1963: The three Poodle varieties, presented by a dream team of handlers — Annie (Rogers) Clark, Jane Kamp (Forsyth), and Wendell Sammet. Standing is fellow pro handler and future show superintendent Tom Crowe. —From the AKC Gazette archive

The first animal care professional that many dog owners know and trust is the veterinarian. As a growing number of veterinarians are recognizing the benefits of early training for dogs, there is an increase in CGC and AKC STAR Puppy classes in veterinary settings. Dr. Judy Little of the Osceola Veterinary Clinic (Iowa) has arranged […]

Whole books, not to mention thousands of web pages, are devoted to describing the minutiae that distinguish one breed from another. However, the official AKC breed standards are supposed to be the breeders’ blueprints, so I found myself wondering if we could recognize the distinct personality of the Belgian Malinois based solely on its description […]

It’s that time of year for students, exam time and to recognize this stressful time a group of students at a college in England has put aside a puppy room for stressed out students in conjunction with a local charity for Guide Dogs. The University of Lancashire student union’s SOS (Stressed Out Students) campaign allows […]

Under the "General Appearance" section, the official breed standard for the Basset Hound reads: The Basset Hound possesses in marked degree those characteristics which equip it admirably to follow a trail over and through difficult terrain. It is a short-legged dog, heavier in bone, size considered, than any other breed of dog, and while its […]

In the most recent of several initiatives to recognize the canine-human bond and to protect pets and their owners, the American Kennel Club has announced strong support for federal legislation (HB 1258) that would protect the pets of victims of domestic violence.  The 2015 Pet and Women Safety Act (the 2015 "PAWS" act), sponsored by […]

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 […]

On the afternoon of May 1, “Rumor” (Grand Champion Lockenhaus' Rumor Has It V Kenlyn), the German Shepherd Dog who took Best in Show honors at both the 2017 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and the 2015 AKC National Championship took a grand tour of the U.S. Capitol to raise awareness of purebred dogs and […]

The weave poles are one of the toughest obstacles for agility dogs to master. In the AKC Novice class, dogs must complete six poles. When they advance to the intermediate Open and advanced Excellent levels, the number of  weave poles doubles to 12. In this training tip, professional dog trainer Michele Godlevski of Youngsville, NC, […]

May 8, 2015 A New York Senate Committee is considering a bill on Monday that would allow owners to take their companion animals on public transportation if a state of emergency is declared.  This is meant to partner with identical legislation passed in New Jersey to assist those utilizing public transportation through the Port Authority […]