We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles in Agility, Coursing Ability, Rally, Obedience, Scent Work, Tracking and Trick Dog. Big congrats to the first All-American to earn the Scent Work Masters title and the seventh All-American to earn the Obedience Trial Championship! AGILITY Master Agility Championships (MACH)  Multiple Master Agility […]

The AKC Puppy Pack tells the story of our puppies’ lives through engaging, educational and of course cute photos and videos on Instagram. This program covers the first year of 7 puppies’ lives as they attend veterinarian visits, participate in training, sports & events, and the day-to-day trials, tribulations and joys of raising a puppy. […]

For the happiest, most well-adjusted dogs, learning never ends. The AKC GoodDog! Helpline is here for you and your dog every step of the way. Training your dog during COVID-19 can be difficult without access to normal training classes. That’s why we’re here to help you virtually. The AKC GoodDog! Helpline (GDH) is a live telephone subscription service […]

Before going into greater detail on the test in the next post, just a little bit about the order and reason for of test. There is a very specific order to the test. The test should be performed in an unfamiliar area. It starts with a walk to the test site to allow for a […]

Most dog owners would love to spend more time with their pups. Keeping track of daily activity and rewarding good behavior can help ensure happy and healthy dogs. Thanks to technology, no matter where you are, you can do all of those things and more. Now, you can keep in touch with your pets using […]

Walking into a room to find your dog staring at the wall is a little disconcerting, to say the least. Is there something in the wall? Is there a ghost? Is your dog sick? This particular odd behavior inspires a lot of questions, but the answers might surprise you. Let’s take a look at some […]

For many couples or families, deciding to get a dog is an easy choice. However, agreeing with your partner on what size or breed of dog to acquire can be a lot more difficult. Part of what makes this choice potentially fraught with conflict is that dog lovers often don't use rationale, according to Dr. […]

When puppies age out of mom’s clean-up, it can be tricky to find a good strategy to deal with the mess pups leave behind. A great way to manage is litter pan training! Tractor Supply Company carries pet crate replacement pans that work well as litter pans for breeds of all sizes. Litter pan training […]

It can be tricky to find the right substance to use in your whelping box’s litter pan. Luckily, Tractor Supply Company has a wide variety of materials they recommend. Some pups do best with shavings; others prefer pellets or even potty pads. Tractor Supply Company also carries artificial turf. Choosing the right media can really […]

Czarina Ellingson held her breath as she took the leash off her Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Gatsby, at an Agility trial. She had decided that if he didn't obey her, Czarina would pick him up and walk him out of the ring — therefore willingly disqualifying them from their favorite dog sport. Gatsby — named after […]

This is the first in a series on early socialization and training that breeders can do with young puppies to help them adapt to life in their future new homes. Housetraining is almost always the number one concern of a new puppy owner. While puppies are still in the whelping box, they begin to learn preferences for where to eliminate. […]

Since mid-March of 2020, social distancing has put up another hurdle in raising and training new canine family members. At my dog training school, where we see hundreds of clients a month, it became vitally important to create new ways to make sure our four-legged students got the education they needed to become great companions. […]

Corgis are known for being smart, energetic, and adorable. Plus, they're practically royalty: Pembroke Welsh Corgis are a favorite of Queen Elizabeth II. But they also require some extra love and attention when it comes to exercise, training, and grooming. For tips, we talked to Anne Bowes, the owner of Heronsway Pembroke Welsh Corgis who […]

With their chiseled features, muscular bodies, and square jaws, Boxers are the movie stars of the dog world. These handsome pups are known for their loyalty, quick wit, and protective nature, but these charming characteristics also mean Boxer pups have a few special considerations when it comes to training and socialization. We spoke with several […]

Rottweilers are a highly intelligent breed and are generally ready to please and eager to be trained. Teaching them good behavior and socializing them early on will help bring out the best in your puppy. Teresa Bradley has been showing champion Rottweilers since 1987 and has been a breeder of Rottweiler champions since 1999. We […]

German Shorthaired Pointers (GSP) are full of energy, need lots of exercise, and "can be extremely challenging from six months to three years old," according to the AKC breed description. The good news: they're also highly receptive to training and picking up early obedience commands. And that's why learning to train your GSP will be […]

Beagles are known for their long ears, hunting skills, and happy-go-lucky attitude. But while they love companionship and are usually easygoing, their noses can get them into trouble. Before you bring home your first Beagle puppy, it's important to prepare.We talked to National Beagle Club Approved Mentor Lori Norman about major milestones for Beagles. Here's […]

As her Golden Retriever entered the last week of pregnancy, Melody Lyons had made all the checks on her list. Like most breeders, she wanted to be ready for anything. Whelping box set up; heat lamps installed; milk replacer on the shelf. The veterinarian gave Carly a check-up and thought delivery would happen in about […]

Bringing home a Newfoundland puppy is unlike raising any other puppy. Not only are they physically huge as puppies—which means giant-size fun and big messes—these large pups also take significantly longer to physically and mentally mature than smaller breeds. This means particular training considerations, both when your puppy first comes home, and for the first […]

The AKC® Humane Fund is proud to announce the winners of the 19th annual AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). These awards celebrate five loyal, hard-working dogs that have significantly improved the lives of their owners and communities. One award is presented in each of the following five categories: Uniformed Service K-9, Service, […]