The American Kennel Club’s Pick of the Litter is a monthly podcast that covers canine pop culture, its people, and news you can use. Join us to hear from dog owners, handlers, trainers, lovers—and their dogs—at home and in the field, at shows, and anywhere that four legs are as good as two. From canine heroes to celebrated artists, listen in on the wide world of dogs. On this edition, breeder Nodie Williams talks with host Lisa Peterson about the Russell Terrier, which joined the AKC registry this past June. The compact Russell is one of the terriers derived from dogs bred by Parson John Russell in the 19th century, but is smaller, and, Williams says, more “companionable” than its long-legged former relatives. She praises the communication skills of this portable all-rounder. Terriers are one of the breeds being used in the growing field of scent detection, and Jose Peruyero of the J and K Canine Academy in Florida, who trains dogs to alert to everything from bombs to bedbugs, explains why, when it comes to odors, dogs are “the man.” It’s easier than ever to take pictures of our canine companions, but pet photographer Jim Dratfield brings a unique fine-art sensibility to his commissioned portraits. He tells Pick of the Litter’s Sarah Montague how an owner’s house can provide clues to the image he creates, and why the photo of a woman with her Lab, shown here, sums up the canine/human bond. To learn more about Jim’s work, go to petography.com
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