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Expert Advice: General Health
How to Tell If Your Dog Is in Shape Or Overweight
If your pooch is looking a bit more pudgy than usual, it's actually quite common. The battle of the bulge isn't just something people face — so do pets. In fact, according to a 2018 survey conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 55.8 percent of dogs in the United States are overweight or obese. And […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/how-to-tell-if-your-dog-is-fat/
| August 7, 2019
![](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/hound-group-third-ibizan-hound-400x267.jpg)
Expert Advice: Dog Sports
Built to Last: The Basics of Canine Conformation & Anatomy
While all dogs should have a basic soundness, their construction varies depending on breed and purpose. Understanding a dog's conformation requires looking at the canine from all angles. Even though there is nothing you can do to change your current dog's genetics, you can prevent injury and work on strengthening weak areas. Let's be honest: […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/sports/basics-canine-conformation-anatomy/
| November 7, 2019
![](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/German-Shepherd-Dog-puppy-sitting-next-to-a-woman-on-a-laptop-400x267.jpg)
Expert Advice: Lifestyle
Are You Financially Prepared for a Puppy?
Dog owners reap many benefits from their canine companions – love and affection, nonjudgmental friendship, social connections, exercise incentives, stress relievers, guardians – and the list goes on. But, dog ownership also comes with significant financial costs. When buying a house, car, or living room furniture, most people carefully consider and plan for the costs. […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/are-you-financially-prepared-for-a-puppy/
| April 16, 2021
![heal fido acupuncture could help an ailing dog](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/heal-fido-acupuncture-could-help-an-ailing-dog-400x267.jpg)
Expert Advice: General Health
‘Heal, Fido’: Acupuncture Could Help an Ailing Dog
Could an Ancient Chinese Medical Therapy Work for Your Dog? Acupuncture is one of the most common natural therapies used by holistic veterinarians. The practice of acupuncture involves stimulating the nervous system by penetrating “acupuncture points” with needles, injectable liquids (such as vitamins or homeopathics), or electrical stimulation. Acupuncture is most effective for dogs suffering: […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/heal-fido-acupuncture-could-help-an-ailing-dog/
| March 23, 2015
Expert Advice: General Health
Can Acupuncture Help My Dog?
Acupuncture is one of the most common natural therapies used by holistic veterinarians. The practice involves stimulating the nervous system by penetrating “acupuncture points” with needles, injectable liquids (such as vitamins or homeopathics), or electrical stimulation. Acupuncture is most effective for dogs suffering: Musculoskeletal problems such as hip dysplasia, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, and […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/can-acupuncture-help-my-dog/
| January 25, 2017
![ill](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/pug-senior-looking-sad-portrait-400x267.jpg)
Expert Advice: Common Behavior Issues
Seniors Behaving Badly: How To Handle Older Dogs Acting Out
Kathy Santo trains dogs for home life and competition at her Kathy Santo Dog Training school in New Jersey. She is the author of Kathy Santo’s Dog Sense and has handled multiple Obedience trial champions. She also teaches digital dog-training courses available online. When I first heard the phrase “old dogs are the best dogs,” […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/how-to-handle-senior-dogs-behaving-badly/
| December 27, 2019
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2018 AKC Paw of Courage Recipients
[accordion] [accordion_panel title="K9 Max - San Diego Police Department, CA"] K9 Max, five-year-old Belgian Malinois, served with the San Diego Police Department for two years at the time of his injury. In June of 2017, police officers responded to a radio call of a man acting bizarrely. Upon arrival, the suspect threatened the officers with a […]
https://www.akc.org/about/awards-and-honors/akc-paw-courage/2018-akc-paw-courage-recipients/
| May 10, 2018
![Holistic Care Calmz Golden Retriever](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Holistic-Care-Calmz-400x267.jpg)
Expert Advice: General Health
How Holistic Care Can Help Your Dog
Holistic medicine treats the person (or, in this case, animal) as a whole: mind, body, spirit. It uses several different practices, including acupuncture, massage, herbal remedies, chiropractic treatment, aromatherapy, nutrition, acupressure, and even sound therapy to address a variety of ailments and conditions. Americans spend more than $30 billion a year on alternative treatments for […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/holistic-care-can-help-dog/
| December 18, 2020
![Great Dane looking back over his shoulder outdoors at the park in the fall.](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Great-Dane-looking-back-over-his-shoulder-outdoors-at-the-park-400x267.jpg)
Expert Advice: General Health
Great Dane Life Span & Health Issues
Big, brave, and beautiful, Great Danes hold a special place in our hearts. But despite their larger-than-life persona, this giant breed has a relatively short life span. Why Are Great Dane Life Spans So Short? For such big dogs, Great Danes sure get the short end of the stick when it comes to longevity. Great […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/great-dane-life-span/
| June 17, 2020
![](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Senior-American-Staffordshire-Terrier-laying-in-the-grass.20200521192606465-400x267.jpg)
Expert Advice: Senior Dog Health
Palliative Care and Hospice for Terminally Ill Dogs
Even under the best circumstances, a dog's life is too short. It's a difficult subject, but one every pet owner must face eventually. As the end of your dog's life approaches, whether due to illness or old age, you might be contemplating some difficult choices. But while euthanasia was long considered the most humane option […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/palliative-care-and-hospice-for-terminally-ill-dogs/
| June 10, 2020