Welcome to The Academic Hound, the ultimate online encyclopedia for all things dog! Whether you’re here because you’re thinking about adding a new furry member to the family, or you’re just a passionate dog lover who can’t get enough of breed trivia (who isn’t?), you’ve come to the right place.

Once upon a time, this site was home to a bustling dog training business. We spent years helping humans and their four-legged best friends live their best lives together, one training session at a time. Along the way, we wrote blog after blog about dog breeds—because honestly, once you fall down the rabbit hole of dog facts, there’s no going back. Now, those blogs have evolved into this very encyclopedia!

Our goal? To bring you the juiciest, most useful details about every breed under the sun (and a few that live on our couches). From the tiny but mighty Chihuahua to the hairy yet elegant Afghan Hound, we’ve got it all covered. Expect the occasional side note about how much hair a certain breed will leave on your black pants (spoiler: a lot) or how likely you might need to invest in earplugs!

Who’s Behind This Dog Encyclopedia?

Behind the screen is Shay – Certified Professional Trainer who is mostly retired after a fun 20 year professional career (although still spends a great amount of time training her own dogs). She is a dog trainer turned writer, who’s spent years working with dogs of all shapes, sizes, and personalities—and has probably been licked by more dogs than she can count! Shay grew up in a “dog family” and was heavily involved in dog shows and dog sports from an early age. Still active in the competition world today, she shares her life with 3 comically entertaining dogs.

Why We Do What We Do

Dogs aren’t just pets—they’re family. And like any family member, they deserve to be understood, loved, and celebrated for their weird habits and quirks. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions about dogs, whether you’re thinking about adding a pup to the family or you just want to know why your Great Dane thinks he’s a lapdog. We believe that the more you know about your dog, the better life you’ll have together.

So grab a treat (for yourself or your dog, we won’t tell), kick back, and dive into the fascinating world of dog breeds with us!

P.S. Got Questions? We’ve Got (Mostly) Answers!

We’re here to help with any and all dog-related queries. Feel free to paws and send us a message anytime. (Okay, we’re done with the puns. For now.)