Today (Oct. 7) is National Pet Obesity Awareness Day, an event created by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, to educate owners that dogs, cats and other pets need to be kept in shape for their health. A great way to exercise your dog is swimming. It is easy on the joints so it is great […]

We know you will enjoy this wonderful video of rescue dog Murray’s Road to the AKC Master Agility Championship! https://vimeo.com/104271983. MACH Paved With Good Intentions MXB MJB XF owned by Tamar Fuhrer & Jon Faria of Culver City, CA Tamar and Jon adopted Murray in March 2011 from LA Harbor Shelter. He had already been […]

Originally ran in the "Dogsport 101" column of AKC Family Dog Dog sports aren't only for purebreds. Since 2010, the AKC has awarded thousands of titles to mixed-breeds. Why shouldn’t your clever, athletic mix join the fun? And why shouldn’t you enjoy the bragging rights that come with putting an AKC title on your dog? […]

Rowdy Cuz E Iz CD BN RAE owned by Mary Patterson of St. Michael, MN Mary brought Rowdy home when he was an 8-week-old puppy and started training soon after. The now 6-year-old Shih-tzu – Poodle mix is “extremely smart and a wonderful performance dog,” Mary said. “I've never really cared for obedience until I […]

Woodacre’s Soidog Mali CAX (“June”) owned by Jackie Phillips of San Leandro, CA Jackie adopted June from Soi Dog Foundation, a Thailand rescue group, in February 2012. “She is a dog meat trade survivor and was on a large flatbed truck with 350 other dogs stuffed into tiny cages, bound for Vietnam,” Jackie said. “The […]

Drafting, or carting, is a sport most commonly associated with large draft breeds like Bernese Mountain Dogs and Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs. But all breeds can compete in the sport – and many dogs enjoy pulling their own weight plus! Former shelter dog Dino, formally known as Woodacre’s Court Jester, recently became the first mixed-breed […]

Pari’s owner Mary Ann Igoe of Blackfoot, ID, tells us the story of how the now 5-year-old Pari came into her life and became a successful competitor. Pari and I were introduced in fall 2011 when I volunteered to walk a humane society dog in need of a home at a local Mutt Strut. When […]

This story originally appeared in a 2011 issue of the AKC Canine Partners News newsletter. Since the story was published, Harley, now 9 years old, has earned the AKC’s highest honor in agility – the Master Agility Championship (MACH) and is now pursuing her Preferred Agility Championship (PACH). Most puppies spend their early months being […]

Buddy, a 3-year-old Airedale Terrier, is pictured watching himself on television, in this cute photo taken by his owner Judy Krug of Chicago, IL. Buddy is a therapy dog and certified reading assistant dog, who is a member of SitStayRead. He spent the summer in Chicago Public School (CPS) classrooms listening to first and second […]

How do you celebrate your dog’s birthday? If you are lucky like Leo, his owner Louisiana resident Dorothy Diehl bakes him a cake! If party plans for your dog include cake or cookies, remember that human bakery items are not good for dogs. Try this simple recipe with dog friendly ingredients that can be used […]