Yesterday, the Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee amended two dog-related bills that were then immediately approved by the House of Representatives. All bills will now advance to the Senate for consideration before July 31. The American Kennel Club’s (AKC) amendment analysis and the new bill numbers are below: TO INCREASE KENNEL SAFETY, AKA “OLLIE’S […]

The AKC Agility League is excited to announce a new class aimed at beginner dogs and handlers. The Elementary skill level will launch in the Fall Season and will feature courses designed for pre-competition dogs. The courses will not contain weave poles or teeters. They will be flowing courses that are motivating for pre-competition dogs […]

In July 2024, The AKC Board of Directors voted to establish a policy to require all professional handlers and agents listed in dog show catalogs to successfully complete the Stewards of Children® training from Darkness to Light once every three years effective January 1, 2025. This action followed the AKC Board of Directors’ adoption of […]

Introduction to Autosomal Recessive Conditions Dogs have 78 chromosomes, or 39 pairs in each cell. Genes are located on these chromosomes, and they can have different genetic variants related to genes, known as alleles. Each gene typically has 2 copies, one from the dam and one from the sire. The dam and sire randomly contribute […]

Yesterday (July 22, 2024), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provided an update to related to new CDC requirements effective August 1 for importing or traveling into the United States with a dog older than 6 months of age. The revisions to the rule no longer require an additional rabies vaccination form certified by a […]

Five-year-old Callie was the only Catahoula Leopard Dog who competed at the AKC Rally National Championship this weekend. She relies on modified ASL.

UDog Agility founders Jessica Ajoux and Perry Dewitt have four Border Collies competing in the 2024 Agility Premier Cup on June 29th.

The New Hampshire state legislature adjourned last month with a positive result for dogs and dog owners who rely on veterinarians. On July 19, Governor Sununu signed HB 1526 into law authorizing the state Board of Veterinary Medicine to issue conditional licenses for foreign-educated veterinarians practicing under a New Hampshire licensed veterinarian. The American Kennel […]

Amantadine is a medication that's commonly used off-label to treat pain in dogs. It's relatively safe with few serious side effects.

On August 1, 2024, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will implement new restrictions and requirements for the entry of dogs into the U.S. Anyone planning to bring a dog into the U.S. in the near future should familiarize themselves with upcoming import policy changes. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes the serious […]