This tip is brought to us by Sue Kotlarek of Michigan, who competes very successfully with her two All-American Dogs in a variety of sports. Both Jazz and Rodger have earned the AKC Utility Dog title in Obedience and the Rally Advanced Excellent title in AKC Rally. Rodger is the first mixed-breed dog to earn […]

The first animal care professional that many dog owners know and trust is the veterinarian. As a growing number of veterinarians are recognizing the benefits of early training for dogs, there is an increase in CGC and AKC STAR Puppy classes in veterinary settings. Dr. Judy Little of the Osceola Veterinary Clinic (Iowa) has arranged […]

By AKC GoodDog! Helpline Trainer Breanne Long This is Part 2 of a three-part series on using verbal cues/commands correctly. You may be surprised to learn that the verbal cue is not important when you first start training a new behavior. Choosing your cue words, or commands, can be just as important as the training […]

Like young children, dogs often learn best when playing games and having fun.  Playing is not only fun for you both, but you can also use games for training and reinforcing important behaviors, like “Come.”  Remember to keep your recall command happy and light, not an authoritative tone.  Here are a few games to help […]

I'm Just Little! – Important Reminders for Toy Dog Owners AKC GoodDog! Helpline Trainer Breanne Long, owner of two Papillons, discusses the different needs of toy dogs and important things to keep in mind if you own a small dog. The world of a small dog is a very big place. People and dogs are […]

AKC Community Canine is the advanced level of Canine Good Citizen. For people interested in taking the test with their dog, we created this video to demonstrate the 10 steps of the test. We hope to see you and your dog earning your AKC Community Canine title soon! Learn how to get started here. The […]

Passing the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test is a worthy goal and a significant accomplishment for pet owners.  Well-socialized dogs with basic obedience training are more apt to live out their lives in loving homes, and are less likely to be rehomed or surrendered to shelters. Passing the CGC test does not give dogs the right to go […]

This is an easy and fun activity to play with your dog on a rainy day when they can’t get outside to exercise. It also a good way to mentally challenge your dog – and their nose – anytime.   Get a muffin tray and tennis balls or any size balls you can fit in […]

Rick Yount, Founder and Executive Director, Warrior Canine Connection What is it about training a service dog for a fellow Veteran that makes it such an effective therapy for military Service Members and Veterans who are battling post-traumatic stress, or dealing with the effects of a mild traumatic brain injury received during deployment? The answers […]

By Betty-Anne Stenmark "Reprinted with permission from Dogs in Review and author Betty-Anne Stenmark, from the May 2015 issue of Dogs in Review magazine." Fifteen years ago I applied for a volunteer coordinator position at an animal shelter. Before my interview, I asked myself, "What do you know about being a volunteer coordinator?” Finally it dawned on me; I […]