It was a game that went to the dogs.

More than a thousand of the world’s top athletes from 11 countries descended Thursday on the grass fields of Scottsdale’s WestWorld to begin their quest for medals, prize money and gourmet jerky treats.

If Chase the German shepherd could talk, he’d thank a lot of people for the Best in Show/Opposite Sex ribbon he won Friday at the Fiesta Cluster Dog Show at West-World of Scottsdale.

Brothers Brett and Aaron Buckmister were close friends who did everything together, until Brett, a Department of Public Safety officer, died in the line of duty March 21, 2000. Brett was 27.

Dachshunds, terriers, German shepherds and other dogs will strut their stuff today at a dog parade in Scottsdale.

Dachshunds, terriers, German shepherds and other dogs will strut their stuff today at a dog parade in Scottsdale.

PLAINSBORO, N.J. - New Jersey authorities say a woman drowned trying to retrieve her grandson's dog from a frozen pond.

Baloo, a member of the Tempe Police Department canine unit, died Tuesday from a broken spine and other injuries suffered during a fall in the line of duty.

Heidi is a regular at Banner Gateway Medical Center - the 7-year-old German shepherd visits patients there every Sunday.

PHOENIX - Thousands of bees attacked a family dog and stung three people at a Glendale home. The attack began when Malissa Ramirez and her family heard their chow-German shepherd mix frantically pawing at the back door around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.

In the days following the death of Chandler’s police dog Bandit, the public has led an emotionally charged attack on the officer who was responsible for the 5-year-old Belgian Malinois.

Officer John Lafontaine stepped out of his patrol car to approach the large, muscular man he suspected of harassing residents in a run-down neighborhood near 64th Street and Broadway Road.

Officer John Lafontaine stepped out of his patrol car to approach the large, muscular man he suspected of harassing residents in a run-down neighborhood near 64th Street and Broadway Road. “Hey!” Lafontaine said sharply. “Step over here.”

Officer John Lafontaine stepped out of his Mesa patrol car to approach the large, muscular man he suspected of harassing residents in a run-down neighborhood near 64th Street and Broadway Road.

Gilbert resident Sandy Thomas didn’t know what to expect when husband Robert came home with his first guide dog, a yellow Labrador retriever named Eve, more than 10 years ago.

SUN CITY - Danya Leshick isn’t afraid of big, bad wolves. She shares her property on the Surprise border with 10 wolf-dog hybrids, rescued from animal shelters or by owners turning them in.

Like any true celebrity, Uggie, the Jack Russell terrier from "The Artist" and "Water for Elephants," puts in his time on the treadmill.

A list of America’s most popular dog breeds

The American Kennel Club has been tracking the popularity of purebred dogs for 128 years as the number of recognized breeds grew from nine to 177. A list of the country’s most popular dog breeds by the decade, according to data released by the AKC:

— 1880s: Top five breeds (English setters, Irish setters, pointers, Irish water spaniels and Gordon setters) were all working gun dogs, which helped hunters retrieve game.

— 1890s: The Saint Bernard takes the No. 1. spot, becoming the only giant breed to reach the top but never return.

— 1900s: The collie debuts at No. 1. The Boston terrier becomes the first small companion dog to reach No. 2.

— 1910s: The Boston terrier becomes the top dog and remains the only American breed to reach that spot.

— 1920s: The German shepherd takes over at No. 1 in 1925.

— 1930s: Boston terriers reclaim the top spot, and cocker spaniels begin their impressive climb. In the 1930s, the decade of the Great Depression, all top 10 breeds are small or medium-sized companion dogs.

— 1940s: Cocker spaniels (American and English, all colors) begin their reign. Influences included My Own Brucie, who won dozens of best-of-show titles and a likeness on the cover of Life Magazine.

— 1950s: The beagle becomes the nation’s top breed for most of the decade. Charles Schultz’s Snoopy makes his first appearance in national newspapers on Oct. 4, 1950.

— 1960s: Poodles take over as No. 1 in 1960 and stay there until 1982.

— 1970s: Poodles have the top spot locked up but in a harbinger of things to come, the Labrador retriever makes the top 10 for the first time.

— 1980s: Cocker spaniels return to the top.

— 1990s: Labrador retrievers take over and hold tight through at least 2012. Hollywood’s fascination with pocket pups is having an effect, as the decade marks the first appearance of the Yorkshire terrier, and the Pomeranian returns to the top 10 for the first time since the 1930s.

— 2000s: The Labrador retriever is overwhelmingly No. 1.

The dog’s death appeared to be premeditated and well planned.

Like any true celebrity, Uggie, the Jack Russell terrier from “The Artist” and “Water for Elephants,” puts in his time on the treadmill.

A rash of dog poisonings in Mesa has owners who often take their dogs to a popular park concerned about their pets' safety, and many have banded together to offer a reward in the hope of finding the culprit.

With more than 10,000 hours of experience training dogs, Louis Robinson has finally started doing it for a living.