A family has their loyal puppy to thank for avoiding a tragedy just before the holidays. The family, who lives near Melbourne, Australia, reported that their two-year-old toddler disappeared from their property Tuesday evening. Fortunately, their one-year-old dog, named Poppy, took notice and followed her. The dog then watched over the young girl, named Sophia, […]

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are seeking the help of the public to name up to 13 puppies expected to be born this spring. The puppies, all German Shepherd Dogs, are bred at the Police Dog Service Training Centre in Alberta, Canada. “RCMP police service dog teams are an integral part of front line […]

No one has to convince Linda Hickey of the incredible effect dogs can have on children with autism. She's seen it first-hand with her son Jonny and his dog Xena the Warrior Puppy. Xena, a pit bull, had been abused and neglected, and barely survived before being taken in by an animal welfare organization and later brought home with […]

Last weekend, a Sussex Spaniel, named Duncan, made a huge splash at a North American Dock Diving event in Greensboro, North Carolina, becoming the first of his breed to earn an AKC Dock Diving Novice title and AKC Dock Diving Junior title. Dogs have been able to earn AKC titles in this water sport since June […]

A Minnesota dog was reunited with her family earlier this week after she had been missing for 985 days. The Great Pyrenees, Betty White, ventured into the woods of her owners' 13-acre property on Nov. 16, 2013 and failed to return home, devastating her family. We had the opportunity to connect with Betty White's owner, […]

By AKC GoodDog! Helpline Trainer Hilarie Erb When trying to change a dog’s behavior, owners often give up after the first unsuccessful attempt. “I tried that yesterday, and it didn’t work!” is something that the AKC GoodDog Helpline trainers hear often. But sometimes we hear that after a couple of weeks of calm persistence and […]

The federal district court in Arizona recently granted judgment in favor of the City of Phoenix and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) in a lawsuit brought by the owners of a pet store.  At question in the suit was whether Phoenix’s ordinance that restricted pet stores to selling dogs and cats obtained […]

The AKC Board of Directors recently discussed problematic new “pet leasing” schemes in which prospective owners make hefty monthly payments for a pet, but are not given legal ownership of the pet. In response to this concerning trend, the Board has updated the AKC Canine Legislation Position Statement on Protection for Puppy Purchasers to include […]

You Can Keep Your Pooch from Digging up the DaisiesApril showers bring May flowers—but all that work can be ruined when one determined dog gets to it. We asked our Facebook followers for advice for when gardening efforts are hindered by a hairy horticulturist. Here are some of the suggestions we received: When planting inedible […]

Capturing Your Dog's AttentionYou might not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, as the cliché says, but you can teach almost any dog to obey basic commands, trainers and handlers agree. It's best to begin training a dog at the puppy stage. Start when the puppy is about seven weeks old and […]