As far back as the 1700’s, dogs have been used in therapeutic settings to provide comfort. In the 1970’s, several national therapy dog organizations emerged in the United States. These organizations registered handler and therapy dog teams who most often volunteered in nursing homes and facilities for people with developmental disabilities. Over the past few […]

When Drs. Carole Schuster and Philip Abessinio, of Locust Valley, N.Y., bought their West Highland White Terrier four years ago, the duo set some ambitious goals. They hoped their new canine companion, Max, would be a therapy dog, Canine Good Citizen, and a successful conformation competitor. The dynamic, 20-pound pup hasn't disappointed. "I was looking […]

Have you ever heard of puppy yoga? Unfortunately, it does not require training your canine companion to do downward-facing dog. It's actually just like a normal yoga class — except puppies roam free throughout the room, spreading joy and providing entertainment. (Sounds pretty amazing, right?) Although the pups are sometimes incorporated into simple yoga poses, […]

Dog Training Time: 45-55 minutes Resources Needed: AKC Good Citizen Lesson: Ask students the types of behaviors a well-trained dog demonstrates. Write their ideas on the board or another central location. Ask students to share why they think it is important for a dog to be well-trained. Show students the video about the AKC Canine […]

Molly and Michael Nye, of M&M Bloodhounds, live just outside of Charlotte, N.C. Bloodhound fanciers for close to 20 years, they are members of the American Bloodhound Club, regional Bloodhound clubs, and local all-breed and obedience clubs. They are AKC Breeders of Merit, American Bloodhound Club Breeders of Merit, and they both hold offices and […]

Everything is more fun with a friend! Sometimes, it can be difficult to stay focused when training your dog alone. However, there are some benefits to finding a partner who's also training her canine companion. Here are some ways "buddy walks” can help you and your dog. Motivation Just like with a workout partner, having […]

--Annual Event Educates Public on How to Be Effective Dog Owners-- New York, NY – The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is preparing for the 16th annual AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day (AKC RDO Days). This summer and fall hundreds of clubs and dog organizations around the country will host free events to educate the dog-loving […]

AKC Title Recognition Awards The AKC now works with several non-AKC service and sports organizations to recognize the titles that AKC-registered dogs earn in their programs. This includes the AKC Therapy Dog titling program and the AKC Search & Rescue title program. AKC also recognizes titles of the Barn Hunt Association (BHA); North American Diving […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®), the world’s largest purebred dog registry and leading advocate for dogs, is proud to announce the AKC Urban Canine Good Citizen Public Access Test (formerly known as AKC Urban CGC). Urban CGC began in 2015 as a program that was designed to test a dog’s skills in an urban setting. […]

The AKC Government Relations team continues to monitor Congress for issues of interest to dog owners. Visit our 2017 Legislation Tracking page and click on “US Fed” on the map to get the latest updates on federal bills currently being monitored by the AKC. Highlights of issues we are currently addressing on the federal level include: House […]