Harmful Snacks Most dogs will sample just about anything that resembles food. Responsible owners prevent their dogs from eating anything that could be harmful. Veterinarians offer this list of seven foodstuffs that dogs should not be allowed to eat. Xylitol-containing products: Xylitol is an artificial sweetener often found in sugar-free candy and gum. It is extremely toxic […]

What is it? Addison’s disease is the slowdown or absence of activity of the tiny adrenal glands, which are located on top of the kidneys. The adrenals are responsible for the production of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. Cortisol is commonly called the “stress hormone,” but it is also essential to many major actions throughout […]

Ask AKC   Dear AKC: I have a 14-month old pug who eats earthworms every chance he gets. He eats the same amount dry dog food as his brother but eats the earthworms as snacks during his outside time. His brother does not eat earthworms. I'm sure hunger isn't the issue. Is he missing something in […]

The AKC recognizes three titles earned by dogs in competitions sanctioned by the North American Flyball Association (NAFA). Owners of flyball-titled dogs may apply to the AKC and request that their flyball title be added to their AKC permanent record. Flyball is one of the few team sports for dogs, and the sport is for […]

Canine Good Citizen®The AKC Canine Good Citizen program is recognized as the gold standard for good canine manners. Dogs who pass the 10-step test will earn the AKC’s official “CGC” title. This e-book is a great place to learn what the CGC is all about. It includes a breakdown of the test items and what […]

Congratulations to two dogs in the AKC Canine Partners program who will represent the AKC and the United States on the AKC European Open Agility Team. The world competition takes place  July 24-26 in Germany. Dynamite Dynamite and Monkey Joe (white dog pictured exiting tunnel) both earned spots on the team during the AKC World […]

I've been wrapping up a big project and today I needed to find the photos that went with it. The topic was children and dogs. I went to a new online photo source and looked at 3900 images. Of these, there was not a single one that I would use for my project. There are […]

General ConcernsWinter's cold air brings many concerns for responsible dog owners. Keep the following precautions in mind: Don't leave your dog outside in the cold for long periods of time. Wind chill makes days colder than actual temperature readings. Be attentive to your dog's body temperature, and limit its time outdoors. Adequate shelter is a […]

When Aryn Hervel met Crush, her first thought was “this dog needs a job.” The petite cattle dog mix had gone through two owners who couldn’t live with her energy until dog trainer Hervel adopted her and put her to work. Hervel channels Crush’s exuberance into agility with great success. The former shelter dog has […]

By Jennifer Clark, Manager, Canine Legislation It was one of the busiest days of the legislative year in North Carolina, but that didn't stop legislators, legislative staff, and state employees from responding to the AKC's invitation to "stop by on your lunch break and hug a dog!" at AKC's 4th annual "Canines at the Capitol" […]