Want a smarter, more empathetic, possibly healthier child? It may come as no surprise that having a family dog can benefit your child’s emotional intelligence. A collection of scientific studies outlined by Nienke Endenburg and Ben Baarda in their paper The Role of Pets in Enhancing Human Well-being: Effects on Child Development, along with other […]

Rescuing a dog is exciting but can also be intimidating. Whether you’re looking at the local shelter or using a private rescue organization, there can be many dogs to choose from. Although you might be tempted to pick the first cute face you see, it’s essential to make an informed choice. Your goal is to […]

What kind of dog would prompt an acclaimed food critic and writer to open one of his last bottles of very expensive French wine? If the critic is Jim Harrison, the answer is simple: an English Setter. I remembered that on this very day a friend had sent afresh foie gras ... I ate it […]

The Heimlich maneuver, performed to save someone from choking, is a familiar operation. You may not have seen it done in person, but it's often written into television or movie storylines, whether as a gag or something more serious. Or you might have learned how to do it yourself on a medical dummy in a […]

A bill placing numerous new overreaching requirements on all dog trainers in California is scheduled for a committee hearing on April 19. It is important that all dog trainers and responsible dog owners in the state use the information below to contact the author’s office and committee members TODAY.  Respectfully let them know you oppose […]

An itching, scratching dog conjures up nightmarish images of fleas hopping everywhere—especially onto our furniture, beds, and carpets. Fleas are prime suspects if your dog is scratching without any apparent reason, but before you can blame fleas for your dog’s discomfort you need to do a little more investigating. The best way to find out […]

Update: Friday, March 25, 2022 Yesterday, the New Jersey Senate passed Senate Bill 981 without amendments.  The bill has already been assigned to the Assembly Agriculture and Food Security Committee. The American Kennel Club (AKC) remains opposed S.981 as currently worded, and continues to work to ensure that the bill’s lack of protections for co-owners […]

A retractable dog leash can be convenient, but dog owners often use these leashes in the wrong circumstances or before the dog is ready.

A radical animal rights ballot proposal in Oregon has been postponed until 2024.  This proposal would outlaw all hunting, criminalize artificial insemination, and have a significant impact on many other animal husbandry practices in the state. Background: In 2021, supporters began advocating for Initiative Petition 13, officially called the “Abuse, Neglect, and Assault Exemption Modification […]

News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Alabama –House Bill 485 as introduced would, among other provisions, allow a dog to be confiscated without court authorization if “suspected” of harassing, harming, or killing livestock. AKC is working with the bill sponsor on additional amendments to […]