Down and Back: AKC Dog Podcast

In this podcast episode, we explore the greatest sniffing machines in the world of dogdom: the tireless, gentle, and beloved Bloodhounds.

The Bloodhound’s exceptional scenting ability has been a cornerstone of modern crime fighting and search and rescue efforts for generations. There is no equal to this dog’s olfactory talent for picking up a scent and following its trail. Bloodhounds are tenacious scent...

In this episode, we explain how the Non-Sporting group came to be, and why the breeds that comprise the group don’t have much more than their shared group designation in common!

The twenty-one different breeds currently recognized in this group range in size and stature, and some of them are downright, well, sporty. But what they do share often comes down to their original purpose and how the modern worl...

In this episode, we explore beloved canine breeds whose modern names may have gotten a little bit lost in translation over time. Just as humans have migrated all over the earth, so have their loyal, hardworking companions. War, wealth, and trade have all distributed dogs over diverse geographic areas (or in some cases, jobs) that may or may not match up with their monikers. Only true dog enthusiasts could win trivia n...

In this episode, we explore dogs with divine connections and how, for thousands of years, many disparate cultures, in different places and different eras, all chose to infuse canines into their spiritual lives and folklore.

Wherever there have been humans, there have been dogs. Not just in the places we occupy, but in our traditions, folklore, and faith stories. Dogs, who want nothing more than to live w...

In this episode, we explore how the prosperous post-war era shaped the role of dogs in America, and how those dogs have shaped us since.

Dogs have always been a part of the American story, but during the post-war boom, the new idealized self-portrait of the rising middle class included the family dog. 

Some breeds saved from extinction by Ame...

In this episode, we explore the breeds that have made the difference between life and death in some of the planet’s harshest conditions, the spitz-type dog breeds of the north.

Northern breeds provide one of this planet’s great survival stories. For tens of thousands of years, these dog breeds outlasted the worst cold, snow, and ice our planet can impose. And, with their human partners, they’ve survived ...

In this episode, we explore the stories behind some of the expressions we use in everyday conversation that were inspired by our relationship with dogs.

Dogs have been companions to humans across all cultures and on every corner of the globe. So, it is no surprise that language is rich with dog-related idioms, metaphors, and rhetorical devices. Join us as we sniff out the intriguing history of canine exp...

In this episode, we introduce you to the wicked smart, Swiss Army Knife of breeds, the beloved Poodle. 

Over the centuries, Poodles were bred as hunting companions but their versatility and intelligence led them to starring roles such as fashion plates, status symbols, comedians, rescue heroes, and crimefighters. Though often underestimated, underrated, an...

In this episode, we explore the indispensable Sighthounds. The sleek, swift, and beloved desert hunters and guardians of antiquity.

The story of Sighthounds is the story of the oldest known domesticated dogs. Many of the breeds cherished today pre-date recorded history. Their loyalty, speed, and ability to spot and catch prey over long distances in the cruelest of conditions made them essential assets to...

In this episode, we explore the weighty subject of humans finding ways to say goodbye to a beloved dog, and the spectrum of ways people deal with the grief of losing a beloved pet.

For ages, proof of the unique bond between humans and dogs has existed in literature, song, and lore. But rarely discussed are the lengths humans will go to pay homage to their dogs after they have passed. Everyone mourns pet ...

In this episode, we dig deep into the depths of dog lore to separate fact from fiction.

If humans understood all the wags of a dog’s tail there might not be so many misconceptions about what they prefer to eat, whether or not they want that giant hug, or if they really play poker. But, the better we get to know our favorite dogs, the more myths we’re able to bust. More importantly, the better humans unde...

In this episode, we scour through the archives for irresistible stories behind breed names.

Breed names are a vital tool for classifying our canine companions, yet it’s the individuals, the Lunas and Maxs, the Rovers, Spots, and Fidos who breathe meaning into who these breeds become in our lives. Many breeds acquired their names from the prey they hunted, the location in which they were discovered, or by...

In this pick-me-up episode, we introduce you to the characters, companions, clowns, and survivors that are the dogs of the Toy group.

Once seen as symbols of royalty and aristocracy, dogs of the Toy group were often the coveted spoils of revolutions, war, and palace coups. The refined elegance and charm of these compact dogs assisted in their survival and solidified their place in many decidedly non-roya...

In this second installment of guide dog history, we introduce you to a new generation of service dogs and the growing, often unexpected, range of breeds being deployed.

Today, in every part of the world service dogs are being trained and certified to guide the visually and hearing impaired. As scientists explore new frontiers in canine capabilities, evidence suggests that dogs can modify their behavior w...

In this podcast episode, we introduce you to a pivotal moment in the story of humans and canines, the training of guide dogs for the blind and visually impaired.

Historical data suggests that throughout the millennia, dogs have been in service to humans. From a town square in Ancient China to the perilous battlefields of World War I, dogs have sacrificed their own needs and desires to care for, save, and...

In this podcast episode, we introduce you to “All-American Dogs,” or mixed-breed dogs, and share some remarkable stories about them and the owners who love and train them.

The AKC expanded American dog sports to welcome mixed-breed dogs in 2010, and they’ve been competing in events like Agility, Obedience, Fast CAT, and Scent Work ever since. These wild cards of the genus Canis can become circus performe...

In this podcast episode, we tour a century and a half of dog shows. In particular, the 30-year heyday of Morris & Essex Kennel Club’s show. With research from the AKC Library and Archives, we will explore how dog shows have been dramatically reinvented over generations and how those reinventions speak volumes about the ever-evolving bond between humans and dogs.

For three glorious decades, the hottest ticket in states...

In this podcast episode, we explore the history of dogs as brand ambassadors in corporate America’s marketing campaigns.

Simply seeing an image of a dog can instill feelings of comfort in people, which is why corporations use compassionate canines to boost their company’s perception and peddle their products. Many of the most memorable marketing campaigns of the twentieth century included a dog as a masc...

In this podcast episode, we explore canine anatomy to reveal the deliberate function behind the familiar forms of breeds you know. And a few breeds that are not-so-familiar.

The way a dog is built and how it moves says a lot about its original purpose and place of origin. Whether it is to climb steep cliffs to catch birds or having a short stature to keep a nose to the ground, every aspect of a dog’s ana...