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Expert Advice: Feature
Leader Dogs for the Blind Provides Guide Dogs to Those in Need
All dog owners knows the bond they share with their dog is special, but when it comes to service dogs for the blind and visually impaired, the owner and dog form a true partnership. The dog relies on the owner for instruction and direction, yet the owner relies on the dog to keep him safe […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/leader-dogs-for-the-blind/
| December 20, 2016
Expert Advice: Common Conditions
What Every Dog Owner Should Know About Parvovirus
Parvo is every new puppy and dog owner’s worst nightmare. In a matter of days, a perfectly healthy puppy can go from playful and active to fatally ill. Parvo in dogs is a preventable disease, however, all new puppy owners and breeders need to be aware of the risks of parvo, how to prevent it, […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/parvo-in-dogs/
| March 29, 2017
Expert Advice: Puppy Training
Supervising Puppy Play Sessions
AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy is the American Kennel Club’s popular puppy training program. STAR is an acronym that stands for Socialization, Training, Activity and a Responsible owner, all the things every puppy needs to get started on the right paw in life. Socialization means letting your puppy interact with other people and dogs. While there are […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/supervising-puppy-play-sessions/
| November 18, 2013
![Golden Retriever rolling over playing with her litter of puppies outdoors.](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Golden-Retriever-rolling-over-playing-with-her-litter-of-puppies-outdoors-400x267.jpg)
Expert Advice: Dog Breeding
Average Litter Sizes: How Many Dogs Are Born in a Litter?
A normal litter size can range from 1 to 12 puppies, with 5-6 puppies being average across all dogs. But just as every breed of dog differs by size, function, and personality, they also differ when it comes to litter size, according to AKC registration data. Big dogs tend to have larger litters while small […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/average-litter-size/
| May 24, 2021
Expert Advice: Common Behavior Issues
My Dog Pees In Her Crate
Ask AKC Dear AKC: I have a 4-month-old German Shepherd Dog. She is wonderful, loving, sweet, and does all that she can to please. However, we have a big problem. She is peeing in her crate every night. I read that by 4 months this should stop - it hasn't. She comes out in the […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/dog-pees-in-crate/
| May 16, 2015
![body sensitivity](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/preventing-body-sensitivity-400x267.jpg)
Expert Advice: Fun Facts
Dog Cognition: Dogs Are Even Smarter Than You Think
How much do you know about what goes on in your pup's head? Do you believe it's all pretty simple in there? Just thoughts about dinner, the cat next door, and more dinner? Think again. Dogs have been known to learn hundred of words, do arithmetic, and guess what people and other dogs are thinking. […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/dog-cognition-dogs-are-smarter-than-you-think/
| August 12, 2019
![](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/beauceron-vs-doberman-400x267.png)
Expert Advice: Dog Breeds
Beauceron vs. Doberman: How to Tell the Difference
You are no doubt familiar with the Doberman Pinscher. After all, they are very popular. Dobermans are distinguished and powerful with a keen intellect, and you might think their size, strength, and markings make them one of a kind. But there is a like-sized, equally powerful, and similarly attractive breed you might mistake for the […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/beauceron-vs-doberman/
| May 19, 2021
Press Releases
2021 National Owner-Handled Series & National All-Breed Puppy & Junior Stakes Judging Panels Now Available
The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panels for the 2021 National Owner-Handled Series (NOHS) Finals and the AKC Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida in conjunction with the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin. The […]
https://www.akc.org/press-releases/2021-national-owner-handled-series-national-breed-puppy-junior-stakes-judging-panels-now-available/
| May 18, 2021
Expert Advice: Fun With Your Dog
How to Unleash Your Dog’s Super Sense of Smell
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 […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/how-to-unleash-your-dogs-super-sense-of-smell/
| August 9, 2016
![](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/red-star-brt-400x267.jpeg)
Expert Advice: Breed History
Black Russian Terrier History: Meet the Soviet Superdog
Necessity is the mother of invention, the saying goes. And no dog illustrates that better than the Black Russian Terrier. This relatively new breed – barely two decades in the making – was developed after World War II, when Europe was divided into two geopolitical spheres: the Western bloc led by the United States and […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/black-russian-terrier-history-soviet-superdog/
| May 4, 2021