No, crate training is not cruel or unusual! In fact, dogs like crates since they mimic the close quarters of a wolf’s den. It is what the pros do. Crating your dog several times a day is an excellent way to housebreak him because dogs will try not to soil their “home.” Here are six […]

Many puppies and young dogs go through a period of submissive urination – releasing a small amount of urine when they are greeted by their owners or visitors. AKC GoodDog! Helpline Trainer Christie Canfield gives some great tips on dealing with this behavior. Submissive urination is a normal canine communications behavior.  Dogs squat and urinate […]

Diet is critical not only to puppies, but also for the health of the breeding female, whose nutritional needs vary with the stage of reproduction. The amount of added dietary energy needed to support a mother and her puppies can range from 0% to 300% or more, depending on the reproductive stage and litter size. […]

We all know that the quality of care that a mother provides for her children significantly affects how they will get along in the world as adults. How many times have you heard psychologists attribute criminal behavior to poor upbringing and inattention from the mother? Does it work this way in dogs? Mother dogs do […]

Molly and Michael Nye, of M&M Bloodhounds, live just outside of Charlotte, N.C. Bloodhound fanciers for close to 20 years, they are members of the American Bloodhound Club, regional Bloodhound clubs, and local all-breed and obedience clubs. They are AKC Breeders of Merit, American Bloodhound Club Breeders of Merit, and they both hold offices and […]

At a recent dog show, several littermates of both sexes, handled by assorted novice owners, were entered in the 9-12 Month Puppy class. While none of the puppies exhibited disqualifying faults, they were generic in type and not what I would consider "show quality." The judge that day agreed. The puppies were not up to […]

Cuddling and petting your dog is fun for both of you, but when it comes time for grooming and other forms of handling, such as teeth brushing or checking for ticks, many dogs run for cover. One terrible coat mat or clipped nail quick, and your dog will decide the brush or nail trimmer is an […]

Everything a pregnant mother puts into her body has the potential to affect the development of her fetus. This applies to humans as well as our dogs. Remember to review her water, food, nutritional supplements as well as drugs. The only things that should go into a brood bitch before her breeding and during her […]

Of all the odd habits our dogs have—drinking toilet water, rolling in dead things, licking their butts— nothing disgusts most dog owners more than knowing that dogs eat poop sometimes. A dog's motivation for eating poop isn't to gross us humans out, but the act of eating poop certainly disgusts us. So much so, in […]

Amanda Halsey, a hobby breeder of Toy Fox Terriers (TFTs), lives in West Central Ohio. Her dogs are bred under the kennel name DynAsty Toy Fox Terriers. She has been breeding and showing TFTs for 16 years. AKC: How did you get started in breeding dogs? Halsey: I showed horses competitively, starting around age 12, and […]