Before Baloo amassed an astonishing 648,000-plus followers on TikTok (and 196,000 followers and counting on Instagram), inspired countless people, and became a canine athlete, he was a rescue dog waiting for his perfect match. Bella Boone was the person he'd been looking for. Bringing Home Baloo Just a few months into Bella's freshman year at […]

Rescue Dog Helps Owner Recover from Tragedy Michele Hernandez gave Dezi a new life after her former owner abandoned her on the street. Dezi is now rescuing Michele, aiding her recovery as a survivor of the country’s worst mass shooting. Dezi’s former owner tied her to a pole and walked away, never to return. The young dog stood for […]

In 1962 when Marybeth Hearn was 10 years old, she convinced her parents to let her volunteer to raise a puppy for the California-based nonprofit Guide Dogs for the Blind. She wasn’t sure what to expect when they brought home a black Labrador Retriever named Lepta, but she knew one thing for certain. “I do […]

Each year, the AKC Humane Fund pays tribute to five dedicated, hardworking dogs for making significant contributions to an individual or entire community. One award is given in each of the following categories: Uniformed Service K-9, Service, Therapy, Search and Rescue, and Exemplary Companion Dog. In a split second in 2006 Ryan Garrison’s life changed forever. Fast forward nine years […]

If you’re looking for a job description for Louie, you better sit down and set aside a few minutes. Kelly Raudenbush, a child and family therapist at The Sparrow Fund in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, and the 4-year-old Golden Retriever’s owner-handler, will only smile and tell you how he has grown into his job as a co-therapist […]

Many of us say that our dogs are our best friends, but for some people, they're the key to a better life as well. For veterans, service dogs provide more than just emotional support, especially for people dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Specialized service dogs not only perform specific […]

It's not uncommon for puppies to pick up things that we might have carelessly left on the floor. Soft, smelly, and stretchy socks are appealing chew toys. Without proper management and training, this sock stealing habit can become a problem—and not just because your dog is decimating your underwear drawer. Dogs that eat socks and […]

TIPS FROM THE AKC’S CHIEF VETERINARY OFFICER, DR. JERRY KLEIN After over a year of being asked to stay home, all of us are craving a change in scenery. As the country reopens, so does the ability to travel. Some of us may want to take our dogs along for the ride. Before you and […]

Looking for a fun training project for dogs and owners? You might want to try out the “Do More With Your Dog” program created by famous Hollywood trainer and AKC competitor Kyra Sundance. This goal-oriented program creates a solid foundation of obedience in the format of learning simple tricks that owners keep track of and […]

-- Recipients Include a Dog that Beat Death to Become a Local Hero and a Pomeranian Raising Awareness for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention -- The AKC® Humane Fund announced the winners of the 12th annual AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE), which commemorates five loyal, hard-working dogs that have made significant contributions […]