At ten years old, Cal's life was a struggle. He had been diagnosed with autism a year earlier, and his family was working with a team of psychiatrists and counselors to find the right treatment for him. But life was hard: he was "just not a happy kiddo," says mom Brandy Keippala; "always upset and […]

Header photo by GDH Trainer Erin Rakosky. AKC GoodDog Helpline Trainer Erin Rakosky shares two of her favorite exercises for encouraging your dog to walk politely by your side – not pulling ahead, dragging you along on the walk! .video-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; padding-top: 30px; height: 0; overflow: hidden; } .video-container iframe, .video-container […]

AKC GoodDog! Helpline Trainer Breanne Long shares some tips on introducing your dog to the water so they have a positive experience and learn to love to swim. Many breeds are natural-born swimmers. Many retrievers and spaniels will swim with little encouragement, but dogs with body types less suited to swimming, like Bulldogs, may need more […]

  Finding a quality Golden Retriever puppy can be a daunting task. Experienced Golden owners will agree on the two most important elements in searching for a pup: a reputable breeder, and a quality pedigree. Good breeders understand the importance of pedigree. They select their breeding stock using dogs with parents, grandparents, and other ancestors who […]

Header photo courtesy of Nancy Bishop, AKC Breeder of Merit The decision to get a puppy is a big one. First, there's deciding what kind of puppy you want, choosing a breed, and then, finding a reputable and professional breeder to ensure you are getting the dog of your dreams. And finding the right breeder […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®) honored recipients of the AKC® Lifetime Achievement Awards at the annual Delegates Meeting Luncheon, in conjunction with the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin in Orlando, Florida. The winners received an engraved silver Revere bowl. A larger Tiffany and Co. bowl, engraved with the names of all recipients past […]

Until Dean Eelman married Melissa 17 years ago, he had never had a dog. Over the years, they had two Golden Retrievers and two Keeshonden. But about five years ago, Dean met his first Borzoi, and he immediately fell in love with the breed. Six months later Dean and Melissa welcomed two Borzoi to their […]

With so many dog products on the market, you may wonder what's essential and what you can do without. For example, do dogs really need their very own dog shampoo? Why can't you just use human shampoo on your dog? The short answer is, don't. Learn the reasons why dogs should have their own shampoo. Acidity […]

How on earth does a breeder distinguish look-alike puppies in a litter? In breeds that are all the same color, or have only slight color variations without unique markings, it can seem impossible. To track puppies’ growth and manage care, it’s critical to be able to tell them apart from each other. AKC asked these Breeders of Merit what they do to keep track of their babies.  Oksana Fagenboym, Rocknrolla Poodles On new-born puppies, I […]

You've welcomed a new puppy into your home. Congratulations! Now what? In addition to enjoying snuggles, playtime and the challenges and rewards of puppy training, it's up to you to make sure your dog gets the right amount of food and exercise. Keeping healthy weight gain on track helps ensure a smooth transition from puppyhood […]