This tip is brought to us by Sue Kotlarek of Michigan, who competes very successfully with her two All-American Dogs in a variety of sports. Both Jazz and Rodger have earned the AKC Utility Dog title in Obedience and the Rally Advanced Excellent title in AKC Rally. Rodger is the first mixed-breed dog to earn […]

Like young children, dogs often learn best when playing games and having fun.  Playing is not only fun for you both, but you can also use games for training and reinforcing important behaviors, like “Come.”  Remember to keep your recall command happy and light, not an authoritative tone.  Here are a few games to help […]

AKC Community Canine is the advanced level of Canine Good Citizen. For people interested in taking the test with their dog, we created this video to demonstrate the 10 steps of the test. We hope to see you and your dog earning your AKC Community Canine title soon! Learn how to get started here. The […]

Passing the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test is a worthy goal and a significant accomplishment for pet owners.  Well-socialized dogs with basic obedience training are more apt to live out their lives in loving homes, and are less likely to be rehomed or surrendered to shelters. Passing the CGC test does not give dogs the right to go […]

Rick Yount, Founder and Executive Director, Warrior Canine Connection What is it about training a service dog for a fellow Veteran that makes it such an effective therapy for military Service Members and Veterans who are battling post-traumatic stress, or dealing with the effects of a mild traumatic brain injury received during deployment? The answers […]

ASK AKC  Dear AKC: I have a two-year-old Golden Retriever who loves treats. I go to a meat market weekly for meats and wondered if real meat bones from a meat market are good for dogs to eat. -- Meats or Treats Dear Meats: There are two schools of thought about whether or not dogs should be allowed […]

Here are some quick tips for the Canine Culinarian. Many dog owners swear by the benefits of preparing homemade meals for their pets. Holistic vets can provide advice on ensuring your meals provide a balance diet. Some dog owners who prepare meals for their pet favor the raw food diet; others prefer to cook their dog’s […]

A good diet will keep your dog looking and feeling his best. It provides your dog with the right amounts of essential nutrients: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. Your dog must have all these in correct proportions to stay healthy. Dog food companies make a variety of foods for all life stages, from […]

The range of sizes among dog breeds is greater than that of any other animal. For example, a 150-pound Newfoundland is 50 times the size of a three-pound Pomeranian. And as you might expect, large breed puppies and small breed puppies have very different nutritional needs. There are general rules for feeding any puppy, but […]

Dogs Can Adapt to a Vegan Household. Dogs prefer meat, but a vegetarian diet is possible with the right supplements Dogs Can Adapt to a Vegan Household. Dogs prefer meat, but a vegetarian diet is possible with the right supplements. For health and ethical reasons, many vegetarian and vegan humans choose to share their dietary preferences with […]