Once the loyal companions of Chinese royalty, today's Pugs live to please their owners. With their friendly, fun-loving personalities, it's no wonder that this largest member of the Toy Group makes the ideal companion. Prepping a Pug pup to follow good behavior guidelines isn't tricky. Forget intense training, as a little planning and consistency will [...]

Seventeen-year-old Isabella Ruffoni from Gilroy, CA is a third-generation dog show handler, but didn't get involved in the sport until she was 15.

In its endless pursuit to recognize outstanding members of the fancy, The American Kennel Club Lifetime Achievement Awards were created and first awarded in 1999 to honor our best. The purpose of the awards is to celebrate those individuals whose many years of dedication have led to significant contributions to our Sport on a national level [...]

AKC is published bi-monthly. It is not available on any newsstand. Subscribe now and be on the mailing list for the very next issue! One year (6 issues) of AKC is only $9.95. SUBSCRIBE NOW! See a sneak peak of the September/October 2017 issue: The Puppy Issue When Bulldogs Fly They have a surprising repertoire of talents [...]

The other day, Molly and I were working the puppies through Tractor Supply. As I got out Pitter Patter, an older woman was in the parking lot with a German Shepherd puppy. Her puppy was showing obvious aggression toward the Malinois puppy, so I moved quickly and got the pup in a routine of following [...]

Rescue Pup Uses Her Nose to Keep America Safe  Beagle-mix Millie was seeking a new home through a rescue group when the US Customs and Border Patrol found the energetic pup and put her to work with its Beagle Brigade. Now Millie is employed at the Miami (FL) International Airport, stopping contraband from entering the [...]

The other day, Molly and I were working the puppies through Tractor Supply. As I got out Pitter Patter, an older woman was in the parking lot with a German Shepherd puppy. Her puppy was showing obvious aggression toward the Malinois puppy, so I moved quickly and got the pup in a routine of following [...]

It has only been three days with the new puppy “Trip” but here are some things that might not be second nature to everyone- Patience is my greatest ally- I have 10 to 14 months to bring out the best in this pup. I haven’t put a leash on him yet. I want independence, not control [...]

It has only been three days with the new puppy “Trip” but here are some things that might not be second nature to everyone- Patience is my greatest ally- I have 10 to 14 months to bring out the best in this pup. I haven’t put a leash on him yet. I want independence, not control [...]

It has only been three days with the new puppy “Trip” but here are some things that might not be second nature to everyone- Patience is my greatest ally- I have 10 to 14 months to bring out the best in this pup. I haven’t put a leash on him yet. I want independence, not control [...]

Earlier this month we had a prime training opportunity: a Christmas Market held just two blocks away. With pop-up stalls, crowds, lots of unusual objects, overhead announcements, music, generators, and dancing, the market provides quite a challenge for socialization and environmental stability. We knew that these two pups were not ready for that level of [...]

This video pops up frequently in social media. What I like about it: -Time saving exercise with low requirement on the training knowledge of the care giver -Great use of social learning within the litter What I don’t like, based on my experience: – Difficult to capture performance data on the individuals in the litter [...]

This video pops up frequently in social media. What I like about it: -Time saving exercise with low requirement on the training knowledge of the care giver -Great use of social learning within the litter What I don’t like, based on my experience: – Difficult to capture performance data on the individuals in the litter [...]

Earlier this month we had a prime training opportunity: a Christmas Market held just two blocks away. With pop-up stalls, crowds, lots of unusual objects, overhead announcements, music, generators, and dancing, the market provides quite a challenge for socialization and environmental stability. We knew that these two pups were not ready for that level of [...]

Training Plans and Development Overview How Training Frequency Impacts Learning Lemonade Starting with an 8 week old pup The Play Ideas Video Assessment versus training Play is Pay!!! Putting it all together Content versus Context Raising Criteria in Odor Recognition Stuff Creating Behavioral Pathways Training with Food Machines A Puppy named Task Possession, possession, possession! Ten [...]

by Lacey Herbel "Don't chew on that!" "Bad puppy! We don't potty inside!" "No! No! No! Stop barking!" When buying a new puppy, many people find that they don't come already trained. There are plenty of things that need to be tweaked before beginning training for a herding dog. Many times a new or even [...]

The Spotlight shines on one of – if not the – rarest breed competing in League over the Fall Season. Allie is a Stabyhoun – a Dutch breed that is an all-around farm dog, doing any task needed, including hunting birds and small game. They also can run agility – as proven by Allie who has earned a number [...]

AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy: 20 Steps for Success The AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy program focuses on all the things every puppy and owner need to have a great start together. STAR stands for Socialization, Training, Activity and a Responsible owner and in six weeks of STAR puppy classes, puppies and dogs learn [...]

1st AKC Rally Masters Title: PACH Uggie Bug Jones CDX RM RAE FDC AX AXJ MXP7 MXPG MJP7 MJPS PAX2 OF MFPB T2BP2 SIN SEN SBN CGCA CGCU TKP & Shannon Jones of Cary, NC It was a cold day in February 2003 when a tiny puppy, freezing and starving, was discovered hiding in Shannon [...]

This article is brought to you by Christie Canfield of the AKC GoodDog! Helpline training team. The helpline is a seven-day-a-week telephone support line staffed by experienced dog trainers. It can be bewildering. Enter a pet supply shop to buy your dog a present and face aisle after aisle of different toys. Which one and [...]