Welcome to the AKC . We have put together definitions for dog words that you may not be familiar with. If you have additional questions regarding the glossary, please contact our Special Services Department. A Abdomen The belly or under surface between the chest and the hindquarters. Acetabulum The concave lateral portion of the […]

Learning Objectives Students will be able to identify and create different types of story introductions.   Grade Levels 3-5   Common Core Standard CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.A Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which related ideas are grouped to support the writer's purpose.   Materials Needed The Incredible Journey by […]

The AKC Outstanding Sportsmanship Award Program was established in 2006 to provide each AKC Member Club with an embossed AKC medallion to award on a yearly basis as an ongoing effort to celebrate its volunteer club members. This award honors those individuals who deserve special recognition that have made a difference in the Sport of […]

Learning Objectives Students will analyze poetry relating to dogs and create their own dog poem utilizing poetic structure.  *Note:  This is a multi-day lesson.   Grade Levels 6-8   Common Core English Language Arts Standards CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.7.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; […]

You already know that your puppy is the absolute cutest. So why not share his adorableness with the rest of the world? Enter him in an AKC 4-6 Month Beginner Puppy Competition. It’s a relaxed, stress-free way to make your debut in the dog show world. Plus, it gives both of you a fun way […]

We built an outdoor scent/search area. A ten by twenty pop up with a raised deck floor with astro turf. Then the storms came and the pop did well, but needed a little repair. Its now set up and we have done about two weeks of training with Trip and Task inside it. Task is […]

Learning Objectives Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence of the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of an object. Predict the effect of a given force or change in mass on the motion of an object. Grade Levels Grades 3-5 Grades 3-5 Next Generation Science Standards  PS2.A: Forces and Motion Each force […]

Here is the sequence of events for the TSA/ACS Hunt test. Remember, it should be done in the same order every time. 1. A walk to the site for Chase Retrieve (located near the site for the Hidden Grass test). 2. Chase Retrieve - Tease the dog with the scented rolled towel in a manner that you can create focus and […]

[accordion] [accordion_panel title="2026"] Below you will find recording links and resources for webinars that aired in 2026. Once you click the recording link, you will be asked to enter your name and email address in order to access the recording. Webinar Topic Recording Link AKC Dog Sports: Agility Foundations Part 3 Tuesday, June 23, 2026 […]

Presenting Koa – star of the Wild West Tricks Dog Show! Koa was born blind and deaf. When his breeders discovered this, they turned him into rescue. Morgan Gross fostered the puppy and then adopted him, giving him the best life possible. Koa has proven to be smart and responsive and, last year, earned the […]

You are building a puzzle. You do not have all the puzzle pieces when you begin. The puzzle cannot be completed without the slow process, taking over a year’s time, as development gives you more pieces to continue building the puzzle. Trying to train a puppy as if it were an adult dog is like […]

Below you will find recording links and resources for webinars that aired in 2024. Once you click the recording link, you will be asked to enter your name and email address in order to access the recording. Webinar Topic Recording Link PYO: The Fear Inducing Three Letter Word Tuesday, January 9, 2024 View Here CBEST […]

Starting with an 8 week old pup Wishful thinking versus training An unusual training week Understanding reinforcement in detection dogs Creating behavioral pathways You start by getting them there! End Goals and Building Behavior Patterns Creating working habits  

You are building a puzzle. You do not have all the puzzle pieces when you begin. The puzzle cannot be completed without the slow process, taking over a year’s time, as development gives you more pieces to continue building the puzzle. Trying to train a puppy as if it were an adult dog is like […]

There are lots of ways to be active with your dog while staying home. It is important to spend quality time with your dog and provide them attention and exercise. Here are some great ways to do that! Dog Art Create a portrait of your dog.  Try focusing on just your dog’s face or play […]

A good website can be an invaluable tool for a breeder, one that provides an excellent means to educating puppy seekers about your breeding philosophy and your breed. With demand for puppies very high, breeders don’t need to do much to attract buyers, but a well thought-out website is a good way to screen for […]

Learning Objectives Students will understand the traits of a successful product.   Grade Levels 3-5   Standards Aligned to Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics from the Council for Economic Education. Standard 2: Decision Making Standard 14: Entrepreneurship   Materials Needed Computers with internet for research My Product sheets   Lesson Introduction An entrepreneur is […]

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Below you will find recording links and resources for webinars that aired in 2023. Once you click the recording link, you will be asked to enter your name and email address in order to access the recording. Webinar Topic Recording Link AKC DDTF Webinar: Robustness in Training, Part 2-A Discussion with Jay Crafter of Invictus […]

As many pet owners know, a bored dog with energy to burn can be a handful. One secret to a well-behaved pup is making sure they have enough appropriate mental and physical stimulation every day. Otherwise, they may find their own forms of entertainment, such as figuring out how the cupboard door works or shredding […]

There are a few agencies that use food reward with their canines. These include ATF, USDA, and I believe the FBI. I like food reward and can see both the benefits and the liabilities involved. The main difference is how forgiving the dog will be with bad training/trainers. You have, in my very humble opinion, […]

 This is a special story about an incredible therapy dog. Luke passed way in January 2010 at about 14 years of age, but the impact he made on many children continues to last. His owner Debra White shares their story. To protect privacy, Debra has changed the names. This story originally appeared in an issue […]

So we have considered resilience in a few different ways, but in considering creating working behavioral pathways we must also consider epigenetics. NOVA produced a great TV program that can work as a primer for epigenetics (https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/genes/). Epigenetics refers to things that occur outside of the ATCG rungs of the DNA ladder. It is associated […]

So we have considered resilience in a few different ways, but in considering creating working behavioral pathways we must also consider epigenetics. NOVA produced a great TV program that can work as a primer for epigenetics (https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/genes/). Epigenetics refers to things that occur outside of the ATCG rungs of the DNA ladder. It is associated […]

Agility is a fun and challenging sporting event for both dogs and handlers. An agility course includes obstacles such as jumps, tunnels, and dogwalks. If you don't want to purchase your own agility obstacles, here's how to make your own with items that you probably have in your home. If your dog enjoys this jump […]

You're getting a new puppy! This is an exciting time, and it's easy to daydream about all the fun things you'll do with a dog in your life. There's a lot you can do in preparation to make sure that your puppy's introduction into the household goes smoothly. It starts by creating some house rules […]

Learning Objective Students will solve decimal addition problems in a real-world setting.   Grade Levels 3-5   Common Core Standard CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.MD.A.2 Use the four operations to solve word problems involving distances, intervals of time, liquid volumes, masses of objects, and money, including problems involving simple fractions or decimals, and problems that require expressing measurements given […]

Learning Objectives Graph distance and time for fast CAT Find speed Grade Levels Grades 6-7 Common Core Standard NC Essential Standards for Science 7.P.1.4 Interpret distance versus time graphs for constant speed and variable motion. NGSS Crosscutting Concept 3. Scale, Proportion, and Quantity. Middle School. Proportional relationships (e.g. speed as the ratio of distance traveled […]

The DOGNY dog was sculpted by world renowned artist Robert Braun. Braun brings a mix of his personal commitment and passion for wildlife to his masterfully sculpted works of art. His dedication is evident in each piece he creates, whether it be a small sculpture for private collectors or a large commission for a museum. […]

https://youtu.be/bzZLj6dLX-M   Many people ask, why can’t I just throw the ball and create play? The answer is that you can, but it all too often leads to problems. Most people that want to throw for a reward will quickly add many rules to otherwise fun and easy play. The dog must heel or sit […]