Good nutrition for brood bitches is critical for the health of mom and puppies alike, but it does not need to be complicated. In fact, simpler might be better. We talked with veterinarian and Whippet breeder Dr. Deana McNamer and longtime breeder Lorraine Rothrock of Southern Wirehaired Pointing Griffons. They shared their feeding advice for […]

AKC thanks Congressman David Schweikert for introducing H.R. 5261 to require that food products containing xylitol or “birch sugar” be labeled to warn of the sweetener’s toxic effects on dogs. AKC urges responsible dog owners to contact their member of Congress and ask them to support this positive bill. Summary: HR 5261, called the “Paws […]

Q: My two-year-old dog “squirts” a foul-smelling fluid every time he’s startled by a knock at the door. I thought he had loose bowels, but my veterinarian says he’s expressing his anal glands. I’ve never had a dog that did this before. Can you please tell me more? Do you have any advice to offer? […]

Update: Recent research has suggested that sweet potatoes, while not poisonous, may not be appropriate for a dog's diet.  From the UC Davis School of Medicine: "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issued an alert about reports of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs eating certain pet foods containing peas, lentils, other legume seeds, or potatoes as […]

The smallest of the three Schnauzers, the Miniature Schnauzer, turns heads wherever it goes. The breed's bushy eyebrows and thick-fringed beard give the Mini the look of a distinguished gentleman that's hard to miss. Highly intelligent, muscular, and outgoing, this sturdy terrier-type dog is a fast learner. With a bit of planning, patience, and persistence […]

Pet allergies might not be a problem for you, but there's a decent chance one of your guests can't sit around dander without sneezing or coughing. And even if a dog is taken out of the house, it takes a certain amount of time for dander levels to go down significantly. "Studies show that it […]

AKC Government Relations continues to monitor the US Congress for issues of interest to dog owners. Visit our 2021 Legislation Tracking map and click on “Federal Bills” on the map to get the latest updates on federal bills currently being monitored by the AKC. Highlights of issues we are currently addressing on the federal level include:  U.S. […]

Once the loyal companions of Chinese royalty, today's Pugs live to please their owners. With their friendly, fun-loving personalities, it's no wonder that this largest member of the Toy Group makes the ideal companion. Prepping a Pug pup to follow good behavior guidelines isn't tricky. Forget intense training, as a little planning and consistency will […]

Training a new puppy does not come with a one-size-fits-all approach — especially when dealing with a very large breed like the Great Dane. “Great Danes are considered working dogs and are intelligent dogs," says Russell Hartstein, CDBC, CPDT-KA, Fear-Free Certified trainer and Founder of Fun Paw Cares. “Still, all [dogs] are individuals." Hartstein points […]

If you’ve ever taken a glimpse at the ingredient panel of your dog’s food or examined other brands of dog food in the store, then you know that fish is frequently on the menu. Just because it is an ingredient in dog food, however, does not mean that dogs can safely eat just any old […]