Ways to Increase the Chance of TV News Coverage for Your Dog Show TV crews are eager to cover local stories and your hometown dog show easily fits the bill. Even if there may be a bigger dog show, your local show can serve as a lead-up, building anticipation toward larger shows. Luck sometimes plays […]

When to See the Vet and When to Treat at Home AKC Family Dog Magazine Offers a Guide for When to Treat Your Dog at Home and When to Call the Vet Emergencies for your dog can happen at any time. Some are minor, while others can be life threatening. In the November/December 2010 issue […]

Finding a Friend in Fido: Tips for Considering a Dog A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society demonstrated that independently-living seniors with pets tend to have better physical health and mental well being than those who don't. But for many seniors, the fear of not being able to provide the proper […]

Why Purebred? Welcoming a canine companion into your life is a commitment that may last 10 years or more. Finding a pet whose temperament matches your lifestyle and personality is best achieved by researching and selecting a purebred--a dog with predictable characteristics. There are as many breeds as there are lifestyles. Some reasons to consider […]

A Canine for the Kids? What to Know When Considering a New Dog Choosing the right breed to fit your family's lifestyle After hearing "Please can we get a dog?" from your children for the one-thousandth time, perhaps you are considering adding a canine to the family portrait. There are many suitable options for families of […]

AKC Urban CGC is a title in the Canine Good Citizen family of awards and titles that also include AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, Canine Good Citizen and AKC Community Canine. AKC Urban CGC requires that the dog demonstrate CGC skills and beyond in an urban setting. As with Canine Good Citizen, AKC Urban CGC has a […]

Mary R. Burch, PhD Canine Good Citizen Director Here in the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen department, we receive frequent requests from trainer and dog owners who want us to expand the menu of fun things people can do with their dogs. Trick training is becoming increasingly popular and many evaluators teach a few tricks in […]

Trick Dog Titles: The Hamilton of Dog Training Many years and many pounds ago, I was all about ballet dancing. I loved ballet and at that time, had no use for tap, modern dance or jazz. I was a dance traditionalist and couldn’t see the value in a dance form that didn’t involve the discipline […]

Teaching Responsible Dog Ownership A sample CGC course outline (for an 8 week class) is provided at the bottom of this page to help instructors who are planning a class. Please remember that the CGC concept applies to both ends of the leash and all CGC classes should include training for the owner on responsible […]

Teaching tricks is a great way for dog owners to have fun with their dogs. Tricks are best taught using positive reinforcement and the behavioral procedure called “shaping” where successive approximations to a desired behavior are reinforced. Here is a trick that lends itself to being taught at home because it will most likely involve […]