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Expert Advice: Puppy Health
Your Complete Guide to First-Year Puppy Vaccinations
When you bring that fuzzy ball of puppy energy into your home, you know right away that your new puppy depends on you for, well, everything. It’s up to you to give your new puppy all the care they need every day. It can be a little intimidating — your puppy needs the best puppy […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/puppy-shots-complete-guide/
| January 1, 2022

Expert Advice: Puppy Training
How to Potty Train Puppies: A Comprehensive Guide for Success
Learn how to potty train your puppy with these tips. These three tried-and-true methods will help you housetrain your dog.
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/how-to-potty-train-a-puppy/
| March 4, 2022

Expert Advice: Puppy Health
Parvo in Puppies: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
The last thing any new puppy owner or dog breeder wants to hear is a diagnosis of parvo. Parvo in puppies is unfortunately a common disease with deadly consequences, which is why it is important for anyone dealing with puppies on a regular basis to be aware of the symptoms of parvo and what to […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/parvo-in-puppies/
| August 24, 2022

Expert Advice: Nutrition
Puppy Feeding Fundamentals
Walk down the dog food aisle of any large pet-supply store, or peruse the shelves at your local pet food shop, and you can quickly become overwhelmed. This is especially true for new puppy owners, and probably even more so for first-time puppy owners. When did it get so complicated? In years past, dog food […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/puppy-feeding-fundamentals/
| August 15, 2021

Expert Advice: Puppy Training
How To Stop Puppy Biting and Train Bite Inhibition
Puppy biting can become a problem behavior if not nipped in the bud. Teaching bite inhibition, offering chew toys, and training are all ways to curb biting.
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/stop-puppy-biting/
| September 28, 2021

Expert Advice: Puppy Information
A Timeline of Puppy Teething
Paid Advertisement Congratulations on deciding to welcome a new puppy into your life! Whether this is your first dog or it’s been a long time since you’ve owned a puppy, there’s a lot to learn about what to expect and how to handle certain changes in your dog as they age. Here, we're focusing on […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/puppy-information/timeline-of-puppy-teething/
| May 3, 2019

Expert Advice: Puppy Health
Puppy Growth Chart: When Does My Puppy Finish Growing?
Puppies seem to grow up so fast. One day, they're little balls of furry cuteness and, in what seems like the blink of an eye, they're fully grown into loving canine companions. But not all dogs grow at the same rate, with smaller breed dogs growing up much faster than their larger counterparts. That's because […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/when-does-my-puppy-finish-growing/
| August 10, 2021

Expert Advice: Puppy Training
Setting Schedules and Developing a Routine for Your New Puppy
There are so many new experiences and things to think about when you bring home your puppy that you may forget one of the most important parts of puppy homecoming: establishing a routine. Structure will help your new canine family member feel secure and know what’s expected of him. The best way to do this is to […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/setting-schedules-and-developing-a-routine-for-your-new-puppy/
| January 1, 2022

Expert Advice: Puppy Health
Sexual Maturity in Puppies: What to Know and What to Expect
Humans take years to develop. Dogs though, in our eyes, mature almost overnight. One morning you have an adorable little puppy on your hands, and the next your puppy is starting to act like a teenager, complete with mood swings and behavioral changes. Sexual maturity is an important part of this process, and it is something that we […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/sexual-maturity-in-puppies-what-to-expect/
| March 10, 2020

Expert Advice: Training
The Importance of Teaching Your Puppy How to Be Alone
When you first get a puppy, there is so much to do to introduce them to their new home. From potty training to puppy-proofing, you might feel like your hands are always full. But there is one critical step you don’t want to forget — teaching your pup how to enjoy being alone. Although it’s […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/leaving-puppy-alone/
| March 6, 2022

Expert Advice: Dog Breeding
Why Breed Heritage Tests Are Not “Purity” Tests
Breed heritage tests analyze a dog's genetic makeup to identify the presence of DNA segments that are most similar to those found in specific dog breeds. These tests are designed to estimate breed ancestry and provide insight into a dog’s background based on reference panels composed of DNA from known purebred dogs. However, it’s important […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/breed-heritage-tests-not-purity-tests/
| May 20, 2025

Expert Advice: Natural & Whole Foods
Can Dogs Eat Dates?
Can dogs eat dates? Learn about the benefits and drawbacks of dates and how to safely feed small amounts of this fruit to your dog.
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-dates/
| October 24, 2022

Expert Advice: Dog Behavior
Why Do Dogs Bury Bones? The Answer Is Surprisingly Simple
Why do dogs bury bones? You can thank your pet's ancestors, including wild dogs and the gray wolf, and their feast or famine diet.
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/why-do-dogs-bury-bones/
| April 14, 2018

Expert Advice: Feature
Talking Sports: Agility League Sisters in Alaska
Long-time educator Crystal Dennis loves teaching, whether it is in her classroom or in the dog show ring. And teaching two sisters from Alaska to do agility is just one way she's giving back.
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/agility-league-sisters-alaska/
| May 20, 2025

Expert Advice: Common Conditions
How to Treat Dog Allergies
Just like humans, dogs can be allergic to things. There are different causes of allergic reactions, which can range in severity depending on your dog.
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/dog-allergies-symptoms-treatment/
| March 7, 2021

Expert Advice: Health
Melatonin for Dogs: Uses, Benefits and Dosage
Is melatonin for dogs safe? Ask your vet if your dog may benefit if they have separation anxiety, senior cognitive decline, or blindness.
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/melatonin-for-dogs/
| October 13, 2022

Expert Advice: Dog Breeds
Is the Bichon Frise a Good Fit for You?
Curious, playful, and peppy, the Bichon Frise is a small dog with a big personality. They're surprisingly athletic and thrive in a variety of settings.
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/bichon-frise/
| April 11, 2025

Expert Advice: Dog Sports
How to Watch the 2025 AKC National Agility Championship
Agility is a fast-growing dog sport that showcases the power of the human-canine bond. As the handler directs the dog through a predetermined obstacle course, the team races against the clock to finish the agility course with as few mistakes as possible. On March 13-16, competitors zoomed through courses at the 2025 AKC National Agility […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/sports/how-to-watch-akc-national-agility-championship/
| March 9, 2023
Pages
Board Policy Manual
These policies have been adopted by the AKC Board of Directors, although they have not yet been incorporated into an official publication. This reference will be updated as policies are adopted, revised and published. [accordion] [accordion_panel title="AKC Board Administration Policies"] AKC Charter and Bylaws Article XII Complaints (August 2016 Board meeting) AKC Educational Requirements Policy and Recommendations […]
https://www.akc.org/rules/policy-manual/
| April 26, 2021
Products & Services
AKC Clubs That Offer CGC
Canine Good Citizen®, AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy® and/or AKC Community Canine℠ An AKC club near you can provide you and your dog with training classes and testing for AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, CGC and AKC Community Canine. You will be able to earn official AKC titles in Canine Good Citizen (the "CGC" title) and AKC Community Canine […]
https://www.akc.org/products-services/training-programs/canine-good-citizen/finding-classes-and-evaluators/akc-clubs-that-offer-cgc/
| October 26, 2017