Healthy aging starts with providing proper nutrition throughout a dog’s life, but it is never too late to begin feeding a healthy diet to help increase your old dog's time with you. Here are some tips on feeding senior dogs from the AKC Canine Health Foundation: Get out the measuring cups: One of the keys to […]

For a variety of reasons (including better nutrition, advances in veterinary medicine, and a more health-conscious American public) domestic dogs are living longer lives. As a result, veterinarians and dog owners are just now learning to manage an array of canine geriatric problems. For older dogs, three main factors can greatly influence longevity: Diet and […]

Gander Raises Awareness of Service Dogs’ Healing Magic     When the 2014 winners of the AKC Humane Fund Awards of Canine Excellence (ACE) were presented at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championships, the roll call included a former shelter dog who almost lost his life and a military veteran who nearly took his own life. Gander […]

Dogs Have Feelings Too – New Book Strives to Improve Child-Dog Relationships We recently spoke with certified dog trainer and behaviorist Michelle Godlevski of Raleigh, NC, about her new book, Dogs Have Feelings Too. Michelle wrote the children’s book to teach youngsters to recognize dog body language and to promote empathy in children on how […]

What you may consider simply an indulgent spa service can actually benefit your pet’s mental and physical health. Massage may reduce stress and anxiety, increase circulation, decrease pain, and strengthen the bond between you and your dog. Also, it can help to identify new growths at an early stage. The best part? You don’t even […]

ASK AKC  Dear AKC: My seven-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever is beginning to limp on his right rear leg. He doesn't want to put any weight on it. About two years ago, he had surgery on his left knee to fix a ruptured cruciate ligament due to an injury. Is it possible the other knee will need […]

Some veterinarians view low-energy lasers as a noninvasive alternative treatment of arthritic inflammation and chronic pain in dogs. It’s not a panacea, but combined with other treatment, it can ease your dog’s arthritis pain. Arthritis (osteoarthritis) is a common degenerative disease in which cartilage wears away and inflammation, swelling, and joint deformity all result. The […]

While the benefits of pet ownership far outweigh the costs, every responsible dog owner should know that along with love and companionship comes financial responsibility. In today’s challenging economic times it pays to save wherever you can. But saving money doesn’t mean you need to skimp on your pet. The AKC offers the following preventative […]

by Sandra MurrayReprinted from: Essential Elements, ShowSight Magazine   Reprinted from: Essential Elements, ShowSight Magazine As a youngster she had won her breed’s National Sweepstakes. Not long after that win, she finished her championship with three 5 point majors, all at large regional specialties. During her specials career she earned multiple Group placements and Best […]

Like people, some dogs don’t like strangers getting too close. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the dog is mean, aggressive, or dangerous. He is just not the kind of dog who will happily accept petting from groups of strange children or adults, or is at ease with other dogs. He may be sick, recovering from […]

By Chris RobinsonReprinted from The Canine Chronicle Bob: Thanks, Doc, for working me into your busy schedule. Dr. Spot: Well, Bob, that is not an unusual situation. Most dogs have difficulty understanding their humans. Why don’t you tell me some of the things your human has been doing and perhaps I can give you some help. Bob: Well, […]

UC-II® – a breakthrough way of supporting joint health by targeting the immune system. What Is Osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is a painful, progressive condition that gradually breaks down the cartilage surrounding your dog’s joints. There are several causes of osteoarthritis. Some dogs have congenital abnormalities, such as hip dysplasia, that predispose them […]

After owning dogs his entire life, retired Marine Cpl. Justin Crabbe feels that having a dog is second nature to him. However, when he enrolled in the United States Marine Corps in 2008, it’s unlikely he realized the crucial role a dog would come to play in his life seven years later. Crabbe is now […]

ASK AKC  Dear AKC: I just adopted an older Finnish Spitz from a friend who could no longer keep the dog because she was moving overseas. The dog is 10 years old and she's really sweet. I was wondering if there was anything in particular I should do for the dog as she ages into an […]

To tell you the truth, if Wyn, my Welsh Springer, wanted to sleep on my bed, I would let him do it provided he didn't thrash around keep me awake all night. But, from the time he was with his littermates, Wyn has chosen a quiet place by himself to sleep. He sleeps in his own […]

Has your senior dog developed health problems that make a trip outside to the toilet area challenging? Perhaps stairs are too difficult for his arthritic joints or he can no longer hold it through the night. There are many health conditions that can interfere with your older dog's bathroom routine, and in some cases, indoor […]

  RALEIGH, NC – The American Kennel Club and the AKC Canine Health Foundation are pleased to debut the next podcast in the Genome Barks series.  This week on Genome Barks, Lee Arnold, a member of the Board of Directors of the AKC Canine Health Foundation, welcomes veterinary orthopedist Dr. Denis Marcellin-Little from North Carolina […]

  Raleigh, NC – The American Kennel Club’s Companion Animal Recovery program (AKC CAR) has reached many milestones in its nearly 11 years of existence. The program serves as the national registry for microchipped pets, where a pet’s microchip ID number and owner’s contact information are stored and used when a lost pet is reported […]

Back pain is a common condition in the canine world. From traumatic spinal injuries to intervertebral disk disease, back pain can affect all sorts of breeds, although some may be more at risk than others. As owners, we want to know what we can do to help our dogs cope, whether the pain is temporary or chronic. Weight […]

  Just like people, as dogs get older their bodies, brains, and behavior change. Some of these changes are easy to spot, like sleeping more, but others, like hearing loss, might easily be overlooked. Owners sometimes write off these changes as normal signs of old age, but there is a difference between normal aging and […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®), the world’s largest purebred dog registry and leading advocate for dogs, is proud to announce the recipients of the second set of 2018 AKC Paw of CourageSM awards to show appreciation for the working canines that put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe. This […]

Even if, in your house, the term "dog bed" means any place your dog chooses to sleep, it's a good idea to provide one real dog bed. Whether your dog sleeps with you at night or in his own bed, this will be his very own special place to snooze, keep you company in the […]

Deep in the AKC Gazette photo archive is a battered old Kodak film box. It contains several rare—and extremely fragile—glass negatives taken by Rudolph Tauskey. They date to the early 1920s. Canine photography buffs have assumed for years that all of Tauskey’s glass negatives were lost, but six survive. Using a sophisticated scanner, the AKC Publications […]

What you may consider an indulgent spa service can benefit your pet’s mental and physical health. Massage may reduce stress and anxiety, increase circulation, decrease pain, and strengthen the bond between you and your dog. Also, it can help to identify new growths at an early stage. The best part? You don’t even have to […]

You might have noticed your older dog slowing down in recent years. Maybe he is playing less and sleeping more. Although this might seem normal for an aging canine, arthritis could be to blame. What Is Arthritis? There are several different types of arthritis that can affect dogs, but the most common is osteoarthritis — […]

Typically, the breed we choose to raise and show over many years and generations is the one to which we are committed for life. Yet sometimes, there are reasons - physical or emotional - that we are drawn to another breed. As exhibitors, we probably all have dozens of breeds that we admire at shows […]

Your dog's sleeping habits may begin to change as he or she ages Sleeping more is (usually) very normal for senior dogs, although there can sometimes be reason to worry Pay attention to your dog's behavior — changes in sleep cycles may be an indication of possible disease If you have a senior dog at […]

Barbara Miller of Glen Head, New York, is synonymous with Norfolk Terriers. And not just those from her top-winning Max-Well Kennel. The 2007 AKC Breeder of the Year (and 2002 AKC Terrier Breeder of the Year), Miller was the president of the parent club when her breed amicably split in 1979, creating the drop-eared Norfolk Terrier and the prick-eared Norwich Terrier. However, her earliest years in […]

"Cancer" — that dreaded word that nobody wants to hear. But as a leading cause of death in dogs, it's a reality all too many owners may have to face. Sadly, many cancers have a genetic basis, meaning there's not much owners can do to avoid it in their dogs. Yet there are certain choices […]

Even under the best circumstances, a dog's life is too short. It's a difficult subject, but one every pet owner must face eventually. As the end of your dog's life approaches, whether due to illness or old age, you might be contemplating some difficult choices. But while euthanasia was long considered the most humane option […]