New Complete Dog Book, The, 23rd Edition E-Book

American Kennel Club

• Herausgeber: CompanionHouse Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Seitenzahl: 2047

Beschreibung

The American Kennel Club (AKC) is known for having the first and last word as the official source for all things dog related, and The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd Edition is the AKC's "Bible" of dog books that has been trusted by veterinary schools, dog training professionals, groomers, breeders, and more. For the past 88 years, it has been the ultimate breed resource—the one book that no purebred dog aficionado and expert can live without. With over two million copies sold, this guide is also the longest continually published dog book in history. This revised and updated 23rd edition contains new American Kennel Club initiatives and programs – especially virtual titling options – recently recognized dog breeds that have been added to the seven main groups, revised breed standards, and changes in breed classifications. Dog owners, breeders, and clubs will find the most current information here on AKC registration, competitive events, and programs. A celebration of every breed of dog recognized by the American Kennel Club—over 200 breeds—this newly updated edition is a must-have that belongs in every dog enthusiast's and professional's library.

Leseprobe

The New Complete Dog Book

CompanionHouse Books™ is an imprint of Fox Chapel Publishing.

Project Team

Managing Editor: Gretchen Bacon

American Kennel Club Lead Editor: Mara Bovsun

American Kennel Club Team Members: Russell Bianca, Arliss Paddock, Lindsey Dobruck, Elaine Gewirtz

Editor: Amy Deputato

Copy Editors: Joann Woy, Sherry Vitolo

Designer: Mary Ann Kahn

Indexer: Elizabeth Walker, updated by Nancy Arndt

Copyright © 2023 by the American Kennel Club

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Fox Chapel Publishing, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.

Print ISBN 978-1-62187-197-2ISBN 978-1-62187-222-1

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022951517

This book has been published with the intent to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter within. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the author and publisher expressly disclaim any responsibility for any errors, omissions, or adverse effects arising from the use or application of the information contained herein. The techniques and suggestions are used at the reader’s discretion and are not to be considered a substitute for veterinary care. If you suspect a medical problem, consult your veterinarian.

Fox Chapel Publishing

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We are always looking for talented authors. To submit an idea, please send a brief inquiry to [email protected].

Contents

Introduction to the 23rd Edition

All for the Love of Dogs: The American Kennel Club

Canine Anatomy: An Introduction

Finding that Perfect Puppy

The Sport of Dogs

The Breeds: Profiles and Official Standards

The Sporting Group

The Hound Group

The Working Group

The Terrier Group

The Toy Group

The Non-Sporting Group

The Herding Group

The Miscellaneous Class

Inaugural American Kennel Club Registrations

Glossary of Canine Terms

Photo Credits

Acknowledgments

Introduction to the 23rd Edition

For 139 years, the American Kennel Club, a not-for-profit corporation, has been passionate about doing the right things for the betterment of dogs. We will never stop in our quest to educate our nation about responsible breeding and responsible dog ownership while welcoming everyone to the AKC Universe—a universe that reflects a bond that stretches back to ancient times.

Scientists recently discovered rock drawings in the deserts of northeastern Saudi Arabia. These drawings offer a glimpse of the daily lives of prehistoric humans, lives that included dogs. In hundreds of petroglyphs, we see canine figures: some are in packs aiding hunters; others are held on leashes.

Scientists estimate that these images are about 8,000 to 9,000 years old and may be the oldest depiction of Canis familiaris—the domesticated dog. Millennia before the invention of the wheel, humans and canines had already forged a unique, unbreakable bond. It continues to this day, growing stronger with the passage of time.

In simpler times, guarding, hunting, herding, and, of course, being companions were the primary work of dogs. Then civilization advanced, and everything became more complicated. Other domestic animals—horses, oxen, and mules— drifted to the sidelines, replaced by technology. Dogs, however, stayed close to us, their supple minds absorbing ever more complex tasks.

In the modern world, dogs perform a dizzying array of jobs. Their remarkable noses are called upon to sniff out everything from bombs to cancer to killer viruses. They protect endangered species, dial 911 for disabled owners, leap from helicopters in raids on terrorists, and comfort the sick and dying. There seems to be no end to how they help us.

Most importantly, they make us happy just by being there. Never was this more apparent than during the global pandemic, when millions of people were forced into lockdown and isolation. For many, their dog was the only living thing they saw. Some people have told us that the canine presence was what kept them sane.

Dogs play such vital roles in human lives. That’s why it’s important to put great thought into choosing one that will best fit your life and your hopes and dreams. It starts with understanding the special niche each breed occupies, why fanciers have nurtured certain traits, and how the function for which a breed was developed contributes to its form today.

That is where this volume, the twenty-third edition of The Complete Dog Book, can be a tremendous aid. Since its original publication in 1929, The Complete Dog Book has been viewed as the bible of the purebred-dog world. As in earlier editions, it contains the complete up-to-date breed standards for all breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club, including all those that have been recognized or have entered the Miscellaneous Class since the twenty-second edition was published in 2017. Each standard is accompanied by a “Meet the Breed” section that offers a brief history, an explanation of the breed’s form and function, and a firsthand glimpse of what it’s like to live with a member of that breed. We also have added a special chapter on how to find a responsible breeder as well as updates on new dog sports and AKC programs.

This volume contains stunning full-color photographs that showcase every breed—adults and puppies, at work and at play. These images illustrate how the ideals set down in the standard appear in the living dog.

Whether you are about to start looking for a dog to join your family or you already have the perfect companion sitting at your feet, there will be something for you in the pages of The New Complete Dog Book. We trust you will enjoy this update of a classic.

My appreciation to Mara Bovsun, Daphna Straus, Gina DiNardo, Doug Ljungren, Sheila Goffe, and Brandi Hunter Munden for their exemplary work in producing this masterful 23rd edition.

—Dennis B. Sprung, AKC President and ChiefExecutive Officer

All for the Love of Dogs

The American Kennel Club®

The Newfoundland, the lifeguard of the dog world, was one of the earliest breeds recognized by the newly formed American Kennel Club.

In September 1884, a group of sportsmen gathered in Philadelphia to establish an organization to govern dog shows in the United States. Each member of the group was a representative or “delegate” from a dog club that had, in the recent past, held a dog show or field trial. It was the birth of the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Since that historic meeting, the AKC, a club of clubs, has blossomed into the world’s largest registry of purebred dogs and the nation’s leading not-for-profit organization devoted to the study, breeding, and advancement of all things canine.

From glamorous dog shows in spotlighted arenas to small obedience matches on summer afternoons, promoting the benefits of the purebred dog is the AKC’s central focus, but it is far from the whole picture.

It’s the love of dogs, in their infinite variety, that is the soul of the AKC. The organization is dedicated to protecting the rights of breeders and dog owners, as well as promoting responsible dog ownership. This commitment is reflected in the AKC’s many programs to enrich the lives of dogs—all dogs—and the people who love them. Here is just a small sampling:

ADVANCING HEALTH AND WELFARE

•The AKC Stud Book: Established in 1887, the AKC Stud Book is the recorded ancestry of every AKC-registered dog and bitch.

•AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF): Founded in 1995 as an independent, affiliated nonprofit organization, CHF is dedicated to advancing the health of all dogs and increasing their owners’ knowledge by funding scientific research and supporting the dissemination of health information to prevent, treat, and cure canine disease.

•AKC Reunite: The mission of the nation’s largest nonprofit pet recovery service is to keep pet microchipping and enrollment affordable, with no annual fees, so more lost pets can find their way home. Since 1995, AKC has helped reunite more than 600,000 lost pets with their owners. More than ten million pets (of thirty-five different species) are enrolled in the AKC Reunite pet-recovery service. As a nonprofit, AKC Reunite gives its profits back to the US pet community through programs including grants to support volunteer canine search and rescue organizations, microchip scanner donations to shelters and rescues, and the AKC Pet Disaster Relief trailers that deliver nonperishable necessities for sheltering pets to local emergency-management teams. These trailers provide animal-care services during the first critical hours following a disaster, before FEMA support and services can be deployed. Additionally, AKC Reunite’s Adopt a K-9 Cop grant program matches donations from AKC clubs to provide funds for police departments to acquire a K-9 officer.

•AKC Inspections: The AKC is the only purebred registry in the United States with an ongoing routine kennel-inspection program. The AKC has a dedicated team of field agents who visit kennels to help breeders while ensuring the proper care and conditions of AKC-registered dogs and verifying that breeders are maintaining accurate records for their dogs. Since 2000, AKC field agents have conducted over 70,000 inspections nationwide.

•Compliance: The Compliance Division works to protect the integrity of the AKC registry. The Compliance Department handles many disciplinary matters within the AKC. The Investigations & Inspections Department conducts inspections of breeders and pet stores to ensure that they properly maintain their dogs, kennels, and records to support the registration applications submitted to the AKC.

•AKC DNA Programs: For more than 20 years, the AKC has harnessed the power of DNA technologies to ensure the integrity of its registry and assist breeders with the accuracy of their breeding records. The AKC has built the world’s largest database of purebred canine DNA profiles for parentage-verification and genetic-identity purposes. The AKC is also working with universities and AKC Parent Clubs to help breeders use DNA to improve their breeding programs.

Dogs fulfill countless roles in today’s society, from hunting to disaster search to farm work and companionship.

Many breeds continue to be used for their original bred-for purposes, including this flock-guarding Anatolian Shepherd Dog.

•AKC Humane Fund: This 501 (c)(3) charitable organization promotes responsible dog ownership through education, outreach, and grants. It funds, among other initiatives, the support of domestic abuse shelters for women with pets and aid for breed-club rescue groups. Through the AKC Rescue Grant, the Humane Fund is dedicated to assisting groups that protect pets, including those involved in pet welfare, rescue, and health, such as the AKC Canine Health Foundation and AKC Rescue Network. The rescue grant program provides financial assistance to not-for-profit canine rescue groups that take on significant rescue-related expenses. Grants are used to help cover the costs of veterinary care, spaying and neutering, vital supplies, and more.

•AKC Government Relations Department: Protecting and Advocating for Dogs and Dog Owners’ Rights: The AKC Government Relations Department (AKC GR) is dedicated to protecting the rights of all dog owners and the future of our breeds. AKC GR promotes responsible dog ownership and works to ensure that laws and regulations governing dog ownership and breeding are reasonable, enforceable, and nondiscriminatory.

The department works with dog owners and dog clubs throughout the nation by advocating for policy that supports dog owners and breeders, monitoring and responding to policy proposals that impact dog owners, educating and informing about the threats to responsible dog ownership as well as the future of the breeds and issues that impact them; and developing grassroots and public outreach, advocacy assistance, testimony, and expert policy recommendations on a wide variety of canine issues.

AKC GR focuses on a wide range of policy topics. The most common include cruelty/ negligence, breeding, animal control, working dogs, veterinary, retail, and rescue/shelter issues.

On average, the department monitors more than 2,000 legislative and 500 regulatory proposals each year at federal, state, and local levels that impact dog ownership or the health and well-being of dogs. The AKC Government Relations Legislative Action Center, akcgr.org, provides extensive information on canine policy issues, advocacy, policy position statements, blogs, legislative tracking and alerts, and many other resources.

Government Relations also administers the Detection Dog Task Force (DDTF), which works to address the critical shortage of US explosives detection dogs. It develops practical solutions to address the shortage through public policy, regulatory change, and education about best practices. The DDTF sponsors an annual national detection-dog conference and educational webinars that bring together breeders, agencies, and industry leaders to create new opportunities and leadership in addressing the issue. It also administers the Patriotic Puppy Program and Confident Puppy e-learning courses to help breeders raise confident puppies that can go on for advanced training as detection dogs.

BUILDING COMMUNITY

The AKC offers a wealth of education, information, and experiences for people who love dogs, including:

•Public Events: The AKC’s Responsible Dog Ownership Days, with its flagship event in Raleigh, North Carolina, in September, and the AKC Meet the Breeds ® mega-events held around the country, introduce thousands of people to new breeds, dog sports, AKC initiatives, and activities.

Breeders continue to strive for perfection in their breeding programs: excellent conformation, correct temperaments, and outstanding working abilities.

•AKC Education: This department strives to be the source of knowledge for all things dog, educating the public about purebred dogs, the sport of purebred dogs, and responsible dog ownership. AKC Education meets this goal through online courses and exams for judges, groomers, breeders, trainers, and more via the AKC Canine College. Additionally, AKC Public Education offers numerous programs for the community such as the AKC Canine Ambassador Program, AKC PupPals, and AKC Educator Resources. Finally, informative webinars are offered free of charge on a monthly basis on topics of interest for all dog owners.

•Award-Winning Magazines:AKC Family Dog, published six times a year, is packed with expert advice on health, grooming, behavior, and training, as well as heartwarming and inspiring tales of dogs and their owners that you will find nowhere else. The AKC Gazette, a digital magazine, features breed columns for every registered AKC breed.

•Website: AKC.org, the organization’s website, gives the public 24/7 access to the world’s most extensive storehouse of knowledge on all topics related to dogs. It is also the go-to place for top-notch goods and services.

•AKC Social Media: Anytime of the day or night, dog lovers can chat with experts on canine health, sports, fitness, and fun, or just share happy thoughts and funny pictures and videos through AKC social media, including Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram.

•AKC.TV: The digital network for all things DOG! AKC.TV features dog-related programming 24/7, as well as an on-demand library of world-class dog events, training and health tips, and original series created especially for dog owners and lovers.

•The AKC Museum of the Dog: Founded in 1980 in New York City, this AKC gallery is the world’s finest collection of dog-related art, comprising depictions of man’s best friend in oil, watercolor, ink, and sculpture.

•The AKC Research Library: Founded in 1934, this library is a unique repository of dog-related books, memorabilia, and ephemera, including many rare and antique editions, modern works, bound periodicals, and stud books from all over the world. The library presently contains more than 18,000 volumes.

•AKC Canine Partners: Begun in 2009, this important program is designed to promote responsible ownership of both purebred and mixed breeds. It allows mixed breeds to enter companion events, based solely on the dogs’ training and performance. There are over 500,000 dogs enrolled. Mixed breeds are eligible to title in tracking and therapy dog work, as well as flyball, Barn Hunt, dock diving, agility, and much more.

RECOGNIZING GREATNESS

The AKC honors heroes, canine and human, who have gone above and beyond the call of duty, from police dogs to community activists to fanciers who have made outstanding contributions to the improvement and preservation of their breeds. These awards include:

•The AKC Humane Fund Award for Canine Excellence (ACE): Every year since 2000, the AKC has chosen teams who exemplify everything that’s best about the canine/human bond. The categories include therapy dog, service, search and rescue, uniformed services K-9, and, of course, exemplary companion.

•Breeder of the Year Award: The AKC recognizes and celebrates an outstanding purebred dog breeder with the annual Breeder of the Year Award. The award honors those breeders who have dedicated their lives to improving the health, temperament, and quality of purebred dogs. At a special presentation held during the AKC/Royal Canin National Championship, a breeder, or pair of breeders, is recognized in each of the seven groups. At the conclusion of the presentation, one of the seven group recipients is chosen as the Breeder of the Year.

Life imitates art during events held at the Museum of the Dog.

•Community Achievement Award: The AKC’s Communications and Government Relations departments offer this award four times per year to honor exemplary public-education and government-relations efforts. Honorees receive a certificate of recognition, and their club or federation receives $1,000 to continue their work. Nominations are accepted throughout the entire year, and awards are granted once every quarter.

•Lifetime Achievement Awards: The AKC Lifetime Achievement Awards were established in 1998 to celebrate those individuals whose many years of dedication have led to significant contributions to their breeds and the dog sport on a national level.

Canine Anatomy:

An Introduction

Whether standing tall or in repose, “the Apollo of dogs” can inspire awe in any mere human. The Great Dane’s power and size combined with its courage and friendly nature give the breed its unique majesty.

We watch with awe when an Irish Wolfhound gallops across a field or a German Shepherd Dog sniffs for explosives at an airport. We melt when a Pekingese gazes at us with those eyes or when a Labrador Retriever says he’s glad to see us by wagging his tail with such force he upends a coffee table.

We’re not thinking about the length of the hound’s thigh or the abundance of scent cells in the Shepherd’s nose that makes his ability to detect odors so much more acute than ours. We’re not worried about whether the Peke’s eyes are round enough or whether the Lab’s tail sufficiently resembles that of an otter.

All we know is how beautiful and brilliant they are, and how much we love them.

That glorious creature we know as Canis familiaris is much more than the sum of his parts. Still, it’s important to remember that dogs’ beauty and talents—and our emotional responses to them—have been molded over at least fifteen thousand years of evolution. Beyond the evolutionary process, selective breeding created unique looks and enhanced inborn abilities and temperament, all related to how those various parts come together.

Those parts and how they are assembled have created the most versatile species on earth. Today, there are dogs for all kinds of jobs, whether it’s leaping out of a helicopter to save a person who is drowning or nestling into a lap to comfort the elderly.

In many ways, dogs and people are very much alike, beings composed of such stuff as bone, blood, muscle, skin, and hair. Using DNA from a Boxer named Tasha, scientists created a map of the canine genome. Comparisons to the human version have shown us that, genetically speaking, there’s only about a 15-percent difference between you and your dog. That’s why dogs are proving to be such excellent models for scientists seeking treatments for the worst human illnesses, such as cancer, heart disease, and arthritis.

Of course, that 15-percent variation in DNA makes for some big differences:

• Dogs have tails, but, thankfully, no thumbs.

• They are quadrupeds, which means they walk on all fours.

• The human skeleton has 206 bones; dogs, on average, 320.

• Dogs lack the brain center and vocal apparatus that would enable them to speak in words.

• They are at least ten thousand times more sensitive to odors than humans, and for some substances much, much more. To us, there’s something miraculous about it, but the truth is that a dog’s talent for detecting everything from a crumb under a counter to an otherwise undetectable cancer cell growing in a woman’s breast is the result of a few quirks of anatomy. For starters, humans have five million olfactory sensory cells, while dogs have more than one hundred million. Some breeds—such scenting sensations as the Bloodhound, for example— have two to three times that number.

TYPE CASTING

Those traits are some of the broad characteristics that separate canine from human, and they apply to all dogs. But what makes a Chihuahua different from a Great Dane? Beyond that, what distinguishes a champion Great Dane from one whose charms are evident only to his family?

Many spectators at dog shows wonder how judges, in the two-and-a-half minutes allocated to examine a dog in the ring, can pick a winner. What is the judge looking at when he or she peers into the dog’s mouth, runs his or her hand along the dog’s sides, and steps back and intently watches every step as the handler and the dog move around the ring? How does the judge choose one dog over another?

Judges evaluate dogs based on a written description of an ideal specimen, which is known as the breed standard. A dog who possesses all the best traits mentioned in the standard is said to have good type.

The powerful legs of the Irish Wolfhound, the sensitive nose of the Bloodhound, the waterproof coat of the Irish Water Spaniel allow these breeds to excel in their intended working capacities.

Heads

Illustrating three types of canine heads, the Dogue de Bordeaux (brachycephalic); the Belgian Sheepdog (dolichocephalic); and the Irish Setter (mesaticephalic).

In an examination, the judge will go over each dog with his or her hands, checking for breed-type points, those physical characteristics that give the breed its unique shape, movement, and overall appearance.

It’s impossible to list every anatomical point the judge will consider; there are hundreds. But following is a quick rundown of some of the highlights, as well as the terms used to describe a few variations that separate a giant, plushly coated Tibetan Mastiff from a petite, near-naked Chinese Crested.

HEAD FIRST

Head: The shape of the skull; how the eyes are set; the size of the jaws and cheeks; color, size, and shape of the nose; size, shape, and placement of the ears, all of these are described in detail in a breed standard. These characteristics establish expression and help the dog do his job. Some experts have counted as many as forty-five different kinds of canine noggins. There are dogs whose heads have a unique structure, such as the egg-shaped appearance of the Bull Terrier or the massive skull of the Dogue de Bordeaux.

Dog heads, in general, come in three basic shapes:

• brachycephalic, round and short-nosed, as seen in breeds like the Boston Terrier, Pug, and Pekingese

• dolichocephalic, long, narrow-skulled, like Borzoi, Greyhounds, and Collies

• mesaticephalic, with medium proportions, as seen in many retrievers and setters

Eyes: The breed standard will specify everything about these windows to the dog’s soul—size, shape, and the color of the eye itself and eyelid rims. Some characteristics are dictated by the job the dog will do. The Brittany standard, for example, notes that “a prominent, full or popeye should be heavily penalized. It is a serious fault in a dog that must face briars.” Others standards specify eye shapes and colors to convey an expression, a reflection of the dog’s character.

Ears

Basic eye shapes are:

• almond

• oval

• round

• triangular

Ears: Whether they’re the oversized triangles of a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, the long, velvety flaps of the Basset Hound, or the butterfly wings that grace the head of the Papillon, ears are among the most expressive parts of the dog. The size, shape, and the ear set, (how the lobes are attached to the head) contribute a lot to the overall look. As stated in the standard for the Black and Tan Coonhound, “Ears are low set and well back. They hang in graceful folds, giving the dog a majestic appearance.” Flaps, also known as leathers, are designed to help a dog do his job, as on the Newfoundland, for example, whose ear flaps fold over in a way that keeps water out of the inner ear when the dog is performing one of the jobs for which he was created—rescuing people in roiling waves.

There are more than thirty terms used to describe the various canine ear shapes. Here are just a few:

• bat ear

• bear ear

• blunt-tipped ear

• cocked ear

• drop or pendant ear

• flying ear

• folding ear

• hooded ear

• prick ear

• rose ear

Bite: Most dogs have forty-two teeth, twenty in the upper jaw, twenty-two in the lower. When a judge looks into a dog’s mouth, he or she is making sure that all the teeth are present and that the bite conforms to the breed standard. There are four basic bites, and each serves a purpose either in creating an expression or in the dog’s work:

• overshot

• undershot

• level

• scissors

Anatomical features with definitive purposes: the double-jointed limbs of the rock-climbing Norwegian Lundehund; the straight forelegs and broad, powerful hindquarters of the sprinting Scottish Deerhound; and the soft mouth of the steadfast Curly-Coated Retriever.

BODY WORK

Collie. Basset Hound. Peruvian Inca Orchid. It’s hard to believe that they all belong to the same species, but they do. When the judge completes the examination of the head, he or she is looking for certain physical traits, set out in the standard, that make it possible for the dog to perform his job.

Sometimes that makes for some unusual adaptations. Take the Norwegian Lundehund. Designed to hunt puffins on steep, wind-swept rock cliffs, his body must allow him to climb cliffs and worm through narrow tunnels to reach nests. For this job, the Lundehund developed a foot with six toes, so he could pull himself up sheer walls, a neck that can arch back to the middle of his spine, and extraordinary flexibility in the shoulders, which can practically fold up. These adaptations have given the breed a distinctive walk, described as an eggbeater or rotary stride. It appears odd, but it is correct for a Lundehund.

Here are just a few of the terms you may hear when a judge examines a dog’s body:

Front Assembly: The front assembly generally refers to the shoulders and the front legs. Correct form here allows the dog’s legs to move out in front, what is known as reach. Ideal reach will differ between, say, a Saluki and a Bulldog, and this will be determined by the construction of the shoulders, legs, and forefeet.

Judges pay special attention to angulation, the angles of bones and joints. Angulation is one of the most important aspects of canine anatomy. Correct angulation encourages proper muscular development, which makes for a dog who can move with ease.

Shoulders: The shoulders are composed of two large, paddle-shaped bones called scapulae, the technical term for shoulder blades. Since dogs do not have collarbones, the scapula are attached by four muscles to the spinal column. The judge will look for the position of the shoulder blade to be at a certain angle, depending on the breed and its preferred gait, the term that describes how the dog moves. This angle is called a layback. If the angles are not steep enough, for example, the dog may have a short, choppy, bouncy, and inefficient stride.

Withers: This is the highest point of the dog’s shoulders, between the scapulae. Ideal heights specified in the breed standards are measured from the withers to the ground, and expressed as height at withers.

Upper Arm (Humerus): The judge will examine the length of this bone to see whether it is slightly longer than the shoulder blade. One common structural fault is a short humerus. If it is too short, the dog’s reach will be compromised and he won’t be able to swing his leg far enough forward to cover ground.

Other key points in the dog’s front include:

• elbows

• forelegs

• pasterns

Feet: Dogs’ feet come in several shapes:

• Cat feet, compact with a short third digit, are thought to improve endurance because they are easier to lift.

• Webbed feet are good for swimming breeds like the Newfoundland, Labrador Retriever, and Portuguese Water Dog.

• Hare feet are elongated with two center toes larger than the side toes, seen in some sighthounds and Toy breeds.

MOVE TO THE MIDDLE

From the front assembly, the judge will continue to the midsection. Some of the key considerations include:

At work or at play, dogs dive in with boundless enthusiasm. Here are the Ibizan Hound, Portuguese Water Dog, and Dalmatian hitting the waves.

Canine poetry in motion, a dog’s gait reflects his structure, purpose, and character. Here are the Pyrenean Shepherd, Papillon, and Bergamasco.

Topline: Most often, topline refers to the outline just behind the withers to the base of the tail. The Bullmastiff, for example, should be “straight and level between withers and loin.” In contrast, the Old English Sheepdog should be “lower at the withers than at the loin.”

Rib Cage: Dogs have nine pairs of true ribs (connected directly to the breast bone), three pairs of false ribs (connected together by cartilage), and a set of floating ribs (unattached, as name implies). Judges will check for spring, the curvature in the ribs, which indicates how much space there is for heart and lungs.

BRINGING UP THE REAR

The rear assembly—structure of the hindquarters— contributes to the dog’s ability to thrust forward with his back legs, allowing him to sprint and leap. This is known as drive. As with the front assembly, correct angulation is extremely important. Also, the front and rear must be in balance, or the dog’s movement will be impaired. Some of the key structures that enhance drive are:

Angle of the Pelvis: This important measurement is taken from the iliac crest, the top of one of the bones of the pelvic girdle, to the ischium, the rear tip of the pelvic bone. This angle—which in many dogs is ideal at around 30 degrees—contributes to how freely the dog’s hind legs move. Too steep an angle, and the dog won’t be able to extend his limbs in back. Too flat, and he’ll be kicking up his heels with each step. Both are inefficient.

Thigh Bones (Femur, Tibia, and Fibula): The femur (upper thigh) nestles in the hip socket of the pelvis. When it does not fit in perfectly, it results in some of the most common orthopedic problems in dogs, such as hip dysplasia. The tibia and fibula are bones of the lower thigh.

The stifle is the canine knee. The judge will look at the angle at which the bones of the upper thigh meet those of the lower thigh.

Tails

The hock is the dog’s true heel; that is, the collection of bones of the hind leg that form the joint between the second thigh and the metatarsus.

The pastern is the bone between the hock and the foot.

THE BEST FOR LAST

Finally, the judge will look at the tail and the tailset (how the tail is attached to the dog’s rump). As with ears, there are many different types of tails, and there’s a separate ideal for each breed:

• plume

• gay

• curled

• double curl

• sickle

• otter

• whip

• ring at end

• snap

• screw

Finding that Perfect Puppy

Any potential dog owner should be able to recognize quality in a litter of purebred puppies. This litter of Newfoundlands, with their plush coats and solid little frames, was clearly bred with love and experience.

Adding a dog to your household is a big decision, one not to be made on impulse. The right choice may enhance your life beyond all expectations, while a bad one can mean aggravation, disappointment, and heartache. So with the millions of puppies and dogs out there, how do you pick the right one?

ARE YOU READY FOR A DOG?

First, it’s important to ask yourself some hard questions. If you have a family that includes a spouse and children, sit down with them and ask them these questions too. Nothing is sadder than a puppy purchased on impulse because “the kids wanted a dog”—a puppy who is then relegated to the backyard when the novelty wears off.

When you start to consider owning a dog, here are some of the important lifestyle questions to ask yourself:

• Do I have time for walks, training, and daily maintenance?

• Am I prepared for the expense of dog ownership, which includes regular veterinary care, such as exams and vaccinations, as well as food, bedding, training, and toys?

• Am I willing to include the dog in my life? Dogs are highly social creatures. They do best when they are actively involved in as much of their human’s life as possible. A dog will not be happy sitting home all day while his people are at work, then getting a brief walk before a long night home alone again because his people like to go out after work.

• Can I make a commitment to the average ten-to twenty-year life span of most dogs?

PICK YOUR BREED

If you answer yes to all these questions, you next need to determine which breed of dog is best for you. That can be achieved by asking yourself how you hope to include a dog in your life:

• Are you a marathon runner looking for a jogging buddy or are you a couch potato who wants a pal to join you watching TV?

• Do you mind having to vacuum every day?

• Are you interested in getting involved in such sports as agility, field trials, or conformation dog showing?

• Would you prefer a dog who reflects your heritage?

• Do you have young children in the house?

These are just a few of the questions that you should ask yourself in narrowing down the right breed for you. Think about every aspect of your life and consider how your dog should fit in.

CHOOSE YOUR BREEDER

Once you settle on a breed, you come to the next and most important step—finding that perfect puppy. When you start your search, the most often-repeated bit of advice you’ll hear is: “Go to a responsible breeder.”

Many people, though, don’t know how to do that, or even what the term really means. You can’t just walk up to a person selling puppies and say, “Are you a responsible breeder?” The answer, of course, will be “YES!”

Before you start looking, you need to understand the real meaning of the words “responsible” or “reputable” breeder and how you can distinguish between that person and someone just out to make a buck, or someone who may be well-meaning but hasn’t the time, energy, or experience to breed quality puppies. It is not simply a matter of putting two nice dogs together and hoping for the best.

Breeders seek to produce litters stamped with unmistakable breed type, consistent soundness, and excellent temperaments. Consider the beauty of these English Cocker Spaniels, Gordon Setters, and Doberman Pinschers.

WHAT IS A RESPONSIBLE BREEDER?

Dog breeding is both science and art. A breeder must know all about canine genetics and anatomy, nutrition, and psychology, both canine and human. He or she must know how to read a pedigree in order to choose sires and dams who will produce beautiful puppies, healthy and sound in both body and mind. The breeder must know the history of the breed, what role these dogs have played through the years, and how that role may be changing in the modern world. He or she must have what is known as “an eye for a dog,” an ability to see which dogs in a litter have the physical attributes to be a great example of a breed. The breeder must have a solid background in training and dog behavior, the knowhow to size up a litter and say which puppy has the mental and emotional makeup to someday become a natural show dog, an agility champ, or a great pet.

It’s impossible to pick this up overnight. Decades of dedication and experience, learning what works and doesn’t, go into dog breeding. Some of the breeders you meet may have whelped their first litters before you were born. And, if you are going to a new breeder, that person will likely have a mentor, a more experienced breeder who has shared knowledge with the newcomer.

The Bull Terrier is known for its egg-shaped head, which this dam has clearly passed along to her offspring.

The best breeders will be intensely involved in the dog world. You will see them at shows and dog-sport events. They are passionate about their breed and its welfare, from the Best in Show ring to rescue. It is not unusual to find some of the top show breeders devoting hours to helping a member of their canine clan who may have fallen on hard times. Some will drive all night to rescue a dog who somehow wound up in a shelter. They love dogs, and they love their breed, sometimes to a point that might seem odd to a newcomer to this world.

So, how can you know whether or not someone offering you a puppy is a responsible breeder? The following is a checklist of green lights, qualities that suggest you are in the hands of someone worthy of that description. We also present red flags that will suggest you should look elsewhere for your new family member.

That a breeder cares for his or her litter and the breed in general is a good indicator of their devotion to dogs. A Poodle dam with her brood (left); a quintet of related Kuvaszok.

Green Light: The breeder is affiliated with the AKC, may be an AKC Breeder of Merit program participant, and may be connected to the AKC parent club for the breed. A parent club is an AKC-affiliated national organization of fanciers and enthusiasts who work together for the improvement of a breed. Sometimes, there will be two or more national clubs devoted to a specific breed, but only one will be designated the AKC parent club. This club will clearly identify itself as the AKC parent club on its website. AKC parent clubs maintain a code of ethics, a set of principles and practices that ensure the breeder has considered the best pedigree and genetic information before producing a litter, and that the dogs are raised in a healthy environment. Parent clubs will offer a list of member breeders on their websites. Many of the best breeders will be involved in other clubs as well, for obedience, agility, and performance.

Red Flag: A breeder, unaffiliated with any club or organization, who offers no background on the puppy’s parents or grandparents. Responsible breeders will know, in detail, about several generations of great dogs who went into creating this latest litter. And they will be happy to discuss it all, sometimes in more detail than you can absorb.

Green Light: The breeder eagerly opens his or her home to you. By visiting, you’ll get an idea of how the puppy is being raised, and what the mother is like in both looks and temperament. Meeting the other dogs in the home, which may or may not include the dad, will give you a sense of the breeder’s line, that unique set of physical and mental characteristics nurtured by this specific person. A responsible breeder will also want to get a good look at you, how you behave, and, sometimes, how the dogs react to you, to see whether you are the right “fit” for one of his or her puppies.

A good breeder will proudly welcome you into his or her home to meet the litter. Here’s a sleepy gang of Australian Cattle Dog pups.

Contact the Parent Club

All AKC-affiliated national breed clubs, known as parent clubs, maintain lists of member-breeders, people who are active in the club, intensely involved with the breed, and adhere to a strict ethics code, established by the clubs. You can find these breeders by going to the AKC website (akc.org), finding your breed of interest, and then clicking on the link to the national parent club. If you are new to a breed, read through all the information on the site. Another place to look for a breeder is the AKC website. (akc.org)

Well-bred puppies from “Green Light” breeders will grow into typey and sound companions. A seven-month-old Irish Wolfhound (top) and a pair of thirteen-week-old Keeshonden (bottom).

Red Flag: The breeder does not allow you into his or her home or, worse, wants to meet you in a parking lot or some other public place.

Green Light: A breeder will ask you to fill out a questionnaire, sometimes several pages long, and may insist on a series of conversations, on the phone and face-to-face. Some may want to visit your home. Newcomers may find this intrusive, and many say that getting a puppy is just too difficult. But, although it may seem a bit much, keep in mind that breeders invest huge amounts of money, effort, and love into every litter. They want to make sure they are placing their puppies in good hands.

Red Flag: A breeder who is only interested in whether you can afford the asking price.

Green Light: The breeder should be aware of breed-specific genetic tests that may identify inheritable health issues, if any are available. All breeding pairs should have specific health assessments and tests. Parent club websites generally have a list of health concerns that breeders focus on. Read about these on the site, and be prepared to ask for documentation about which tests have been conducted. Breeders conduct these tests as a part of an overall program to produce the best puppies possible, healthy and sound, as well as beautiful.

Red Flag: A breeder who will not show you any health-screening results, talk about the health issues encountered, or says he or she does not conduct any health or genetic tests because he or she has “never had a problem.”

Green Light: Surprising as it may seem, it will be a good sign if you are not offered a pup right away, but are instead given a spot on a waiting list. Puppies don’t come off assembly lines, especially if you are interested in a specific breeder’s dogs. In the case of rare breeds, it is not unusual to be on that waiting list for a year or more. Demand generally exceeds supply for puppies from the best kennels, some of which may only produce a litter once every year or so. And the breeder will want to keep that puppy with the mother for at least two months.

Red Flag: The breeder is ready to hand you a puppy that day and is willing to sell you one younger than eight weeks of age. Puppies need to stay with their mothers for both physical and mental development for the first two months, at least.

Green Light: The breeder can show you pedigree information—AKC registration documents for the sire, dam, and litter. The words “American Kennel Club” and the AKC logo should be clearly visible on these documents. Most breeders will give you a “puppy package,” with booklets, fact sheets, and other information that is important in their eyes. Among these should be an application form for registering your dog with the AKC. AKC registration is important and will be provided by a reputable breeder. Registration verifies that the dog’s ancestors were of the same breed and that the puppy is indeed purebred. Pick up your papers with your puppy!

If you’re fortunate enough to visit your puppy at the breeder’s home more than once, you’ll be able to observe his progress— from mom’s milk to the feeding trough to your kitchen!

Red Flag: No papers of any kind are offered, there is a charge for registration papers, or the registration papers are from a registry other than the American Kennel Club. Look carefully at the application because some alternative registries choose names that are very similar to the AKC, but they are not the real thing.

Green Light: There is a lifelong return policy. Good breeders care about their dogs for as long as they live and will want them back if you can no longer care for them. There are many stories about breeders opening their homes to elderly dogs, which they sold years ago as puppies, because the owners have fallen on hard times, become ill, or died.

Why Register Your Puppy?

You may want to compete with your puppy someday even if dog shows or any other activities may not be on your mind when you buy your puppy. As you live with your dog, that might change. To participate in events, your dog must be AKC-registered, and AKC rules require that the dog be registered within twelve months of the date the litter is registered.

Registering your puppy helps all dogs, through such AKC programs as: kennel inspections, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Pet Disaster Relief Trailers, Canine Good Citizen® (CGC), public education, and government relations aimed at fair legislation regarding dogs and the people who love them.

For your registration fee, you receive a complimentary trial pet healthcare plan (except in New York and California), a certificate for a complimentary veterinary office visit, a new puppy handbook, and other invaluable educational resources to help you raise your puppy.

Healthy puppies should be alert and playful. The breeder should allow you to watch the puppies interacting with their littermates, as are this duo of Pulik and trio of Australian Shepherds.

Red Flag: The breeder makes it clear that all sales are final.

Green Light: The breeder allows you to see the puppies playing together loose and with the other dogs in the house so you can get a sense of how they all get along.

Red Flag: You are only permitted to see one or two puppies at a time, which may be a clue that the dogs have temperament issues.

A good breeder has an obvious rapport with his or her pups. This litter of Irish Water Spaniel puppies is happily playing “follow the breeder.”

Green Light: The puppies and all dogs in the house look healthy, clean, and well-fed. The breeder should offer you proof of vaccinations, wormings, and reports from any veterinary visits and exams.

Red Flag: Puppies who are lethargic or seem unhealthy in any way, and a breeder who cannot answer questions about vaccinations or general health issues such as heartworm, puppy coughs, and so forth.

Green Light: The breeder asks you a lot of questions about what kinds of activities you hope to do with your dog. Using his or her years of experience, the breeder will choose a puppy who has the greatest potential to excel in those activities.

Red Flag: A breeder who says that a puppy will definitely become a show dog. Although a pup may have show potential, there is no way to say for sure whether those qualities will still be there in the adult dog.

Green Light: You like the breeder. This is intangible and, sometimes, great dog people have prickly personalities, but you need to feel as if you trust this person and have a rapport. When you a buy a puppy, you are also forging a link to the breeder. This person will become a mentor, guiding you through those difficult puppy days and early training. In the best cases, you’ll want to share your dog’s life journey with the person responsible for bringing him into the world. There will be great times ahead—graduation from puppy class, passing a CGC, that first agility trial, or a blue ribbon. A good breeder will delight in all of these accomplishments with you, cheering like a proud grandparent at every victory and laughing with glee at every funny picture. That is one of the incredible bonuses of buying a puppy from an AKC breeder. You become part of a huge network, a family of people who, like you, love dogs more than anything on earth.

The experience of choosing a puppy from the right breeder should be rewarding and enjoyable. Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen pups fighting over a stick (top), while a pair of Pembroke Welsh Corgi pups shares a flowerpot (bottom).

The Sport of Dogs

The arena grows dark and hushed, spotlights dance, and a deep voice comes over a loudspeaker. “We highly encourage you to cheer on your favorites,” he urges the crowd, but the spectators need little prodding. They are already shouting the names of the group winners, jumping to their feet to cheer and applaud as, one by one, the best dogs in the country breeze onto the floor.

Thousands of eyes are on the seven glittering, perfectly groomed dogs and their handlers moving in a graceful circle around the carpeted floor. It is the moment of truth, the selection of the top dog, Best in Show, at a major event.

When people think of the sport of dogs, this is what often comes to mind, and for good reason. Such events have been a part of the American landscape since before there was a Brooklyn Bridge or electric lights, when the Westminster Kennel Club held its first bench show in 1877. Seven years later, the founding of the American Kennel Club opened the country’s great age of the dog show.

Head Start for Puppies

The 4-to 6-Month Beginner Puppy Competition is a relaxed, fun way to make your dog-show debut. This class will help you forge a strong bond with your pup and create unforgettable memories. Bonus: You and your pup can work toward an AKC Puppy of Achievement certificate or a Certificate of Merit.

In the years since, there’s been an explosion of sports for four-footed competitors. Today there is something for everyone. Got a Papillon that flies over the furniture? Try agility. Your retriever hangs on your every word? Try obedience, where being a really good dog is a competitive sport. Got a fuzzy shovel who has turned your garden upside down? Earthdog! A hound who chases anything that moves? Lure coursing! A sheepdog who gathers everyone in the house into one corner? Herding! A Bloodhound who can’t get his nose off the ground? Mantrailing or tracking!

The AKC National Championship has become one the nation’s most prestigious and exciting dog shows, usually attracting the largest entries of the year.

Whether a world-famous all-breed dog show or a small local show, conformation shows can be rewarding and great fun for competitors and spectators.

AKC sports and activities fall into five categories: dog shows (conformation), companion events, performance events, the Family Dog Program, and the Title Recognition Program.

Name your dog’s passion, and there’s an AKC activity for it. The opportunities for fun and frolic are endless. For more details on rules, regulations, and titles, visit the AKC website, www.akc.org.

CONFORMATION

The signature event held under AKC rules is the dog show, also known as a conformation event. Judges evaluate a dog’s conformation, which means how the dog’s physical structure and temperament compare to the breed standard, the blueprint of an ideal representative.

Make Me a Match!

It all looks like so much fun—stepping out into the conformation ring with your puppy, flying over agility jumps, showing off your precision obedience moves, or demonstrating your dog’s spectacular sniffing talents. You can’t wait to start this journey. Then, you hit a roadblock—the first step.

As wonderful as the dog-sport world looks to novice eyes, it can also be very intimidating. Along with essentials—training and grooming— there is so much to learn about entering and participating in an event. Match Shows are here to help.

A match show is an informal fun event that offers newcomers a chance to give dog showing a whirl. It’s a safe zone where you can ask questions, make mistakes, and, most of all, have a great time gaining experience in the ring, meeting other dog lovers, and socializing your dog.

Match shows are available for people who are interested in becoming involved in conformation, obedience, rally, or agility. They give newcomers a chance to get guidance from seasoned handlers, judges, and others who are just starting out. It’s pure fun, and educational, too. To learn more, look for match shows on akc.org.

The AKC National Championship not only offers breed classes for all recognized breeds but also features a junior-handling competition.

It Adds Up to Champ

To become an official AKC champion of record, a dog must earn a total of fifteen points; to become a grand champion, twenty-five points. These points are awarded based on the number of dogs in actual competition—the more dogs, the more points. The number of dogs required for points varies with the breed, sex, and geographical location of the show. The AKC makes up a schedule of points each year to help equalize competition from breed to breed and area to area.

Dogs can earn from one to five points at a show. A win of three, four, or five points is called a “major.” The fifteen points required for a championship must be won under at least three different judges and must include two majors won under different judges. To become a grand champion (GCH), a dog must defeat at least one champion of record at three shows on his way to earning twenty-five GCH points.

There are many different kinds of shows, including all-breed shows, specialties (for just one breed), and group shows (for one of the seven groups). The large shows that you see on television are all-breed shows. Dogs first compete against members of their own breed. The top dog from each breed (Best of Breed) then competes against the other winners in the group. Winners from each group vie for Best in Show.

In the show ring, the judge will evaluate each dog moving (called gaiting) around the ring and standing still (called stacking). Then, in a hands-on examination, the judge will measure the fine points of the dog’s structure, from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail. All of this must be achieved in the mere two-and-a-half minutes allotted for each contestant.

Who may participate?

For conformation shows, a dog must:

• be individually registered with the American Kennel Club

• be six months of age or older

• be a breed for which classes are offered at the show

• be unaltered. Spayed or neutered dogs are not eligible to compete in conformation classes because the purpose of a dog show is to evaluate breeding stock. One exception to this rule is in Junior Showmanship, where spayed and neutered dogs can be shown.

Children of All Ages

One thing that strikes first-timers to an AKC event is the great range in the ages among the human participants. It is not unusual to see teenage handlers competing against people old enough to be their grandparents. Age in the competitive dog world is truly just a number, and among the great joys of being part of it are the friendships that leap across the generation gap. From nine to ninety, pick up a show lead, and you have something in common.

The AKC’s Junior Showmanship program is designed to help youngsters gain dog-show experience in conformation. These classes are open to juniors from nine to eighteen years old and are aimed at helping young dog lovers develop handling skills and learn about good sportsmanship, dogs, and dog shows. There are additional opportunities for youngsters in companion and performance events. These programs offer young people direction if they are considering careers that involve dogs, along with a solid foundation for a lifetime of loving canine companions.

COMPANION EVENTS

An all-out celebration of the human-canine bond, companion events demonstrate how well you and your dog work as a team.

Who may participate?

Companion events are open to dogs who are:

• purebreds registered with the AKC

• purebreds listed with the AKC Purebred Alternative Listing/Indefinite Listing Privilege (PAL/ILP) program. This is for dogs who meet the physical standards for a breed but do not have the documentation required for AKC registration. For example, a Labrador Retriever from a shelter, for whom the parents are unknown, may still participate in companion events if he has a PAL number.

• members of a Foundation Stock Service (FSS) recorded breed. The FSS is a breed registry for rare breeds that are working toward AKC recognition.

• any mixed-breed or unregisterable dog listed with the AKC Canine Partners program

• intact, spayed, or neutered

Four activities—agility, obedience, rally, and tracking—fall under the companion events banner. Let’s take a brief look at each of them.

Agility attracts every breed—large and small—to its exciting timed obstacle courses.

Agility

“Addictive” is the word most participants use to describe this fast-paced sport, which was launched in England in the late 1970s. It was invented as a kind of a half-time entertainment during the annual Crufts dog show, with obstacles based on equestrian competitions. The popularity of the sport soared after its introduction in the United States in the 1980s.

Agility tests a team’s skill at negotiating a complex course composed of jumps, tunnels, and other obstacles. Border Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs, and other herding breeds rule here, but you’ll see all kinds, from squat Bulldogs to majestic Great Danes, as well as mixed breeds, dashing around the courses.

Get into the ACT

A good way to get started in agility is the AKC’s Agility Course Test (ACT) program. It’s open to any dog, 15 months old or older, who has not earned an agility title. Purebreds and mixed breeds are all welcome. These courses are designed to introduce dogs and handlers to the agility ring and basic agility obstacles.

There are two levels: one for entry-level dogs and one for those with more advanced skills. The two types of courses are:

• standard, which includes such agility obstacles as the A-frame and dog walk

• jumpers, which has only jumps, tunnels, and weaves

New handlers learn how to enter events, fill out entry forms, read course maps, check in at the ring, and walk courses. Their dogs gain experience navigating courses and paying attention to their handlers. Both dogs and handlers get to practice the most important skill of all—having fun!

Obedience trials have been around since the 1930s and continue to be regarded as the proving grounds of dog trainers.

Obedience

This is a chance to show off how well you and your dog work together as a team by performing a series of obedience exercises that are scored by a judge. At the most fundamental level, teams are judged on how well they perform the simple commands that every dog should know—sit, down, heel, and stay. You can start with informal matches, held by local dog clubs, and then progress to formal AKC competitions. There are several levels, each with more challenging exercises.

AKC Rally®

In rally, dog-and-handler teams negotiate a course of exercises following sequentially numbered signs, known as stations. Each team progresses from sign to sign at its own pace, performing exercises that are written in pictographs on the signs.

Unlike obedience, where commands may be given only once and handlers may not verbally encourage their dogs, in rally it is fine to praise the dog throughout your run. Judges score the teams on how accurately they perform the exercises and how well they work together.

Tracking