It’s important for dog owners to establish a human-canine relationship built on a strong foundation of mutual trust, patience, understanding, fairness, consistency, and love. So where do you begin? Spend Time With Your Puppy Aside from feeding (one of Purina® Pro Plan’s® 30 unique dry formulas is always a great choice!) and providing health care, […]

We found Molly in a newspaper ad in Ohio; her mom was a Collie and her dad was an Australian Shepherd. I've had dogs all my life as just pets. Our vet suggested puppy classes and that led to obedience classes. She passed the AKC Canine Good Citizen test at just 6 months old that […]

Loudon’s Maggie THDD CGC owned by Rennie Loudon of Warwick, RI Maggie is a Reading Education Assistance Dog.  The AKC Canine Partners member is certified with Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs and registered with R.E.A.D. Intermountain Therapy Animals and Cold Noses Warm Hearts. She recently was bestowed with the AKC Therapy Dog Distinguished title for […]

Coconut THDD CGC spent his first three years of life in a basement until his owner turned him over to a shelter. Dr. Elizabeth Lynch of Greenwich, CT, saw something special in Coco and took him home. With a lot of love, training and trust building, Coco has become a wonderful therapy dog and recently […]

New York – The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is gearing up for the 14th annual AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Days (AKC RDO Days) this summer and fall when hundreds of clubs and dog organizations around the country will host free events to educate the public about the responsibilities and unlimited joys of dog ownership.   […]

If you’re an urban or suburban dog owner, you’re likely familiar with the local dog park. It’s a canine oasis, where your leash-less pet is free to sniff, run and socialize with other dogs. Some parks post specific rules on signs, but dog park courtesy is mostly common sense. You and your pooch will be […]

New York, N.Y. – The American Kennel Club (AKC®), the world’s largest dog registry and advocate for all dogs, is pleased to announce a new program called the Farm Dog Certified test.  The test provides for a series of twelve exercises that represent situations a dog may encounter in a farm environment.  The basic test […]

The AKC is pleased to announce a new program called the Farm Dog Certified (FDC) test. Dogs will work through a series of 12 exercises that represent situations they may come across in a farm environment, and must display trainability, self-control, confidence and trust in their owner throughout the experience.  “A wide variety of dogs live […]

So you've fallen in love with the stunning, brilliant breed known as the German Shepherd Dog. You are not alone. The German Shepherd, also known by the shorthand GSD, is among the world's most popular canine companions and workers. If you want a job done—whether it's apprehending dangerous criminals, sniffing rubble for disaster survivors, or […]

AKC’s Urban Dog program teaches the skills a dog needs to live safely in a city -- no matter how big or small.   One of Urban Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test items involves the dog riding safely in a car. To keep your dog safe in the car, follow these five basic tips. Secure […]