Warm weather means cookouts, pool parties, and long days spent outdoors. While most dogs love to spend time outside, there are safety precautions to keep in mind before planning your next backyard BBQ bash. Keep these five tips in mind to ensure you and your dog will have a stress-free summer cookout. 1. Make Sure […]

April showers are an unmistakable sign of spring, but they also mean… mud! The theme for the next AKC Canine Partners News Photo Gallery is “When I Got Dirty.” We are seeking pictures of your dogs not minding a little dirt at all! Photo requirements: jpeg or tif format the name of your dog(s) and […]

News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Alabama –House Bill 485 as introduced would, among other provisions, allow a dog to be confiscated without court authorization if “suspected” of harassing, harming, or killing livestock. AKC is working with the bill sponsor on additional amendments to […]

Florida House Bill CS1/HB 721 seeks to remove an exemption under current Florida state law that allows certain cities and counties to ban dog breeds.  If this legislation passes, remaining county and city laws in Florida that ban dog breeds would no longer be in effect.  For example, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, “pit […]

News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Arizona – House Bill 2323 states that for the purposes of homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, the breed of dog may not be considered for underwriting or determining risk or loss, questionnaires or surveys regarding the presence of a […]

On Wednesday, November 17, more than one dozen animal bills impacting dogs and breeders are on the agenda for review by the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (JENRA). The virtual public hearing is scheduled to start at 2pm.  The American Kennel Club Government Relations Department (AKC GR) has tracked most of […]

Despite or perhaps as a result of the stress and unusual health precautions Americans experienced in 2020, people focused more than ever on their pets. For the first time, pet industry sales exceeded $100 billion, according to American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2020 State of the Industry Report. This tidal wave of spending is expected […]

Puppies explore the world through their mouths, so they'll chew anything they can sink their teeth into. By providing them with toys that indulge their teething instincts, you're more likely to spare your shoes and socks from destruction

Dogs experience much of the world around them through their sense of smell. On walks, and at home, our dogs constantly take in information with their noses that humans never even notice. Scent games allow dogs to channel their love of sniffing while enriching their minds. The aim of these games is to teach our […]

CBD to calm anxiety. Mushrooms to boost immunity. Probiotics and plant-based diets. No, this isn't a rundown of advice from your favorite Instagram wellness coach, it's a list of rising wellness trends for dogs. Are these new trends truly beneficial for your dog, or are they merely passing fads? Get to know each trend and […]

Here's a news flash—most puppies will shed. That soft, cuddly coat they have now is their puppy coat, and they'll shed that for their adult coat when they're between 3 and 6 months old, although some breeds take much longer. And puppies, and some adult dogs, may pee or poop in the house during potty training […]

As an emergency veterinarian for over thirty years, I’ve found that despite your best efforts, accidents happen even to the best owners. Your pet may gain access to a potentially harmful or fatal substance. Many toxins are common items in your home and yard. Some poisons are rather obvious and easy to avoid, while others […]

Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking.  Alabama – HB 235 would authorize food service establishments to allow pet dogs in outdoor restaurant seating areas and sets out access, sanitation, and other requirements. It also specifies that emotional support animals are not service animals within the meaning of the Americans […]

This week, the House Judiciary Committee is accepting testimony on multiple bills.  Text of bills are embedded in the links.  AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) strongly encourages Rhode Island residents to take action as follows: Tuesday, March 9, 2021, at the rise of the House: DOGS OUTSIDE AND UNATTENDED - H. 5736 would amend the […]

How do you know if your dog has anxiety? What can you do to treat dog anxiety? We're here to explain everything you need to know.

Learn how to identify arthritis in dogs, obtain a diagnosis from a veterinarian, and explore the various techniques to manage and treat the disease.

We had Jaco less than 10 months when it happened. Jaco was a German Shepherd Dog exported from the Czech Republic when he was 16 months old. I wanted him to be my next scent-detection dog, a partner in the work I’ve done for more than a decade, finding the missing and the dead. He […]

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources has announced that new regulations have been finalized for the operation of animal shelters and animal rescue organizations, together with clarifying amendments to the Commonwealth’s regulations applying to pet shops.   The American Kennel Club (AKC) extends our sincerest gratitude to the Department’s Animal Health Division Director for years of […]

Though everyone has been talking watching and reading about the current health issues, COVID-19, this month, we have to remind ourselves that dogs and cats don’t read the headlines.  At this time while people are anxious, we may not be paying careful attention and our pets can still get into things that can be toxic. As […]

Canine idiopathic epilepsy, defined as recurrent seizures with no identifiable underlying cause, is the most common medical neurologic disease in dogs.   Twenty to thirty percent of affected dogs continue to experience seizures despite treatment with currently available anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs).  In addition, side effects from these drugs, such as increased appetite, sedation, restlessness, or anxiety, often decrease the quality of life for affected […]