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 […]

Sometimes it’s the journey, not the goal. And it took a devastating event, plus a bag of tricks, to show me that. My goal was to break yet another record with my Saluki, Pepe. He was already a Best in Show, National Specialty Best of Breed, Best in Field (Coursing), and High in Trial (both […]

If you and your canine companion are getting a little weary of winter, there are still plenty of seasonal activities, both indoors and outdoors, to liven up your days. After all, your dog needs activity and stimulation, regardless of the weather, and it’s good for you, too! Outdoor Winter Fun With Your Dog Skijoring Skijoring, a […]

During the wintertime, your dog’s paws can take a beating with all the snow, ice, salt on the sidewalk, and overall cold weather. It’s important to protect their paw pads as they don’t have protection like we do when we wear shoes. Fortunately, there are several ways to protect your dog’s paws this winter. Make […]

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When the music starts Elizabeth McKibben and her Australian Shepherd Harper and her Border Collie Fanta come alive. The 16-year-old from Dayton, Ohio, and her dogs are active competitors in Musical Freestyle competitions. McKibben and Harper have earned their fourth Musical Freestyle Championship and Fanta is about to earn his first Musical Freestyle Championship. Bringing […]

If you are unfamiliar with the spunky, sturdy breed known as the Havanese, you might make the mistake of thinking it is some sort of Poodle. Or, you might think it is related to the Bichon Frise. If you guessed any of these well-known breeds, you’d be on the right track, because all of them […]

Anyone who's ever tossed a flying disc to a dog can appreciate the satisfaction of a perfect throw and catch. While the exact origins are unclear, the sport of disc dog has been a part of canine culture since at least the 1970s. Disc dog has been around in some form for decades, but the […]

Remember “The Golden Girls” — that TV sitcom staple decades ago? Well, today’s version is fun-loving, too, but has gone to the dogs. And boy do they know their breed, Golden Retrievers. Nancy Lewine and Jenny Cochran are the brains and workhorses behind GoldenSoul Dogs, of Harleysville, Pennsylvania, and American Kennel Club Breeders of Merit. […]

Sirius, my Newfoundland, likes to play a game with me. The moment I sit down to eat, she asks me to take her outside to potty. When she has my attention, she will run back over to the table instead of to the back door and puts her chin up next to my plate. Sirius […]