Senior dogs look and behave differently than they did in their younger years. They might become gray around the muzzle, be slower to get up and lie down, or sleep more than they used to. Some of these changes are due to symptoms of physical conditions, but there may be cognitive issues, as well. For […]

Adding a new pet to your family can be a balancing act, and if you already have a senior dog, the challenges can be even more significant. Older dogs can be set in their ways and less tolerant of the antics of a new dog or cat entering their household. Here are some tips to […]

Ngan Dinh of Frisco, Texas, asks: My 3-1/2-month-old Toy Poodle likes to bite me, especially when he gets excited with a preferred toy or when he thinks I'm taking his toy away. (He also tries to bite and jump on people when he meets them because he gets overly excited.) Every time he bites me, […]

Joanna B. wrote that her daughter’s 10-month-old Labrador Retriever loves to get in the face of her adult Coton de Tulear, which responds by growling and snapping. The result is that the Lab puppy tries even harder to get close to the Coton. It’s very common for families to bring home a new puppy when […]

Susan S. wrote to ask what is the best way to teach her Field Spaniel puppy to stay. To teach your puppy “stay,” the most important thing to remember is to take it in baby steps. Too many owners make the mistake of turning it into an endurance contest: how long can the puppy stay […]

Judith C. of Connecticut wrote AKC for help with her German Shorthaired Pointer pup that loves jumping on people and the kitchen counter to steal food. Heather W. of Michigan said she is having the same issue with her pair of one-year-old Labrador Retrievers. Heather says, "We are constantly telling them to stay down and pushing them down. […]

Left to their own devices, young puppies can get in a lot of trouble, from soiling the carpet to chewing your favorite pair of shoes. That’s why it’s important to start training early and keep a close eye on them, especially when they’re still learning what’s expected of them. And the best way to do […]

  While many owners are fascinated by fabulous firework shows and lightening-filled thunderstorms, our four-legged companions all too often cower under beds or in corners, whining, crying, and shaking uncontrollably. According to one recently published study on canine anxiety, repeated exposure to anxiety-inducing stimuli negatively affects the physical, mental, and even social health of dogs, […]

The Saint Bernard mix looked like he was dead when he was first spotted in a ditch on the side of a road. “We thought he had been hit by a car,” recalls Deborah Workman, executive director of the Sanctuary for Senior Dogs, in Cleveland, the group that took in the 8-year-old stray. The truth was […]

It takes an army to raise a champion show dog: an owner to take her home and love her when it’s not show time, a groomer to clip, trim, brush and smooth with perfect precision, a handler to highlight her best features and exhibit her to the best of her breed standards. But before any […]