Today, the Vermont Senate attached domestic animal welfare protections to HB 729 (see below) and passed the amended bill.  It is now scheduled to be reviewed by the House Judiciary Committee today, at 1:15 PM. This action was taken because amended Vermont Senate Bill 155, which would establish a public safety agency and provide administrative […]

Picture this: You're walking your dog and suddenly, another dog is rushing towards you—something your dog is not prepared for. Dogs don't always need to greet other dogs when out on walks, and encouraging on-leash greetings aren't natural for dogs and could lead to or exacerbate reactivity. Even if your dog is friendly with other dogs, that […]

The author of California AB 1881 (the “Dog and Cat Bill of Rights”) has agreed to remove the word “rights”, along with other substantive amendments from the text of Assembly Bill 1881 and will be verbally stating this in the public hearing tomorrow. This amendment comes after significant concerns were expressed by the American Kennel […]

Marie Eguro has been breeding Shetland Sheepdogs occasionally over the last 10 years.  She has trained, bred, and raised numerous Obedience trial champions, as well as numerous Best in Specialty Show winners, and Herding Group placers.  She is proud to be an AKC Breeder of Merit. Eguro talks about how going beyond the basics of […]

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 […]

Spring has sprung!  The daffodil, jonquils and tulips are in full bloom in many areas across the country.  But what does this have to do with a dog kennel?  I use these naturally occurring signs as a reminder to tackle certain tasks, which will make the hot summer months ahead easier and safer for me […]

ASK AKC Dear AKC: My Bulldog will soon be having her first litter. What should be included in a puppy kit for the new owners? -- Novice Breeder Needs Dear Novice: A great way to insure a new puppy's continued success with their new family is to provide an abundance of resources for each new owner. As a longtime […]

Welcoming a new litter of puppies into the world is very rewarding, but dog pregnancies can be confusing and stressful, as well as time-consuming and costly. If you are considering breeding your dog, there is so much information that you need to know. You should be familiar with your breed's standard and individual breed health test […]

Avoiding malnourishment of a bitch from the pre-breeding phase to parturition is vital to the health of both the bitch and her pups. We are all aware that good nutrition and proper prenatal care play important roles in ensuring the birth of healthy human children. The same is true in ensuring that our canine friends […]

The final article in this series covers the nutritional needs of the dam during peak lactation and weaning. In this series of articles, we have been exploring the unique nutritional needs of the reproducing bitch. It is important to realize that even after the bitch has whelped a beautiful litter of healthy, growing pups that […]