AKC GoodDog! Helpline Trainer Elizabeth Sandling teaches therapy dog classes and is a long-time therapy team volunteer with her Shetland Sheepdogs, Sandy and Nivy. Here she gives owners some helpful tips on becoming a therapy dog team with their canine partner. Why Volunteer As a Therapy Dog Team: Therapy dogs provide affection, support, and comfort […]

AKC Canine Partners member Faust holds the title of Intermediate Trick Dog (ITD) through the Do More With Your Dog! program. Faust’s owner Jennifer McLean, a Louisiana resident, has taught Faust dozens of tricks and does not plan to stop adding on skills until he achieves the most advanced title of Expert Trick Dog and […]

By Chris RobinsonReprinted from The Canine Chronicle Bob: Thanks, Doc, for working me into your busy schedule. Dr. Spot: Well, Bob, that is not an unusual situation. Most dogs have difficulty understanding their humans. Why don’t you tell me some of the things your human has been doing and perhaps I can give you some help. Bob: Well, […]

This tip is brought to us by Sue Kotlarek of Michigan, who competes very successfully with her two All-American Dogs in a variety of sports. Both Jazz and Rodger have earned the AKC Utility Dog title in Obedience and the Rally Advanced Excellent title in AKC Rally. Rodger is the first mixed-breed dog to earn […]

A service dog named Tatiana, a Labrador-Golden retriever mix, has been honored with hero’s awards for saving the life of her owner, Cristina Marie Saint-Blancard of Plantation, FL. Service dogs are specially trained dogs who are taught skills to assist people with special needs. This includes people with limited mobility or hearing loss. Service dogs […]

Wednesday, May 27, 2015 Louisiana House Bill 710 is scheduled to be heard by the House Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development Committee on Thursday, May 28.  The bill seeks to require certain dog breeders to register annually with their parish and to submit to annual inspections of their facilities by local officials.  The AKC […]

This training tip is brought to you Erin Rakosky of the AKC GoodDog! Helpline, a seven-day-a-week telephone support service staffed by experienced dog trainers. The Helpline provides instruction and advice on training and behavioral issues. Imagine this scenario; you are in the bathroom and you accidentally drop a bottle of medication on the floor. You […]

Nola is a former honorable mention award winner in the AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence. She makes school very special for many students at a New Jersey school. Since April 2012, Nola has served as the therapy dog for the Little Egg Harbor School District in the southernmost part of Ocean County, NJ. […]

What motivates one dog is not necessarily what motivates another dog. Here's a breakdown of what most dogs would define as their hierarchy of food rewards.

People have a very special relationship with their dogs and we know that dogs became man’s best friend even earlier than previously thought.  Our dogs are our loyal and faithful companions. We are spending ever increasing amounts each month on our dogs. Our dogs are an important part of our lives. Increasingly brands are capitalizing […]