If you have a fearful or anxious dog, you might think competitive dog sports are out of the question. After all, if unfamiliar people, dogs, and/or environments overwhelm your dog, how can you train him to participate, let alone compete, successfully? However, when it comes to agility, the very process of training might be just […]

Header photo by GDH Trainer Erin Rakosky. AKC GoodDog Helpline Trainer Erin Rakosky shares two of her favorite exercises for encouraging your dog to walk politely by your side – not pulling ahead, dragging you along on the walk! .video-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; padding-top: 30px; height: 0; overflow: hidden; } .video-container iframe, .video-container […]

New dog owners should take the time to learn the signs of potential health problems that might develop as a puppy matures into an adult dog. Here are some of the conditions to watch for: Allergies In dogs, allergies often show up as skin conditions, itchy ears, head-shaking, scratching, or bald or raw spots, though […]

You have just been told that while you are at work, your dog barks all day. At first you don’t want to believe it. But you know that if you were in your neighbor’s shoes, you wouldn’t want to listen to endless barking either. A big part of being a responsible dog owner is ensuring […]

If you’re an urban or suburban dog owner, you’re likely familiar with the local dog park. It’s a canine oasis, where your leash-less pet is free to sniff, run and socialize with other dogs. Some parks post specific rules on signs, but dog park courtesy is mostly common sense. You and your pooch will be […]

Photo: normanack/Flickr Next to Christmas and birthdays, the day that you pick your puppy up from the breeder is, hands down, the best day ever. For your puppy? It's an exciting, but difficult day. For the past few weeks he's been living comfortably nestled next to his mother and numerous siblings, and now he's about […]

Puppies love toys. During the puppy's period of rapid development, from 8-weeks-to-9-or-10-months-old, it's important to give him appropriate toys for his age. Breed may also play a role in what toys become his favorites: a hound will naturally enjoy anything he can chase after and carry; terriers are natural diggers and tuggers; and a gundog […]

Puppies present a variety of challenges as they develop. First, they’re sweet babies, following us around, looking to us for every cue. Then, just when you think you’ve got a handle on house-training, basic obedience commands, and confidence building (in both of you), baby teeth and brains seem to go right out the window, simultaneously. […]

To say that dogs are super smellers is an understatement. Whether it’s the ground during a walk, another dog during a meet-and-greet, or your friend when she walks into your house, chances are your dog leads with his nose to get information he can’t get with his eyes alone. That’s because your dog’s sense of […]

  Young children and puppies have a lot in common: they're both curious, excitable, impulsive, and, for the most part, endearing. If you follow some sensible guidelines when introducing your children to the new puppy, you can take the first steps toward creating a life-long bond. Your puppy is experiencing many new people and things […]