Dog people have their own language, but we often take the meaning of the words for granted. Most of these words were originally the vernacular of stockmen. Everyone understood what “conditioning” meant, since farmers conditioned horses, dogs, and barnyard animals for pragmatic reasons. Today, however, most dog-sport competitors come with little or no experience in […]

As a breeder, there is a lot of responsibility resting with you to prepare your puppies for their new homes. You’re with them during key periods of life in which their personalities and fears develop. In between keeping them fed, socialized, and happy, many breeders go the extra mile to prepare their puppies for important grooming […]

Most dog owners have no doubt heard about the importance of socializing their puppy. Proper socialization means providing positive experiences with as many new people, dogs, and situations as possible. It’s essential for developing a confident and well-adjusted adult dog that is comfortable with all life has to offer. Unfortunately, despite the significance, many people […]

There are so many good reasons to teach your puppy to go to the bathroom outside, but that is not always the most practical option. Particularly during the first few months with a young puppy, the constant trips outside during potty training may be too much of a challenge. Elderly or mobility-challenged owners may find […]

By AKC GoodDog! Helpline Trainer Hilarie Erb Many new puppy owners are alarmed when their pup explores the world by tasting every new thing they find. Grass, dirt, sticks, rocks, mulch – nothing is off limits! This is normal behavior. Many animal babies, humans and puppies included, put things in their mouths to find out […]

New dog owners should take the time to learn the signs of potential health problems that might develop as a puppy matures into an adult dog. Here are some of the conditions to watch for: Allergies In dogs, allergies often show up as skin conditions, itchy ears, head-shaking, scratching, or bald or raw spots, though […]

AKC Gazette breed column—An experienced dog trainer points out how puppy classes and early socialization help ensure a puppy will become a well-adjusted, well-mannered adult dog. As a professional dog trainer, I get calls every day from owners looking for help. The discussion starts with me asking how I can help them. If the caller […]

From our partners at realtor.com Quick quiz: Do you... A. Actually enjoy being woken up each morning with a wet nose in your face? B. Walk around chatting with your dog and don't feel embarrassed? C. Have on your Galaxy S7 dozens of pictures of Humbert the Harrier, but none of your spouse, parents, or […]

By Kathy SantoBefore you hit the road this summer, heed these safety tips. Get the paperwork together. For long trips, you should carry a recent photo of your dog and a copy of his health records, listing all of his recent vaccinations. Also: a collar with his I.D. tags attached. If you’re planning on being […]

Raising well-adjusted, confident toy and small breed puppies begins in the whelping box. Breeders have a pivotal role in helping them become small dogs with big personalities during the eight-week countdown from birth until pups go to new homes. In “Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog," behavioral scientists John Paul Scott and John […]

Whether you have a large kennel of breeding dogs or just breed the occasional litter, all dogs have to eat! Tractor Supply Company has an airtight dog food container that is a great way to store kibble. These containers have optional casters which make them easy to maneuver around your kennel or home. Tractor Supply Company's […]

We love our dogs, but that doesn't mean that potential buyers want to see said pets (or any evidence of them) when looking at a home they're thinking of buying. "Pets are either an attractive distraction, so cute they distract prospective buyers from looking at the real estate, or completely the opposite," says Diane Saatchi, […]

Imagine driving 883 miles in 15 hours to watch your dog run 100 yards in 6.346 seconds. Well, that’s the commitment co-owners Krista Shreet and Ted Koch of Crownsville, Maryland, made in early December and Phelan didn’t disappoint! Wailin’ Phelan The Bearded Lass, a 4-year-old All-American Dog (rescued and thought to be a Greyhound, Borzoi, […]

We are proud to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the AKC Canine Partners program. Beginning in 2010 as an enrollment program for mixed breeds and other dogs not eligible for AKC Purebred Registration, the program has since enrolled hundreds of thousands of canines. The total number of enrollments is over 420,000 as of June 2020 There were […]

Only 107 dogs have earned their RACH titles since November 2017. Of these dogs, only one is a Briard. And only one dog has earned a RACH the dark. While impressive, this is far from the only accomplishment of 10-year-old Norman the Briard. In fact, he has been a dog star all his life — earning […]

Dogs require a degree of sacrifice, which owners happily make for the pleasure of having them in our lives. We invest in quality veterinary care and the best dog food we can afford. We buy lint rollers in bulk and learn to live with saliva streaks on our glass doors and windows. And we scooch […]

Courtney Hume sits patiently in the hectic waiting room of the Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island, N.Y. on a sunny August afternoon. Her pale, unadorned hands are folded neatly in her lap, loosely grasping a red leash marked with "Service Dog" in clear white letters along each side. At the end of that leash, […]

Whether he is comforting a terminally ill hospice patient or cavorting around an upbeat show ring, The Dude is right at home. Dewey (his nickname is "The Dude") is an almost two-year-old Norwich Terrier, owned by Becca Parkins, a Tacoma, Wash., hospice chaplain who also handles him in Western Washington dog shows on weekends. A […]

Dogs have played a critical role in the search and rescue effort in Miami-Dade County. After the incredibly tragic collapse of that 12 story condominium in Surfside, Florida rescue teams are combing through nearly 20 feet of concrete after part of the building came crashing down early last Thursday. And as search and rescue efforts […]

In 1962 when Marybeth Hearn was 10 years old, she convinced her parents to let her volunteer to raise a puppy for the California-based nonprofit Guide Dogs for the Blind. She wasn’t sure what to expect when they brought home a black Labrador Retriever named Lepta, but she knew one thing for certain. “I do […]

In the winter of 1925, a deadly outbreak of diphtheria in the remote port of Nome, Alaska, threatened the lives of the 10,000-plus living in the area. Children were especially at risk, and Nome’s isolation created a nightmare scenario. An antitoxin was located, but the nearest point which the serum could reach by rail was […]

For Nuri the Azawakh, the green synthetic turf of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is a far cry from the Tennessee greenery to which this 6-year-old Sighthound is accustomed. Rest assured, plenty of attention is focused on the breed's inaugural appearance at one of America's most well-known dog shows. Nuri and her owner Vicki Williams, […]

It didn't take Sergeant Micah Jones long to warm up to E-6 Marine Staff Sergeant Summer in 2014. In fact, it was love at first sight for both of these military veterans when they set eyes on each other for the first time at Dulles International Airport on a cold December night. The rapport and […]

Harvest season is upon us and that means we are well into autumn. “Old Man Winter” is just around the corner. I am not a cold weather kind of a person, so I am already wishing for spring. With spring in mind, let’s look at a couple of fall tasks that will make a difference […]

After reviewing the laboratory results and examining Bella for the last time, the veterinarian met with the dog's owners and delivered news the Millers weren't expecting. Their Golden Retriever's liver cancer had progressed and would not improve. The 12-year-old dog would not survive more than a few days. Devastated by the thought of losing their […]

Training a new puppy does not come with a one-size-fits-all approach — especially when dealing with a very large breed like the Great Dane. “Great Danes are considered working dogs and are intelligent dogs," says Russell Hartstein, CDBC, CPDT-KA, Fear-Free Certified trainer and Founder of Fun Paw Cares. “Still, all [dogs] are individuals." Hartstein points […]

Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Alabama – HB 235 would authorize food service establishments to allow pet dogs in outdoor restaurant seating areas and sets out access, sanitation, and other requirements. It also specifies that emotional support animals are not service animals within the meaning of the Americans […]

News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Alabama – HB 235, a bill supported by AKC GR, authorizes food service establishments to allow pet dogs in outdoor restaurant seating areas and sets out access, sanitation, and other requirements. It also specifies that emotional support animals […]

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a new federal order that imposes restrictions on the importation of live dogs for resale from regions where African swine fever (ASF) exists or is reasonably believed to exist. Regions include: The continent of Africa, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Brazil (excluding […]

Rescue Dog Helps Owner Recover from Tragedy Michele Hernandez gave Dezi a new life after her former owner abandoned her on the street. Dezi is now rescuing Michele, aiding her recovery as a survivor of the country’s worst mass shooting. Dezi’s former owner tied her to a pole and walked away, never to return. The young dog stood for […]