AKC Government Relations continues to monitor Congress for issues of interest to dog owners. Visit our 2022 Legislation Tracking map and click on “Federal Bills” 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:  U.S. Congress – […]

Next week, the California Senate Judiciary Committee will be considering both the “Dog and Cat Welfare” and dog trainer disclosure bills.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) is currently neutral on these bills, both of which contain some of AKC’s proposed amendments. Those who wish may contact the committee to express your opinion on these bills […]

Although a celebratory day for humans, the July 4th holiday can be dangerous for your dogs’ health and happiness. The American Veterinary Medical Association warns that fireworks, picnics, cookouts, and other Fourth of July traditions can be frightening and even dangerous for pets. Up to half of dogs react fearfully to fireworks, according to owner […]

Shedding happens. It's a fact. You can always count on locks losing their grip when spring or early autumn rolls around and dogs shed their seasonal coats. Environmental factors like temperature, nutrition, and stress can also affect canine coat loss. But while some loose hair occurs routinely during a dog's hair growth cycles, thinning hair […]

Teach Your Dog to Back Up We are repeating the Training Tip from the winter issue because part of it was accidently left out. Our apologies! Many thanks to Mandy Baker CPDT-KA CBATI CCUI, who has been training and competing with All American Dogs for 16 years in rally, agility, scent work, freestyle and more, […]

Use the following resources as a guide to responsible dog breeding. You may also want to watch the AKC webinar on Planning Breedings: Are you ready to breed a litter of puppies? Prepare Yourself for Breeding a Litter of Puppies Breed to Improve Understand the Commitment Choose A Suitable Mate Know Your Genetics Finalize Stud […]

Does your dog have a fitness routine? When I started training in dog agility in the 1990s most competitors didn't know very much about canine sports medicine. It wasn't uncommon to take dogs directly from being crated at a show to quickly go run a full course—no warm-up whatsoever. Thankfully, over the last two decades, […]

When it comes to Poodles, there is more to the breed than what meets the eye. Fluffy, show dog looks aside, the Poodle is an active, smart, and proud breed that has been favored for centuries. Initially used as a duck hunting breed in Germany, Poodles are now the national dog of France and wear the title […]

When you're a dog lover, it can be tough to watch your normally calm pup get stressed out during a thunderstorm. While some dogs show mild signs of stress, like licking their paws, other dogs can get so worked up during storms they may get destructive. To better understand why some dogs hate thunderstorms, we […]

Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Arizona – House Bill 2323 states that for the purposes of homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, the breed of dog may not be the sole consideration for underwriting or determining risk or loss, questionnaires or surveys regarding the presence of a dog on the […]