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Expert Advice: Juniors
Buddy’s Gift: How An Old Cocker Spaniel on Craigslist Sparked a Boy’s Dog Show Career
It all started about seven years ago, when Jim Moritz, a mailman from Somerdale, New Jersey, was browsing Craigslist. “It was 11:30 at night, and I saw him there,” Jim recalls. “I said, ‘Oh my gosh. He’s so cute.’ ” The face that caught his eye—and captured his heart—was Buddy, an 8-year-old Cocker Spaniel whose […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/sports/buddys-gift-old-cocker-spaniel-craigslist-guided-whole-new-world/
| September 15, 2020
Legislative Alerts
North Carolina: Burke County Holding September 9 Hearing on Breeder Permits
The Burke County Animal Advisory Board has scheduled a public hearing for Wednesday, September 9, 2020, to further discuss proposed county breeder permits. Local breeders, sportsmen, and dog owners are strongly encouraged to attend the hearing and express your concerns (Scroll down for hearing information). This hearing is in response to a directive from the […]
https://www.akc.org/legislative-alerts/north-carolina-burke-county-holding-september-9-hearing-breeder-permits/
| September 4, 2020
Legislative Alerts
Idaho: Governor Signs Bill Providing Certain COVID Liability Protections
The Governor of Idaho has signed House Bill 6, which provides certain liability protections when there has been exposure to the COVID-19 virus. This new law may be of potential interest to some AKC-affiliated clubs with concerns about conducting their events while under a higher-than-normal exposure to liability risks. Among other provisions, the new Idaho […]
https://www.akc.org/legislative-alerts/idaho-governor-signs-bill-providing-certain-covid-liability-protections/
| September 4, 2020
Expert Advice: News
Local Dog Club in Washington Thrives Thanks to Approachability & Creativity
It began as a dream about two decades ago and now the Wenatchee Kennel Club’s sparkling new training facility has become Dog Central for the Washington state community of 70,000, which includes several neighboring towns. Make no mistake about it, the 7,880-square-foot building on a 2½-acre site in East Wenatchee is becoming the conduit for […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/local-dog-club-in-washington-thrives-approachability-creativity/
| September 2, 2020
Expert Advice: News
Three Rottweilers Help a Navy Veteran Cope with Loss
After his 16-year-old son, Joshua Devon Biggles, tragically drowned, Michael Biggles purchased Rambo, a male Rottweiler puppy. Biggles fell head-over-paws with the brawny working breed. So much so, that he went back the next day and bought Retro, the male littermate he didn't select. Six months later, Biggles and his girlfriend, Mariama Myers, added Rascal, […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/three-rottweilers-help-navy-veteran-cope-loss/
| August 26, 2020
Expert Advice: Dog Breeds
Australian Shepherds Forever: One Family’s Dedication to the Breed
Forty-five years ago Toni Pearson set eyes on a “Samoyed without a tail” that jokingly morphed into an Australian Shepherd. Today, Team Pearson (her husband, David, and twentysomething daughters, Anna and Laura) are all in on this versatile breed under the umbrella of Timberwood Aussies, in Granite Falls, Washington. “When I married David (an Englishman), […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/australian-shepherds-forever-one-familys-dedication-to-breed/
| August 18, 2020
Expert Advice: Dog Breeds
Dandie Dinmont Terrier History: Behind the Breed
English novelists of centuries past gave us timeless characters who hopscotched from the printed page into our cultural consciousness, from Daniel DeFoe’s “Robinson Crusoe” to Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein.” And in the dog world, there is one exceedingly rare terrier that owes its name – and arguably its continued existence – to a peripheral character in […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/dandie-dinmont-terrier-history-behind-breed/
| August 13, 2020
Expert Advice: Dog Sports
How Will Dog Shows Change as We Hit the Reset Button?
Like many of you in the sport, I haven’t been to a dog show since early March. The cancellation of shows nationwide began a little later that month, as we sheltered in place to deal with the pandemic. Of course, our lives in dogs continued during that forced hiatus; we whelped litters, groomed, kept up […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/sports/will-shows-change-hit-reset-button/
| August 12, 2020
Expert Advice: Dog Breeds
Goofy Flat-Coated Retriever Is This Owner’s Conduit to Friends & Sports
Sherin Denny-Jenkins was out on a walk in Berlin in 2007 when she spotted someone coming her way with a dog. “All I could think was ‘Wow, that’s a beautiful dog!’ It was pretty and goofy at the same time,” she says. “I began talking to its owner and that was my introduction to the […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/goofy-flat-coated-retriever-friends-dog-sports/
| July 27, 2020
Expert Advice: News
Getting a Dog Could Help Your Toddler Learn Social Skills
Nobody forgets their first dog: the childhood games, the companionship, and the undying loyalty between a kid and their pup. Now, researchers in Australia have found that bonding with a family dog can give even very young children much more than lifelong fond memories. A new study published in the journal Pediatric Research finds that […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/dogs-help-toddlers-learn-social-skills/
| July 22, 2020
Expert Advice: Studies
The Nose Knows: Is There Anything Like a Dog’s Nose?
Have you ever opened a jar of peanut butter and watched your dog come running from 50 yards away? Or seen your dog sniff out a tasty morsel in a five-acre field? These are just two examples of the incredible sense of smell that dogs have. Their noses are at least 100,000 times more sensitive […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/the-nose-knows/
| July 21, 2020
Expert Advice: Training
Third Newfoundland Earns Elite Performer Trick Dog Title, Virtually
When it comes to sports training, people oftentimes underestimate the drive and potential of giant dogs. I'm always thrilled when my three-and-half-year-old Newfoundland, Sirius, is able to break some stereotypes about what giant dogs can do, especially dogs that have a history of medical conditions. This March, just as the COVID-19 quarantine began, Sirius became […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/third-newfoundland-earns-elite-performer-trick-title-akc-sports-at-home/
| July 8, 2020
Expert Advice: Events
‘Dogtor’ Loki and the GO TEAM Honored with AKC Paw of Courage Awards
The AKC Paw of CourageSM is an award given to show appreciation for the work that dogs do in the service of humankind. This award recognizes dogs who serve their communities, making great impacts in the lives of their human counterparts. Paw of Courage awards can be presented to Police K-9s, Military Working Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Service Dogs, […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/dogtor-loki-go-team-honored-paw-of-courage/
| July 7, 2020
Expert Advice: Dog Sports
Portuguese Water Dog ‘Gilligan’ Puts Mental and Physical Stamina to the Test
Gilligan isn't your average dog. Just take a look at her long list of titles: Fishbay’s Merchant of Venice CD BN RE AX AXJ OF RATN DN CGCA TKA WWDX CWDX MAC-3 SROM. The versatile Portuguese Water Dog has earned an array of accolades, including winning multiple agility, Rally, and obedience classes at national specialties. Perhaps most impressive […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/sports/dog-star-of-the-month-portuguese-water-dog/
| June 15, 2020
Expert Advice: Feature
Therapy Dog Provides Virtual Comfort to Hospital as ‘Flat Finn’
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cathy Robbins and her five-year-old therapy dog, Finn, would visit multiple patients at Riddle Hospital in Pennsylvania a few days a week. They would share moments together comforting patients and their families — like the coma patient who physically shifted at Finn's touch, or the patient who briefly woke from […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/finn-therapy-dog-provides-virtual-comfort-flat-finn/
| May 29, 2020
Expert Advice: Travel & Adventure
15 Incredible US Dog Memorial Sites to Visit
Did you know that there are amazing dog memorials located across the country? Whether they’re war heroes or stars of their local community, canines have inspired permanent monuments that dog lovers can visit. While we can't travel at the moment due to COVID-19, there are many dog memorials you can learn about from your living […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/travel/dog-memorials/
| May 21, 2020
Expert Advice: News
Budding Scientist: 11-year-old Tatum Duvall Investigates Salmonella in Vizsla Saliva
At just nine years old Tatum Duvall was catapulted into dog sports when her mom, Tanya Duvall, broke her leg. She began showing Vizslas as a Junior Handler and quickly fell in love with the sport. “When my mom got hurt, I didn't expect to love dogs so much and showing so much," said Tatum. […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/junior-handler-tatum-duvall-salmonella-research/
| May 20, 2020
Expert Advice: Advanced Training
Could Dogs Help Detect COVID-19?
As states begin to open and the demand to test and screen for COVID-19 grows, researchers are enlisting all the help they can get — including dogs. Led by Cynthia M. Otto, director of the Working Dog Center at UPenn’s School of Veterinary Medicine, eight Labrador Retrievers are being trained to sniff out the coronavirus. Training […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/dogs-help-detect-covid-19/
| May 14, 2020
Expert Advice: Breeding Tips & Best Practices
AKC Canine Health Foundation Infectious Disease Fact Sheets – a Tool for Breeders
The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) provides educational resources and tools for dog breeders as part of its mission to advance the health of all dogs. To help responsible breeders utilize the latest canine health information in their breeding and rearing plans and share that information with their puppy buyers, CHF provides infectious disease facts […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/akc-canine-health-foundation-infectious-disease-fact-sheets-tool-breeders/
| May 8, 2020
Expert Advice: Training
Training Dogs to be Comfortable Around People in Face Masks
From the Lone Ranger to Zorro, we know good guys can wear masks. But just try convincing your dog of that. As controlling the spread of the coronavirus becomes a paramount concern, the federal government has recommended – and some states have mandated – wearing face masks in public. While we humans have acclimated to […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/mask-force-training-dogs-to-be-comfortable-around-people-wearing-face-masks/
| May 6, 2020