Pogo was adopted by Wendy from an animal shelter on April 2, 2010, when he was 4 months of age, and they started agility training three months later. Wendy said she resisted any formal obedience training, thinking it was too strict and tedious, but after much encouragement from her trainer, she finally decided to try […]

German Shepherd Dogs are among the most popular breeds in the world, consistently in the top five AKC breed rankings for most years these records have been kept. It's not hard to understand why. German Shepherds, the result of one man's vision of canine perfection, were designed to be the ultimate in work ethic, courage, […]

So you've fallen in love with the stunning, brilliant breed known as the German Shepherd Dog. You are not alone. The German Shepherd, also known by the shorthand GSD, is among the world's most popular canine companions and workers. If you want a job done—whether it's apprehending dangerous criminals, sniffing rubble for disaster survivors, or […]

  Once the new puppy is home and settled, many of us feel at least a little apprehension underneath all the excitement as we realize the next daunting step: training. Not just house training but also socialization, basic manners, obedience, and even tricks or other skills such as agility. Resources describing the nitty-gritty details regarding […]

Brittany adopted Sammy from the Humane Society of Northeast Iowa in the summer 2013. “Although sensitive, Sammy has a high drive and passion for learning,” Brittany said. “Her shy nature is always overtaken by her will to learn and compete.” Training helped Sammy gain confidence. Sammy now competes regularly in obedience, rally, agility, and barn […]

This Oscar is no grouch. The 6-year-old Dachshund volunteers with his owner Robin Douglas as a therapy dog at several locations in Wisconsin. But in addition to his typical duties, snuggling with residents at Agrace Hospice Care, for instance, or visiting with students from a local college, he has a special gimmick—wearing festive costumes. Oscar […]

June 2013.  I was settling in for the evening with my two Golden Retrievers who had just enjoyed a fun weekend in the Blue Ridge Mountains at an obedience trial.  Before the night was over, I would find myself with one less golden as a result of bloat. That tragic loss began the journey that […]

Simon was wandering the roads of Georgia when animal control picked him up and took him to the county shelter. The Aussie-mix was getting along in years and was in bad shape. The chances were slim that he would be adopted before his time was up, but Country Livin’ Pet Rescue pulled him out of […]

Sype's Harlie RN TD TDU THD CGCA CGCU, known as just Harlie, has so many dog sports titles now that they are longer than his name. But as a puppy, Harlie was abandoned by his owner in a vacant rental property with little food or water because she said the pup was “untrainable.” Harlie’s loving […]

By AKC GoodDog! Helpline Trainer Hilarie Erb This Valentine’s Day, think about who really loves you unconditionally. It’s nice that your human significant other doesn’t steal your socks, but does he/she match your dog’s crazy enthusiasm every time you come home? Here are some things you can do for your dog that will show your […]

Hayley was a stray wandering through southwestern Virginia when she landed in a shelter with limited space and was scheduled for euthanasia. Homeless Animals Rescue Team (HART) pulled her out in the nick of time in the summer of 2010, and Bettina Markowitz of Sterling, VA, met her at an adoption event in 2011 and […]

I am Yogi and I am 9 and half years old. When I was born, I looked like a bear and I was smart. My Daddy said "I was smarter than the average bear." My Daddy named me Yogi. When I was about 3 months old, Daddy took me to a group obedience training class. […]

Make Next Year Your Dog’s Best Ever: 5 Great Dog Training Resolutions AKC GoodDog! Helpline Trainer Breanne Long says don’t forget your dog when you are making your New Year’s resolutions for 2016, like try something new and fun with your dog. Kurtis of Kingfisher CAX DJ RATN CGC, (pictured) a member of the AKC […]

The Vizsla was developed in Hungary centuries ago as both a versatile hunting dog and a devoted companion, and the breed today retains those combined qualities. Vizslas typically love to do things with their owners, and they’re curious and interested in all kinds of activities. Vizslas are athletic and exuberant. (Bob Holmes/AKC Photo Contest) With […]

This is the final profile in a series on the six top mixed-breed dogs that received the invitations to compete in the 2015 AKC Agility Invitational. The annual event takes place Dec. 11-13 in Orlando, FL, in conjunction with the AKC/Eukanuba National Championships in conformation and the AKC Obedience Classic. Mixed-breed dogs, known as All-American Dogs, […]

Stone Age fossils suggest that spitz-type dogs resembling today's Keeshond co-existed with cavemen back as far as 5000 B.C. Images of dogs just like them appear on everything from ancient Greek wine jugs to the Great Seal of Amsterdam. Today, they are the national dog of the Netherlands. Historians have different opinions of how the […]

Ferris,a mixed-breed dog in the AKC Canine Partners community, went to his first AKC Rally trials in September and on his second try, he earned a score of 95 out of a possible perfect score of 100 in the Rally Novice A class for beginning handlers and dogs. Rally is a very fun sport in […]

This is an easy and fun activity to play with your dog on a rainy day when they can’t get outside to exercise. It also a good way to mentally challenge your dog – and their nose – anytime.   Get a muffin tray and tennis balls or any size balls you can fit in […]

Watch this great canine freestyle performance by junior handler and 4-H member Claire Wilcox of Wichita Falls, TX, and her Chihuahua mix, Shadow. Canine freestyle is also known as "dancing with your dog" and requires off-leash control, obedience training and tricks. Shadow is a member of the AKC Canine Partners program for all dogs, including […]

Visitors and residents of Savannah, Georgia, who are hoping to catch a glimpse of something (or someone) otherworldly are getting a little help from a rather intuitive Golden Retriever. Bailey The Ghost Hunting Dog of Savannah accompanies his owner, Melynda Ware-Loomis, as she leads walking ghost tours of what is considered by some to be […]

Susan Smith of Bordentown, NJ, shares this special story of her mixed-breed, Charm, who has overcome many obstacles to earn the highest honor in AKC Rally. Today, Charm Princess Jewell Smith RAE THD CGC, is healthy, happy and also making others happy through her work as a therapy dog. Charm is a  member of the […]

Originally published in the AKC Gazette: In my work as an agility instructor, I find that the use of quotations and sayings does two valuable things: It brings some humor to the teaching process, and it gives students key phrases to help them remember specific handling theories. Here are a few that I use. Playing […]

Teach Your Dog to Do a Handstand AKC GoodDog! Helpline trainer Erin Rakosky tells you how to teach a cool trick that will impress your friends -- a handstand! Here are some simple steps to help teach your dog to do a handstand. Remember to take it slow and have lots of small treats ready. […]

This is an easy trick to teach, and your dog will love it! It’s best to start with teaching your dog to catch treats as you don’t want to throw a toy that might hit him in the face and turn him off to catching forever. Sit your dog about two feet in front of […]

Badger is a mixed-breed rescue dog who lives with his owner in Australia. He has learned dozens of cute tricks through positive reinforcement training and aspires to be named Australia's most talented pup! In America, mixed-breed dogs can compete in AKC sports and programs through the AKC Canine Partners program.

AKC GoodDog! Helpline Trainer Hilarie Erb has added several adult dogs to her home, in addition to puppies. She is pictured with her Greyhound, Fire, who is a retired racer that she adopted as an adult, and her Wire-haired Pointing Griffon, Mike, who joined her family as a puppy. Hilarie tell us the benefits of choosing an […]

Then a hero, clad in a life jacket, appears, rips open the car door and --- licks the driver all over his face as the crowd goes wild. Meet Radar the Weather Dog, star of Tray’s Wild Weather Camp – a fun show with a very serious message – teaching children how to be safe […]

1. Be a tree. If your dog pulls on the leash, stop walking! Only continue walking once your dog has put slack in the leash. Consider a head halter or front-hook harness if your dog tends to pull. 2. Don't allow your dog to approach another dog without permission from the owner. Just because your […]

AKC GoodDog! Helpline Trainer Milena Barreto has taught her Standard Poodle, Phoebe, dozens of tricks. They use their repertoire of tricks to entertain on their therapy dog team visits. Spinning is an easy trick to teach your dog. First get his attention, using a treat. Holding the treat in your hand, hold it above his […]

AKC GoodDog! Helpline trainer Milena Barreto has taught her Standard Poodle, Phoebe, dozens of tricks. They use their repertoire of tricks to entertain when they make their therapy dog visits. This is a good trick to teach your dog when she is tired and ready to rest. She needs to know the DOWN cue before […]