When nothing else separates them, the breed standard has a surprising tie-breaker, but only if you don't know the AKC st...
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Written In to Keep Them Out
Rare faults are often mentioned in many breed standards for a reason, even when they are almost never seen......
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Same Dog, New Language
The parent club and AKC didn’t change the Dogo Argentino in 2018—but new language did change how humans could finall...
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French Roots, Belgian Wings
France and Belgium may each rightfully regard the Papillon as a native breed – but why, and how do we know? ...
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The Old English’s “See-Saw” Balance
Balance translates into higher working endurance on stock and greater resilience in repeated high-output efforts—wheth...
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“They Should Move As They Stand”
Judges often summarize this universal concept as “good dogs don’t change when they move.” ...
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The Irish Setter’s Signature Word
Can you catch the one word—hidden in a song—that defines an entire breed?...
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Why Don’t They Bark?
Until the late 1970s, the “fact” that the breed was barkless was largely observational, but this changed in the late...
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Rhodes Scholar + Olympic Gold = Dual Champion
Imagine the winner of the Miss Universe pageant—or a Rhodes Scholar—going on to win Olympic gold in the decathlon as...
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Heart of Glass, a Heart for Chins
When a celebrity owns the same breed as other owners, it can validate intentional ownership and serve as a springboard t...
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The Devoted Independent
Understanding a unique balance of traits helps set realistic expectations: an Azawakh is best suited to an owner who res...
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Water Rug!
When modern dog encyclopedias define a “water rug” as a rough‑coated hound once used on aquatic quarry, they are e...
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The Nutmeggers’ Official State Dog
In 2022, Jonathan appeared virtually to the General Administrations and Elections Committee for the state of Connecticut...
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Why We Keep Saying Dog Breed Names Wrong
It is honestly baffling to us that many of these breeds have been around for ages, others have frequently appear in movi...
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The Noble Snobs
A certain expression required in both the Chow Chow and Chinese Shar-Pei standards wasn’t cosmetic but functional; Bot...
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The Tail of the “Royal Dog of Scotland”
iI you are a regular reader of these pages, you know to ask yourself why a breed standard – or any part of it – is w...
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Nine Characteristics Shared by all Sighthounds
We share a list that is still quoted and discussed by breed experts......
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The Pleading Hound Eye
Away from the show ring, a judge reading the standards of certain hound breeds gets an instant mental picture of the big...
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A Liquid Look
Two species have a signature clear, liquid, and soulful "I'm yours" gaze......
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