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![Beagle sniffing in the woods on a scent.](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Beagle-sniffing-in-the-woods-on-a-scent-400x267.jpg)
Expert Advice: Health
Dogs and Poison Ivy: Everything You Need to Know
Can dogs get poison ivy? Though the plant is extremely bothersome to humans, cases of canines being affected by poison ivy are rare.
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/can-dogs-get-poison-ivy/
| May 26, 2021
![](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Premier-Cup-Winners85-copy-400x267.jpg)
Expert Advice: Agility
2021 AKC Agility Premier Cup Crowns First Place Winners
The 2021 AKC Agility Premier Cup took place on May 15 in Ocala, Florida, and highlights the top AKC agility competitors in the country. The high-energy event consists of three rounds of competition featuring the best canine athletes in the sport. More than 90 dogs and their handlers competed for the championship title in the […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/sports/2021-akc-agility-premier-cup-crowns-first-place-winners/
| May 25, 2021
![](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/American-Staffordshire-Terrier-laying-down-with-a-ball-outdoors-in-the-grass.20190811203127332-400x267.jpg)
Expert Advice: Health
How Long Can You Keep Your Dog Outside?
How long can you keep your dog outside? Here we explore just how to determine when it's time to call your dog back inside after a day of outdoor fun.
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/how-long-can-you-keep-your-dog-outside/
| May 25, 2021
![Golden Retriever rolling over playing with her litter of puppies outdoors.](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Golden-Retriever-rolling-over-playing-with-her-litter-of-puppies-outdoors-400x267.jpg)
Expert Advice: Dog Breeding
Average Litter Sizes: How Many Dogs Are Born in a Litter?
A normal litter size can range from 1 to 12 puppies, with 5-6 puppies being average across all dogs. But just as every breed of dog differs by size, function, and personality, they also differ when it comes to litter size, according to AKC registration data. Big dogs tend to have larger litters while small […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/average-litter-size/
| May 24, 2021
![Golden Retriever holding a leash up to a woman laying on a couch.](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Golden-Retriever-holding-a-leash-up-to-a-woman-laying-on-a-couch-400x267.jpg)
Expert Advice: Home & Living
How to Prep Your House for a Pet Sitter
By Anna Burke and Harriet Meyers One weekend last winter, my neighbor managed to schedule a relaxing getaway to soak up the sun in Florida. She made arrangements for a pet sitter to care for her Rhodesian Ridgeback, and left the sitter the code to the keypad on the garage door and several pages of […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/home-living/how-to-prep-house-for-pet-sitter/
| May 21, 2021
![Beagle dog drinking clear water from steel bowl close-up.](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Beagle-drinking-water-from-a-stainless-steel-bowl-400x267.jpeg)
Expert Advice: Common Conditions
Cushing’s Disease in Dogs
If your older dog is drinking and urinating more than usual, it could be caused by a variety of reasons. One cause your veterinarian may test for is Cushing’s disease (CD), also known as hyperadrenocorticism. This condition, usually caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland, is far more common than we realize, but because […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/cushings-disease-in-dogs/
| May 21, 2021
![Dog swimming in the pool in the summer day.](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Poodle-swimming-in-a-pool-400x267.jpeg)
Expert Advice: Grooming
How to Pool-Proof Your Dog’s Coat
Dogs who take frequent dips in the family pool may suffer from dry, itchy skin and a dry, dull coat because the chemicals in pool water strip the skin and coat of their natural oils. Chlorinated water may also have a slight bleaching effect on dark coats, and could even turn lighter coats (gasp!) greenish. […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/how-to-pool-proof-your-dogs-coat/
| May 20, 2021
![American Bulldogs laying down side by side in the grass.](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/American-Bulldogs-laying-down-in-the-grass-400x267.jpg)
Expert Advice: Common Conditions
Dog Skin Cancer: Types, Symptoms, and Treatment
The word "cancer" instills fear into the heart of every dog owner, but not all growths are cancerous. The most common growth found on dogs are lipomas, which are fat cells. Also commonly found on dogs are sebaceous cysts, which can become cancerous. If your veterinarian has diagnosed your dog with skin cancer, or if […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/dog-skin-cancer-types/
| May 20, 2021
![](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Miley-3-1-400x267.jpg)
Expert Advice: Agility
Once Abandoned in Walmart Parking Lot, Dog Becomes International Agility Athlete
It would be tempting to call Miley the Walmart waif, for her beguiling origin in an asphalt parking lot nine years ago. Officially, this 9-year-old AKC Agility Premier Cup competitor is recognized as an All-American Dog but her rescue and subsequent successes are a powerful statement for never judging a dog by its looks or […]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/sports/miley-abandoned-walmart-dog-international-agility/
| May 18, 2021
Press Releases
2021 National Owner-Handled Series & National All-Breed Puppy & Junior Stakes Judging Panels Now Available
The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panels for the 2021 National Owner-Handled Series (NOHS) Finals and the AKC Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida in conjunction with the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin. The […]
https://www.akc.org/press-releases/2021-national-owner-handled-series-national-breed-puppy-junior-stakes-judging-panels-now-available/
| May 18, 2021