New York, NY – Are you interested in learning training and grooming tips from the pros? Or considering adding a new family member? Be sure to mark "AKC® Responsible Dog Ownership Day" on your calendar. This month-long celebration includes hundreds of organizations around the country holding free events filled with fun and engaging activities for every current or future dog owner. AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day events are held throughout September and are listed on www.akc.org.
"Due to the increasingly important role dogs play in our lives, practicing responsible dog ownership and training our dogs to be good citizens is more vital than ever. According to an AKC survey, 88% of pet owners consider their dogs family members," said AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "It is important for dog owners to be courteous and respectful of their neighbors so we can strengthen relationships between dog owners and non-owners in our communities."
Each AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day event is unique but many include obedience and agility demonstrations, Meet the Breeds, microchipping clinics, breed rescue information, therapy dog/service dog demonstrations, health clinics, safety around dogs for kids, giveaways and other entertaining and educational activities. If you want to show your friends and family what a respectable member of society your dog can be, take the AKC Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) Test. This 10-step test certification rewards well-mannered, obedient dogs – and is offered at many of our events.
Listings of all events can be found and searched by state at https://www.akc.org/clubs/rdod/events/. The site will be updated weekly to reflect new additions. Over 200 local events have been entered to date, including:
- 9/06-Clearwater Kennel Club, Clearwater, Fla. –Meet the Breeds, 25 Rescue groups, AKC CAR microchip clinic, AKC Canine Good Citizen® testing, K-9 massage and chiropractor, therapy/service dog instruction, obedience and agility demos, County Sheriff K-9 Unit demonstration and more.
- 9/13-West Highland White Terrier Club of Northern N.J. – All breed fun walk, West Highland White Terrier breed match, All-breed rally and obedience match, dog events and games, educational demonstrations, AKC Canine Good Citizen® testing. Food and refreshments will be offered as well as other fun activities.
- 9/21-Butte County Kennel Club, Inc., Chico, Calif. – AKC CAR microchip clinic, AKC Canine Good Citizen® testing, educational demonstrations, Meet the Breeds, grooming tips and games.
AKC will celebrate AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day in New York City on Saturday, September 20 and Raleigh, N.C. on Saturday, September 27. Both events will feature many AKC-recognized breeds and agility and obedience demonstrations. AKC Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) testing and low-cost microchipping will also be offered.
AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day is nationally sponsored by Invisible Fence Brand, whose behavior-based containment system has successfully kept over 2 million dogs safely contained in both outdoor and indoor environments. Invisible Fence Brand will be highlighting their commitment to responsible dog ownership this September by working with event-hosting organizations across the country to provide resources and information for pet owners. Learn more about our sponsor at www.invisiblefence.com.
Organizations interested in hosting an AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day event should contact the AKC at communications@akc.org or visit https://www.akc.org/rdod