It’s not a topic anyone likes to discuss, but if you own a dog, chances are you have found yourself cleaning up a smelly mess of dog diarrhea (or, not-quite-politely put, doggie "runs") more times than you’d care to think about. Diarrhea is a common dog condition and it varies in frequency, duration, and intensity […]

When you bring that fuzzy ball of puppy energy into your home, you know right away that your new puppy depends on you for, well, everything. It’s up to you to give your new puppy all the care they need every day. It can be a little intimidating — your puppy needs the best puppy […]

Puppy vaccinations can help prevent your new pet from getting very sick. Learn about some of the diseases that puppy vaccinations may help your dog avoid.

Bringing home a new puppy is incredibly exciting. During the COVID-19 pandemic, more people than ever are looking to add a dog to their lives as they self isolate. Many puppy seekers wonder: is now the right time to get a puppy? The answer to that question differs from person to person. Were you prepared […]

Kennel cough in dogs is a highly contagious respiratory disease in dogs. But what causes kennel cough (also known as canine infectious tracheobronchitis), and how can you prevent your dog from getting it? Learn more about kennel cough in dogs to help keep your pet healthy. How Does Kennel Cough in Dogs Spread? Dogs commonly […]

Rolissa Nash has been fighting her whole life for equality in and out of the show ring. Rolissa Nash was born in 1950 — a premature baby wedged halfway between a century. At only four pounds, 11 ounces, her difficult birth was just the beginning of her lifelong health struggles, and only one of the […]

Water and soil outside can contain bacteria that can be dangerous to your dog, even causing a leptospirosis infection. What is leptospirosis in dogs?

During this age of COVID-19, you practice social distancing and abide by stay at home regulations. But even with all safety measures, you should be prepared if the worst happens and you become ill or hospitalized.  Create a plan and designate caretakers so your dogs are supported if your family and you are unable to do so. Being […]

If you saw Cherry Pie today, you'd have no idea the athletic, 13-year-old Cocker Spaniel was once a broken-boned puppy, hit by a car, and on the verge of euthanasia. Now in her golden years, the senior dog is healthier than ever, and she has a lifetime of accomplishments to show for it. But before […]

Life with dogs gets messy. Keeping an arsenal of cleaning products and supplies on hand is essential for our sanity as dog owners, but using these cleaning products safely can get tricky. Now more than ever, people are doing their best to keep their homes clean to prevent COVID-19. Here are some tips to help […]

You've likely seen viral photos of search dogs in Australia locating and saving Koalas amidst the country's devastating fires. But did you know those aren't the only dogs trained to support conservation efforts? Sniffing out animals, scat, plants, diseases, and more, specially-trained conservation dogs and their handlers are hard at work across the United States […]

The American Kennel Club welcomes the introduction of the Healthy Dog Importation Act of 2023  in the United States Senate. AKC is grateful for the continuing and bipartisan leadership of Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tina Smith (D-Minn.) as lead sponsors of the bill and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga), Roger Marshall (R-Kan) and Kirsten Gillibrand […]

Rarely life-threatening but always irritating, the common cold is just a fact of life for humans. But can dogs get colds? Dogs can get infections that make them sneeze and sniffle, just like we do. However, your dog's cold symptoms could also be the result of a more serious disease. What Is a Cold? When […]

Are you noticing your dog has a runny nose and a sudden, harsh cough that sounds like a goose honking? There's a good chance they're suffering from an upper respiratory infection. You might dismiss a cough as something that will pass in a few days. While this is often the case, these types of infections […]

Have you ever opened a jar of peanut butter and watched your dog come running from 50 yards away? Or seen your dog sniff out a tasty morsel in a five-acre field? These are just two examples of the incredible sense of smell that dogs have. Their noses are at least 100,000 times more sensitive […]

American Kennel Club Updates on COVID-19 Pandemic Please see the following message from the AKC Board of Directors and AKC Staff: Covid-19: Participating in Dog Sports The American Kennel Club continues to encourage each of its 5,000 clubs to adhere to federal, state and local restrictions pertaining to minimizing the spread of COVID-19.  As states […]

“When Harry Met Minnie: A True Story of Love and Friendship,” by Martha Teichner. Celadon Books. $26.99. OK, admit it. When you see that book title your first thoughts turn to the popular 1989 romantic comedy, “When Harry Met Sally,” starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan. Some of the same elements are in this tender, […]

So many parts of our daily lives have changed in the past few years. While our favorite dog activities — from classes and seminars to shows — have resumed safely, there are now some permanent virtual training options that you can do from the comfort of your home or on vacation. You and your dog […]

Tomorrow, February 3, the Maryland House Judiciary Committee will be holding a hearing on House Bill 508, which provides certain liability protections when there has been exposure to the COVID-19 virus. Those AKC clubs with concerns about the ability to conduct events while under a higher potential exposure to liability actions associated with COVID-19 may […]

Depending on the type and intensity of a natural disaster or pandemic, it may be safer for you and your dog to stay where you are than to evacuate. FEMA advises that sheltering in place is appropriate when “conditions require that you seek immediate protection in your home, place of employment, school, or other location […]

Typically breeders plan their litters far in advance. However, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic that has gripped our world, there are issues to consider beyond the pedigrees and the physical compatibility of sire and dam. So, what should we as breeders be thinking about before we proceed with that spring breeding? Is now the […]

More people than ever before are opening their hearts and homes to puppies during the coronavirus pandemic. For those who are self-isolating, puppies provide welcome wagging tails and comforting cuddles. Plus, many puppy seekers are discovering they now have the crucial element needed to raise a good dog: time. So, is now the right time to […]

It's been almost a decade since Sharon Gardner of Austin, Texas, had her most devastating experience as a Rhodesian Ridgeback breeder. With no warning, her litter of five-and-a-half-week-old puppies began showing signs of lethargy. Then came the diarrhea and vomiting. A test performed by her veterinarian delivered the bleak diagnosis: parvovirus, a highly contagious disease […]

EDITOR'S NOTE: A big, blinking, red stop sign of warning: There is absolutely no connection between the COVID-19 virus and any canine coronavirus referenced in this article. Most importantly, even though dogs can get a mild respiratory form of the canine-specific coronavirus, that virus is totally unrelated to the current human pandemic. Bottom line: Your dog […]

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. —Maya Angelou A young vet assistant carried my Lab, Fergus, into a room set aside for euthanasia. While Fergus lay on a large, soft pillow, I lay down beside him. I told him what a good guy he was and how I loved him. […]

COVID-19 has changed the way we live and the things that we are able to do with our dogs. But amidst all the cancellations and hardships, one bright light has been the expansion of virtual competition in dog sports, and the ability to participate in dog events remotely. One of the exciting side effects of […]

“HOLD STILL!” Telemedicine sounds easy—talk to your vet, never leave your armchair.  And sometimes it is. But sometimes it isn’t. Like now. Have you ever tried holding your dog while pulling his lips back to expose his rearmost molars while at the same time trying to aim your cell-phone camera at the tooth in question? […]

During the COVID-19 lockdown, your puppy won the people lottery by enjoying your attention around the clock. Snuggling for hours on the couch, long neighborhood walks, and extra lunchtime treats were all in a day's work. It's a heavenly routine your canine best friend has come to rely on. The downside is that your pup […]

In the dog community, the word "coronavirus" is far from new. For decades, we have known dogs can contract coronaviruses. In fact, Canine Coronavirus was first discovered in Germany in 1971 after an outbreak among guard dogs and vaccines have been available at most veterinary practices for years. These coronaviruses, however, are not the same virus […]

Puppies have a short time window for optimal socialization, and that requires exposure to multiple different surfaces, people of all backgrounds, and various new situations. But what about the puppies who happen to be within that window now, during this time of necessary social distancing due to COVID-19? How can they be socialized so they […]