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Expert Advice: General Health
Keeping Your Dog’s Ears Healthy: Listen to Your Vet
Dog Ear Infections and Other Issues Canine ear infections are very common and certain breeds (dogs with long hanging ears) are predisposed to them. Overall, the problem is more common during the warm months, when ear infections are reported to be 10 to 15 percent of all patients brought to veterinary hospitals. Ear infections can […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/keeping-your-dogs-ears-healthy-listen-to-your-vet/
| March 23, 2015
Expert Advice: General Health
A Comparison of Standards: Temperament
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 […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/comparison-standards-temperament/
| June 16, 2015
Expert Advice: Common Conditions
Loss Of Pigmentation In Dogs
ASK AKC Dear AKC: My two-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever usually has a black nose but this winter it turned a very light pink. His nose is not dry, but looks like someone drained the color out of it. What causes this? Is there anything I can do to fix it? -- In the Pink Dear […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/loss-of-pigmentation-in-dogs/
| April 26, 2015
Expert Advice: Responsible Breeding
“Brucellosis In Dogs
Of the many devastating diseases that create infertility in dogs, the most well known is brucellosis -- infection by the bacterium Brucella canis. Most people regard brucellosis as a sexually transmitted disease, but it is actually spread more often through oronasal (mouth and nose) contact with infected fluids. When a bitch has brucellosis, puppies are normally […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/brucellosis-and-infertility/
| January 1, 2009
Expert Advice: Responsible Breeding
What Is Posture and Why Should We Care About It?
When we think about the activities of our dogs, usually we picture their play, their “jobs” or their quiet repose on our laps or couch. However, in all animals the ability to stand quietly at rest is critically important for health and soundness. Many dog owners don’t realize that the reason their dogs flop down […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/what-is-posture-and-why-should-we-care-about-it/
| January 1, 2003
Expert Advice: Responsible Breeding
Should I Breed My Dog?
At some point, every dog owner is faced with the question: To breed or not to breed? If you are considering becoming a breeder, please keep the following in mind. Responsible breeders embrace the belief that each new litter should represent an improvement over the last. Responsible breeders are aware that each breed has an […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/should-i-breed-my-dog/
| May 4, 2015
Expert Advice: Responsible Breeding
Causes of Mammary Enlargement in Dogs
When a bitch goes through a false pregnancy (also called pseudopregnancy or pseudocyesis), she thinks she has puppies. In one study, more than 60 percent of bitches had signs of false pregnancy after coming out of heat, whether they were bred or not. Mammary enlargement, with or without milk production, is a common sign of false […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/causes-of-mammary-enlargement/
| January 1, 2009
Expert Advice: Responsible Breeding
Asking These Questions Can Only Benefit New Dog Owners
Knowing the right questions to ask prospective owners helps breeders get a feel for the type of home they will provide. As breeders it’s important to make sure to provide them with the information they need (the breed’s activity level and grooming needs, for example) to accurately answer these questions. Here are 10 questions to […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/asking-these-questions-can-only-benefit-new-dog-owners/
| April 9, 2015
Expert Advice: Responsible Breeding
Golden Retrievers Food for Thought
Golden Retrievers — We now have the benefit of “clearance” testing and the mapped canine genome that could help guide intelligent crossbreeding decisions and the possibility that new breeds might eventually be developed. In the 19th century, as gentleman farmers and sportsmen kept breeding records of their canines and began to exhibit the best of their […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/golden-retrievers-food-for-thought/
| June 16, 2015
Expert Advice: Breeding Tips & Best Practices
Be Wary of How Pigment Can Change The Overall Look of a Bullmastiff’s Head
The only mentions of pigment or color of mask in the Bullmastiff breed’s AKC standard are “ears darker in color than the body,” “a dark muzzle is preferable,” and “nose black.” There is actually no mention of “mask” in our standard. However, what mask would imply technically would be the “spectacles” around the eyes, which should […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/pigment-can-change-the-look-of-bullmastiffs-head/
| June 15, 2015