For most people, being a responsible dog owner takes the form of caring for our dogs. That means socializing them to become good canine citizens, cleaning up after them, and ensuring they have good veterinary care, nutrition, a warm bed — if not the couch — and toys and treats. But for purebred dog breeders, […]

Sarah Brown is only nineteen years old but in a relatively short time she and her Nederlandse Kooikerhondje dog Charlie (BISS CH Foothills Charlie Brown CGC TKP “Charlie") have already accomplished a lot. Nederlandse Kooikerhondje might have a hard name to pronounce, but these animated orange and white dogs are easily recognizable in the Sporting […]

State Issues: News from the State Capitols  Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. California – Senate Bill 573 would require all shelters to scan a dog for a microchip and would require all shelters and rescues to not release a dog – even back to its owner – without […]

Nothing is more fun than introducing a litter of puppies to the world. Interactive playtime with balls, squeaky toys, climbing obstacles, and games of hide-and-seek helps puppies put their best paw forward on socialization. Add in children and seniors, backyards and basements, carpet and concrete, and puppies will be well on their way. Puppy socialization focuses on that sliver […]

Penny Kelley of Sandusky, Ohio, has had Icelandic Sheepdogs for 11 years. The dam of her first litter, Ch. Valhalla’s Heart O’ Gold, is the first Icelandic Sheepdog to earn an AKC championship (shown by Kelley) and is the mother of nine AKC champions, and six of those are Grand Champions AKC: How did you get started in breeding dogs? Kelley: I got started in breeding Icelandic Sheepdogs nine years ago after my first girl, Ch. Valhalla’s Heart O’ Gold (Stella), became […]

Kathy Santo trains dogs for home life and competition at her Kathy Santo Dog Training school in New Jersey. She is the author of Kathy Santo’s Dog Sense and has handled multiple Obedience trial champions. She also teaches digital dog-training courses available online. When I first heard the phrase “old dogs are the best dogs,” […]

Owners who say their dogs can feel what they're feeling aren't imagining it. The proof may be in a yawn. A body of research shows that dogs are more likely to yawn when their owners do. It's a phenomenon called contagious yawning, and you've probably even done it yourself. You see someone yawn, so you […]

Adding a puppy to your family is a big decision that comes with lots of preparation. One thing you may not be prepared for is an interview with your prospective puppy's breeder. Responsible breeders want to place puppies with families that are a great match for the dog, so these interviews help both breeders and […]

The Johnson City Board of Commissioners is scheduled to hold a third and final vote on Thursday, November 21, 2019 to enact an overreaching new animal ordinance.  Proponents of the ordinance state that they will immediately seek to pass this same legislation throughout Washington County. AKC agrees with the city’s intent to protect dogs in […]

Hoping to meet a specific dog breed when you visit AKC Meet the Breeds during AKC National Championship in Orlando? Or maybe you just want to meet them all! Don't miss a single wag or woof with this list of breeds that will be in attendance at the 2019 show. Get your tickets now. Dog Breeds […]