Down and Back: AKC Dog Podcast

Aug 14 2024 32 ep. 25 mins 37
Down and Back: AKC Dog Podcast artwork

Host Bud Boccone tells the tales of breeds, dogs, and dog-loving humans who’ve shaped America (and Americans) over generations. Tapping 140 years of historical records, archival footage, oral histories, interviews, and more, Down and Back brings the stories of the sport of dogs to life as only AKC can.

  History  Society & Culture
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Ask Bud: Dog Facts, Fiction, and Fun

Aug 14 2024 25 mins  
In this episode, Bud Boccone separates fact from fiction as he answers questions about the Titanic, allergy season, studbooks, and all kinds of other dog-related trivia. However many thousands of years we spend getting to know dogs, it seems there is always something new to learn. From their origins to survival stories, dogs lead fascinating lives. For humans, observing, collecting

Bloodhounds: Super Sleuths, Heroes, and Icons

Jul 31 2024 26 mins  
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. Bloo

A Motley Crew of Canines: Meet the Non-Sporting Group

Jul 17 2024 26 mins  
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 purpos

Canine Name Game: The Wacky World of Dog Breed Misnomers

Jul 03 2024 26 mins  
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 tr

Dogs and Divinity: Maybe It’s No Accident That “Dog” Spelled Backwards Is “God”

Jun 19 2024 28 mins  
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 noth

The Golden Age of Canines: Americans Roll Over for Dogs Post-WWII

Jun 05 2024 27 mins  
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 American breeders rallied to become cultura

Northern Stars: Spitz-Type Breeds and the Story of Human-Canine Cooperation

May 22 2024 28 mins  
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

Fetching Phrases: The Curious Origins of Dog-Inspired Expressions

May 08 2024 26 mins  
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 intriguin

Poodles: A Marvel of Intelligence and Versatility

May 24 2023 25 mins  
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, and misunderstood, Poodles m

Sighthounds: Sleek, Swift, and Eternal

May 10 2023 25 mins  
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 t