It is easy to understand how and why a singleton puppy would or could develop into being a dominant dog. Why not? The singleton puppy never had any littermates around to dissuade this notion. The singleton will always be the only being in his or her universe (other than Mom), unless he or she is […]

Can dogs eat sticks safely? What about stones? Here's why both sticks and stones aren't good options for your pet to gnaw on.

By Sarah A. Ferrell "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness ... it was the spring of hope ... We had everything before us." Charles Dickens could have had the joys and fears of raising the best possible […]

Note: Obsessive-compulsive behavior is a serious problem and depending on the severity, it can result in harm to the dog. For critical behavior problems, a qualified behaviorist should work in conjunction with a veterinarian to solve the problem. Kiwi’s Story A strong desire to engage in a game of fetch when a ball is thrown […]

Introduction In many breeding programs, genetic health testing has become an essential part of responsible dog breeding. One concept frequently used by breeders is “Clear by Parentage” (CBP). This designation indicates a puppy inherited two normal copies of a genetic variant because both parents tested “clear” for a known disease-associated variant. While this can be […]

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), […]

This checklist will help you and your pet sitter work together to keep your dog happy, healthy, and safe while you’re away.

A hot topic in June is the announcement by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that it is temporarily banning the importation of dogs from countries at high risk for canine rabies, effective July 14. American Kennel Club Government Relations quickly responded with a legislative alert on the issue and a blog […]

AKC Government Relations continues to monitor the US Congress for issues of interest to dog owners. Visit our 2021 Legislation Tracking map and click on “Federal Bills” on the map to get the latest updates on federal bills currently being monitored by the AKC. Highlights of issues we are currently addressing on the federal level include:  U.S. […]

The AKC now works with several non-AKC service and sports organizations to recognize the titles that AKC-registered dogs earn in their programs. This includes the AKC Therapy Dog titling program and the AKC Search & Rescue title program. AKC also recognizes titles of the Barn Hunt Association (BHA); North American Diving Dogs (NADD); and the […]