Halloween is a widely celebrated holiday, and as such, it is one of the holidays that leads to a significant increase in call volume at Pet Poison Helpline. Halloween can be a scary and hazardous time of year for most pets, since many parts of our celebration are dangerous to them. So here's a helpful […]

Ask AKC   Dear AKC: My dog is a wonderful Jack Russell Terrier/Chihuahua mix. My question has to do with taking him to go out. He will only go to the bathroom where other dogs have gone. My husband and I moved into a townhouse where no one has lived before. As a result, he will […]

Like many scientists before them, Dr. Laura M. Shannon and Dr. Adam R. Boyko of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine went searching for the origin and location of the modern dog. Along with a team of international scientists, they analyzed three kinds of DNA in the blood samples of nearly 5,000 dogs. The dogs […]

It’s National Dog Week! You have a right to be skeptical of these “national weeks.” It seems like every Monday brings the start of another national something week: National Kumquat Week, National Duct Tape Week, National Braunschweiger Week, and who knows what else. Mostly, PR flunkies of limited imagination concoct these faux celebrations because they […]

Cleo and Gwen Blake practice at Family Dog Training Center in Kent, Wash., a Seattle suburb. “Practice doesn’t make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect,” says Blake. “And we need plenty of that.” Photo courtesy Kathy Lang. For Gwen Blake, it’s back to basics every time she steps into the obedience and rally rings with her […]

Gracie, a five-year-old Golden Retriever and comfort dog, is on her way to Orlando, Florida to help survivors of the shooting that occurred early Sunday morning. Gracie will be traveling from her home in Davenport, Iowa to Orlando to visit hospitals and local churches, offering love and comfort to those affected by this tragedy, News […]

Have you ever known somebody who chose their pet over their partner when the relationship was on the line? It seems like the plot of a romantic comedy, but a new study shows that most of us would do the same. In fact, 80 percent of people would consider it a deal breaker if their […]

There are so many important commands for your dog to learn, but the most important is “come.” It only takes a second for even the most well-behaved dog to see a squirrel and dart into traffic. A strong recall can be the difference between life and death. Start with your dog on a leash walking at […]

On October 1, the AKC rolled out Scent Work, a new titling event open to all dogs. Before the AKC introduces a new sport, staff methodically evaluates, adapts, and develops the event. The process can take several months, sometimes years. Stephanie Kennerley is Sports and Events Projects coordinator. Her department creates and implements new AKC sports […]

Newfoundlands are one of AKC’s largest breeds. And just as a giant tree grows from a tiny seedling, the large, heavy-coated Newfie begins as a small, teddy bear-like puppy. Newfie enthusiasts warn that the transformation from cute little “teddy bear” to mammoth dog is rapid, so new owners of these big sweeties are encouraged to […]