever took Chicago’s top spot in the American Kennel Club’s (AKC®) 2016 ranking of the most popular AKC-recognized dog breeds in the U.S. The Labrador Retriever was also recognized as the #1 pup in Washington, D.C., Seattle, and Boston, among others. The Labrador Retriever held strongly to the #1 spot in Chicago, […]

With nice spring weather not far away, many dogs will be spending more time in their backyards. What’s one of their favorite outdoor pastimes? Digging! Here are some ideas to help you and your dog agree on landscaping decisions. First, some of the reasons dogs dig: To pursue animals like moles, chipmunks, gophers, and rabbits. […]

Responsible breeders do everything they can to keep their puppies safe and healthy from before they were born until the day they leave their kennel. Around 8 to 12 weeks old, the puppies depart from their breeder, and their new lives begin in their meticulously, hand-picked homes. By discerningly choosing the right family for each […]

If you're reading this...you're probably someone who loves animals, especially dogs. And at AKC's eighth annual Meet the Breeds event, Piers 92 and 94 were packed full with dog lovers of all kinds. Families, breeders, agility competitors, and more all came out to NYC to meet different dog and cat breeds and work together to […]

Cold weather and the scattering of snow bring out “the frisky” in a lot of our dogs, but some breeds thrive and even excel in frigid conditions—many of them Nordic spitz-type breeds. Here are seven reasons why these breed types are so well adapted to arctic-like weather. 1. Big or hairy paws act like snowshoes […]

Feelings of envy and jealousy are common in social settings. You might say it’s the art of counting the other person’s blessings instead of your own. Some scientists don’t believe that dogs can feel these emotions. A different view came from a dogsled racer I met outside of Dawson City in Canada. He was getting […]

An athlete looking for a companion to tackle endurance sports is going to need a dog breed that can keep up physically and mentally.

Unless you live in Finland or happen to have reindeer that need herding, you may not be familiar with the Finnish Lapphund. If you do know the breed, you know what wonderful family dogs they can be. Smart and eager to please, Lappies are naturally submissive with people and great with children. Already one of […]

The tradition of picking out a Christmas tree as a family can be a highlight of the holiday season. But the task of transporting the tree from the farm to the car can turn the event from fun to frustrating. A group of Newfoundland breeders has found a solution that’s both practical and entertaining to […]

Every year in December (or January for a few years) since 2001, dog owners from around the world come together for the American Kennel Club National Championship presented by Royal Canin. This year, the event takes place in Orlando, Fla., with a nearly week-long series of events culminating in the Best in Show finale. Starting December […]