On a balmy Saturday in June, three Leonbergers and two Samoyeds completed one of the first group AKC Urban Canine Good Citizen (CGC) tests in the nation. The new test assesses a dog's ability to manage tasks that city-dwellers may face every day, such as using public transportation, navigating crowded streets, and waiting calmly in […]

The AKC is pleased to announce a new program called the Farm Dog Certified (FDC) test. Dogs will work through a series of 12 exercises that represent situations they may come across in a farm environment, and must display trainability, self-control, confidence and trust in their owner throughout the experience.  “A wide variety of dogs live […]

“Love me, love my dog,” is a time-honored saying, but a Japanese study suggests that the inverse—“Love me, love my human”—may be just as valid. That’s the case even when it came to that one offer dogs almost never refuse—food. Canine companions would turn down treats from people who were mean to their owners, said scientists […]

We are pleased to announce a new member of the Canine Good Citizen family- AKC Urban Canine Good Citizen. AKC Urban CGC is beginning in April 2015. The first AKC Urban CGC test in the country was recently administered by the Obedience Training Club of Palm Beach County. Organized by CGC Evaluator Marti Hohmann, dogs and their […]

Over the years, a number of authors have projected the annual cost of raising a dog. In many cases, even with food, supplies and veterinary care considered, the estimated costs have seemed low. Two veterinary students from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine have recently updated the statistics related to costs involved in […]

Big dogs equal big love and loyalty. Here are the large dog breeds that earn their place at the top of the size chart. Most people will know the Great Dane but what about the lovely Leonberger? When considering getting a dog, size is a factor, but only one of them. The dog’s personality, activity […]

Our new series will take one section from the Illustrated Standard for the Icelandic Sheepdog each quarter and provide that information in this column. Our first topic is temperament. We begin with the AKC standard, compare it to the home country’s standard, and end with comments made by breed experts. We hope you find this […]

Does your dog try to give your feet a bath every time you take off your shoes?  While licking is a natural behavior in a puppy’s litter, it sometimes continues into adulthood as a greeting, show of affection, or a means of communication.  If your dog is a compulsive kisser, the American Kennel Club’s Canine […]

-- Arkansas, Iowa, Rhode Island & Vermont Recognize Importance of Responsible Dog Ownership -- New York, NY - As a testament to the important role that training and responsible dog ownership play in ensuring that dogs are well behaved members of society, four states have recently joined the growing list that have passed American Kennel […]

The AKC® announced today that it has arranged for Activ8 Marketing, LLC., a full service media and sponsorship representation company, to identify and pursue sponsorship opportunities on its behalf. They will be working to match sponsors with AKC’s numerous mission-driven programs such as AKC Meet the Breeds®, AKC Canine Good Citizen®, AKC S.T.A.R. Puppysm and […]