The American Kennel Club (AKC®), the world’s largest purebred dog registry and leading advocate for dogs, is honored to announce the first set of 2017 AKC Paw of Courage awards to recognize the working canines that put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe. This award specifically recognizes those who […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®) hosted a U.S. Detection Dog Conference February 28 – March 1.  The purpose of this conference was to discuss the pressing need for a U.S.-based national breeding program for explosives detection dogs.  A majority of dogs procured by government agencies come from Eastern Europe, and the increasing global demand for […]

An Illinois House committee is scheduled to consider a bill on Tuesday, March 7, that would allow the court to appoint a 'special advocate' to represent the interests of animals during cases that involve the animal's health, safety, or an injury.

The people of Indianapolis had an extra special Valentine's Day this year as service dogs from an organization called ICAN delivered nearly 650 gift boxes to local businesses. The ICAN service dogs are trained by inmates from three different prisons in the Indianapolis area. The dogs are trained to help people with a range of […]

North Dakota Senate Bill 2297, which seeks to require the licensing and oversight of certain dog breeders, is scheduled for consideration by the Senate Agriculture Committee on Thursday, February 9. The American Kennel Club has serious reservations concerning SB 2297.

Atlanta, GA – The American Kennel Club (AKC) honored Georgia Senator Bill Heath with the AKC Legislator of the Year Award on January 12, 2017 in recognition of his dedication to protecting the wellbeing of dogs and the rights of responsible dog owners and sportsmen. The AKC Legislator of the Year award honor legislators who demonstrate […]

Dogs are social creatures, we know, but they’re also extremely food motivated. So scientists wondered: Would dogs be willing to share food in a social circumstance? That speculation led to a study conducted by researchers at the Messerli Research Institute in Vienna. During the study, the dogs were trained to touch three tokens, each leading […]

Cold weather and the scattering of snow bring out “the frisky” in a lot of our dogs, but some breeds thrive and even excel in frigid conditions—many of them Nordic spitz-type breeds. Here are seven reasons why these breed types are so well adapted to arctic-like weather. 1. Big or hairy paws act like snowshoes […]

When you bring home a new baby, what's exciting for you and your spouse can be confusing and even frightening for your dog. Think about it: That little baby seems like a human, but it smells, sounds, and moves like nothing your pet has ever seen before. And suddenly this strange, loud creature is taking […]

Acupuncture is one of the most common natural therapies used by holistic veterinarians. The practice involves stimulating the nervous system by penetrating “acupuncture points” with needles, injectable liquids (such as vitamins or homeopathics), or electrical stimulation. Acupuncture is most effective for dogs suffering: Musculoskeletal problems such as hip dysplasia, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, and […]