Fresh mountain air and views of woodsy valleys are just a few exciting aspects of hiking with your dog. You've likely brought along some basics for you and your pup when out on hikes, but there's an array of great gear available to optimize your outdoor adventures - even some that let your canine carry […]

Chaser the Border Collie—known by many as the smartest dog in the world—passed away on July 23rd, 2019 surrounded by loved ones in her hometown of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Can Dogs Understand Nouns? At 15 years old, Chaser had a long and wonderful life, but her story began long before she was even born. After […]

Every day, specially trained mobility service dogs help people with balance, strength, or moveability issues live a happy, independent, and fulfilling life. What Do Mobility Service Dogs Do? Mobility service dogs can be trained to perform a variety of tasks, including: Pressing the button on automatic doors Retrieving dropped items Retrieving out-of-reach objects (like a […]

Celebrate Pride Month and support the LGBTQ community with Pride gear and products that show that love is love, whether you have four legs or two. AVOIN colorlife Rainbow Progress Pride Dogs Garden Flag This flag is made of machine-washable spun polyester, which is both tough and holds up in all sorts of weather. The […]

If you own a dog, chances are you've enjoyed watching your furry companion launch themself into a pool in summer. While this is pleasing to watch for many humans, it does raise a question — is chlorine safe for dogs? When humans swim in a pool, most chlorine levels are safe, even if you happen […]

Can dogs eat sticks safely? What about stones? Here's why both sticks and stones aren't good options for your pet to gnaw on.

Dozens of rescued dogs competed at the National Agility Championship (NAC) March 15-17 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While some of them were All-American dogs, there were several rescued purebred dogs as well. Agility is open to all dogs, regardless of whether or not they are purebred. Any All-American dog can compete in Agility by registering as a […]

Among the marvels of human ingenuity is the way various breeds of dog were developed, mentally and physically, to tackle specific jobs. Consider the farmer’s eternal war against rodents and other burrowing mammals that devastate grain stores, raid henhouses, tear up fields, dig away riverbanks, and carry disease. As their number-one weapon in subterranean warfare, […]

Toy dogs are more than just small. Learn more about each of the Toy Group breeds and find out what exactly these adorable dogs were bred to do.

32 AKC recognized breeds make up the hound group. We're taking a closer look at what each of these beauties were bred to do.

When Allison Wilt first picked up her dog, Finn, from a rescue organization three years ago, he was a bundle of nerves. "People kept passing him off because they described him as being 'a lot of dog,'" Wilt recalls. "He was very reactive to people and other dogs, at first. He didn’t know who his […]

Sit. Down. Stay. Come. Heel. This June 29th-July 1st, some of the best-behaved and most highly-trained dogs in the nation will meet at The Roberts Centre in Wilmington, Ohio, to compete in the AKC National Obedience Championship® and the AKC Rally National Championship®. Obedience trials demonstrate a dog’s ability to follow specified routines in heeling, […]

The French Bulldog has become more and more popular over the years. But if you haven't jumped on the Frenchie bandwagon just yet, these 15 facts about the playful breed will no doubt make you a fan! 1. The French Bulldog isn’t really French. The breed actually originated in and around Nottingham, England, which was […]

Learning Objectives Students will understand the role of dogs in human history.   Grade Levels 9-12   Standards World History Era 1: Standard 1 A – Interrogate Historical Data; Establish Temporal Order in Constructing Historical Narrative Standard 1B- Evaluate Major Debates Among Historians Standard 2A- Appreciate Historical Perspectives Standard 2A- Evaluate Major Debates Among Historians […]

[accordion] [accordion_panel title="Sequence in Soaring Soren for Grades K-1"] Sequence in Soaring Soren : Grades K-1 Learning Objectives Students will be able to sequence events in a fiction story. Grade Levels K-1 Common Core Standard CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.2* With prompting and support, retell familiar stories, including key details. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2 Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their […]

Technology plays a part in almost everything we do today, from communication to shopping, even our health and fitness. So it’s no surprise that technology has found its way into pet care. Smartphones, smart watches, smart homes . . . why not smart dog feeders, trackers, toys, and more? According to the American Pet Products […]

The AKC Junior Classic will be held Dec. 15 as part of the AKC Obedience Classic in Orlando, FL. Young people get the opportunity to compete with their dogs in obedience and rally in a national setting. We will be spotlighting youth who are competing with All-American Dogs in the AKC Canine Partners program in […]

Mary R. Burch, PhD Canine Good Citizen Director Here in the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen department, we receive frequent requests from trainer and dog owners who want us to expand the menu of fun things people can do with their dogs. Trick training is becoming increasingly popular and many evaluators teach a few tricks in […]

“Eat your fish—it’s brain food.” That’s what I was taught growing up. “Because, you know, fish are so smart,” I used to scoff. But it turns out that mother knew best. That magic component is a type of polyunsaturated fat, particularly the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids vital to the integrity of the brain’s fat-rich cell […]

Photo courtesy of JLFurtography All across North America, dogs of all breeds, sizes, and ages, are taking part in a team sport designed to encourage burning off energy through running, jumping hurdles, and catching tennis balls, all within a short amount of time. If this sounds like something your super quick, smart, energetic dog might be […]