Posts tagged "AmericanKennelClub"

Ask the AKC Animal Behaviorist: How Can I Help My Co-dependent Canine?

by Paw Nation Staff (Subscribe to Paw Nation Staff's posts): Feb 16th 2011 1:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Pet Training, Ask the AKC

dogs snuggling Best friends Hollie and Rudi. Kristen Seymour

Meet Mary Burch, American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen director and Paw Nation's expert columnist addressing your questions on animal behavior. Dr. Burch has more than 25 years of experience working with dogs, and she is one of fewer than 50 Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists based in the United States. She is the author of 10 books, including the new official book on the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program, "Citizen Canine: 10 Essential Skills Every Well-Mannered Dog Should Know."

I have two dogs. Hollie is 1.5 years and Rudi is 3.5 yrs. Although Hollie is generally self-assured, when we try to leave the house with just Rudi, Hollie barks and cries. She's not destructive, but she's clearly distressed to be left behind, despite the fact that she has her favorite toys and a Kong filled with peanut butter, which she loves.

Even when Hollie is left behind with a person, she's still unhappy. When we're on walks, if I fall behind with Rudi and my husband tries to go ahead with Hollie, she'll hang back. Hollie is a mixed breed, likely with some hound and shepherd in her, so I wonder if she has some sort of herding tendency or if it's just a sad display of dependence. What can I do to make her more comfortable when she's the only dog at home?

Hollie's situation is so fascinating because usually when we hear about separation issues, the dog has problems when the people leave the home. In Hollie's case, her separation distress is a result of Rudi, the other dog, leaving, which most often happens when the dogs are littermates.

I would suggest following the same protocol that is used for separation anxiety when the dog has a negative reaction to people leaving. You'll need to set up some times for training sessions apart from times when you really need to leave the house.

Wire Fox Terriers 101 - Dog Breed Info

by Josh Loposer (Subscribe to Josh Loposer's posts): Oct 18th 2010 1:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Pet Adoption

Wire Fox Terriers picture Alicia Nijdam, Flickr

Name: Wire Fox Terrier

Personality: The American Kennel Club describes the wire fox terrier as "active, friendly and playful," noting that the breed is "highly trainable and excels in events such as agility." Emphasizing the breed's energetic nature, the Fox Terrier Network uses terms like "smart" and "high-energy," "cocky" and "self-assured," traits that mean the breed tends to "get into lots of trouble."

Grooming: Grooming requirements for wire fox terriers are somewhere in moderate range. A regular brushing is necessary to avoid matting, and a semi-annual stripping of the coat is recommended. On the plus side, this breed sheds very little if at all. When dealing with a puppy, the FTN recommends that owners "start with the brushing and combing right away," ensuring that their dogs don't develop "grooming phobia."

Common Health Issues: As a breed, wire fox terriers are "generally very hearty and do not have any major heredity problems," states the FTN. However, these dogs tend to be allergic to fleas and can develop any of a range of skin problems.

West Highland White Terriers 101

by Rose Martelli (Subscribe to Rose Martelli's posts): Sep 9th 2010 7:00AM Filed Under: Dogs, Pet Adoption

West Highland Terrier Westie dog pictures West Highland White Terrier Club of New England

Name: West Highland White Terrier

Personality: "Although they are clever, affectionate, playful, and highly intelligent, Westies are a high-energy, tenacious, and strong-minded breed," say Pat Marsh and Gloria Pasquini, president and vice president, respectively, of the West Highland White Terrier Club of New England. "They are big dogs in small packages."

According to the American Kennel Club, it is "probable that the West Highland White Terrier and all the terriers of Scotland came from the same stock; the Scotties, Cairns, Dandie Dinmonts, and West Highland Whites are branches from the same tree."

Grooming: "Because its coat consists of hair, not fur, a Westie does not shed," Marsh and Pasquini explain. "However, as with humans, they will lose some hair on a daily basis. Because of this normal occurrence, Westies, as with all dogs, benefit from daily brushing which keeps them cleaner and their hair and skin healthier. Without daily brushing, a Westie will quickly develop mats and clumped hair."

That said, unless your Westie is a show dog, bathing need only take place every three to four months. Similarly, whereas the coats of many Westies who compete in show rings or act in TV commercials are maintained through regular hand stripping and plucking, this is also not essential for Westies. (It's also a hard process to learn and an expensive one to pay for professionally, Marsh and Pasquini note.)

Lastly, keeping a Westie's toenails short and consistent brushing of their teeth is very important to maintaining a healthy, well-kept Westie.

Meet the Breeds Is Coming!

by Paw Nation Staff (Subscribe to Paw Nation Staff's posts): Aug 18th 2010 11:00AM Filed Under: Pets News

Photo: American Kennel Club

Get out your calendars and mark these dates: October 16 and 17, 2010. That's when Meet the Breeds, hosted by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA), comes to New York City's Jacob Javits Center. You'll be able to meet AKC-registered dog breeds and CFA-registered cat breeds, and ask questions about owners and experts.

Paw Nation is the official blog of Meet the Breeds, and from now until the event opens, we will be posting fascinating articles and even hosting great giveaways in connection with the event.

Last year, 36,000 attendees flooded the Jacob Javits Center to see 200 individually decorated official breed booths where animal lovers interacted with dogs, cats, puppies and kittens. In addition, there were 100 vendor booths featuring every imaginable pet product, plus five ongoing demonstration rings with law enforcement dogs, grooming, agility, obedience, an interactive "Cat Idol" showcase and more.

While we know that October is a couple of months away, you should definitely check out the Meet the Breeds website, and continue visiting Paw Nation for special articles, giveaways and more!

by Josh Loposer (Subscribe to Josh Loposer's posts): Jul 7th 2010 7:00AM Filed Under: Dogs

pomaranian dog pictures Alamy

Dog Breed: Pomeranian

Personality: According to the American Kennel Club breed standard, the pomeranian is a "cocky, animated companion with an extroverted personality. This compact little dog is an active toy breed with an alert character and fox-like expression." The American Pomeranian Club adds that this "active," "cocky," and "alert," breed makes for " great companion dog as well as a competitive show dog."

Grooming: Pomeranians are "generally very easy to maintain in beautiful condition," states the APC, "Taking just a few minutes to brush out any shedding coat a couple of times each week avoids matting." The AKC concurs, stating that pomeranians "possess a thick double coat, which needs to be brushed on a regular basis."

Common Health Issues: As a toy breed, pomeranians "can be prone to trouble with the knees in their hind legs," according to the APC. The condition is called luxating patella. The best way to safeguard against it is to train your pom not to jump off of large furniture. Other ailments observed in the breed, according to Pet Pom, a pomeranian information website, are cataracts, distichiasis, and collapsed trachea (relatively common in toy breeds).

Training Tips: "The pom is a very intelligent dog, but also very active," says Alisa Chagnon, owner of PetPom, "For this reason, training will go much better if an owner has time to devote to repetition." Chagnon also strongly suggests that owners train their pomeranian using a harness rather than a leash to avoid damaging their pup's trachea.

Mutts Mingling With Pure Breeds at AKC Competitions

by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts): May 24th 2010 12:15PM Filed Under: Pets News

mutts picture Pam Vojtas

"After 125 years, American Kennel Club opens competitions to mutts," reports the Washington Post. Not all events of course -- your mixed-breed pooch won't be sharing the show ring during the beauty competitions, but your mutt can prove what he's made of in the skill contests.

The American Kennel Club, the venerable organization which has been celebrating the best of purebred canines since 1884, has relaxed its standards a bit, creating a new option for owners of mixed breed dogs called AKC Canine Partners. The program allows dogs, regardless of fancy pedigree (or lack thereof), to participate in AKC Rally, Agility and Obedience competitions. Paw Nation talks with Pam Vojtas, the owner of a 4-year-old terrier mix named Charlie, who is a big reason why AKC Canine Partners exists.

Vojtas adopted Charlie from a local rescue group. He proved to be a handful, eating cell phones, a couch and more. Vojtas enrolled him in obedience classes. "He was a 'C' student," she tells Paw Nation, "but one night after class, there was an agility practice going on in the arena, and we were both mesmerized. I signed up the next day for an intro agility class, and the rest, as they say, is history."

Animal Planet Airing AKC/Eukanuba National Championship

by Helena Sung (Subscribe to Helena Sung's posts): Feb 5th 2010 3:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Pets News

Lisa Croft-Elliot/(c) Animal Planet

For two days in December, nearly 4,000 dogs from across the nation and around the world gathered in Long Beach, Calif. to compete in the American Kennel Club (AKC)/Eukanuba National Championship. The event has the distinction of being the only dog show in the United States that is organized and held solely by the AKC, the country's oldest and only not-for-profit purebred dog registry.

With $225,000 in prize money available, the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship is the largest prize-money dog show in the world, according to Animal Planet, which will air highlights from the event on Feb. 6.

Elite dogs competed in several separate events, including Best in Show and AKC invitationals in agility and obedience. In addition, the Eukanuba World Challenge -- presided over this year by Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson -- featured dogs from 41 countries. The event brings together "some of the world's most beautiful and diverse dogs," promises Animal Planet. (Be sure to watch for Sadie, a black Scottish terrier, pictured left, who was ranked the number-one dog going into the competition.)

The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship premieres on Animal Planet and also on the Discovery Channel on Saturday, February 6, 2010, from 8-11 PM (ET/PT).

See, Hear, Taste and Smell the World as a Dog Does

by Helena Sung (Subscribe to Helena Sung's posts): Dec 23rd 2009 11:00AM Filed Under: Dogs, Meet the Breeds

Eukanuba National Championship picture Helena Sung

Neither rain nor unfinished holiday shopping could keep crowds away from the American Kennel Club's "Meet the Breeds" event on December 12 and 13 in Long Beach, Calif. Held in conjunction with the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, thousands of spectators braved unseasonably cold rains for the chance to meet some 160 different purebred dog breeds, and even to experience the world as a canine.

A dog sensory exhibit sponsored by Eukanuba gave people the chance to see, hear, smell and taste as a dog does. "I've always wondered what my dog smells," said one man, sniffing at glass beakers filled with varying intensities of spearmint scent to compare a canine's sense of smell to a human's. Dogs have 125 to 220 million olfactory receptors, says Eukanuba, while humans have a mere 5 million. Bloodhounds have an estimated 300 million olfactory receptors. It means a dog's sense of smell is 1,000 to 10,000 times stronger than a human's.

Scottie Named 'Sadie' Wins Best in Show at AKC/Eukanuba National Championship

by Helena Sung (Subscribe to Helena Sung's posts): Dec 15th 2009 1:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Pets News

Sadie, the Scottish Terrier dog's picture Courtesy American Kennel Club

She did it again! Sadie, the four year-old Scottish Terrier who won Best in Show at the National Dog Show in Philadelphia last month, won top honors at the 2009 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in Long Beach, Calif. on Sunday night, taking home her 110th Best in Show title, as well as a $50,000 cash prize.

"I feel really proud of her that she's showing great for us all year long," Sadie's handler, Gabriel Rangel, told Paw Nation. Cheering on Sadie, whose formal name is Ch. Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot, was her owner, Amelia Musser, who had traveled from Mackinac Island, Mich. "It feels really wonderful to be here," Musser tells Paw Nation. "We're just thrilled with Sadie."

Traditionally, champion dogs compete at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship by invitation only. But this year, in recognition of the AKC's 125th anniversary, the event was open to "any AKC registered purebred unaltered dog six months of age or older." Nearly 4,000 dogs competed at this year's event, which included agility and obedience contests, as well as an international competition of dogs from 41 different countries.

"It's very special to win on the 125th anniversary of the American Kennel Club," Rangel told Paw Nation. "It's a unique thing."

Next up for the number one ranked dog in the country is the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in February. How does Rangel feel about Sadie's chances there? "We're all thinking of the dream of getting Best In Show at Westminster," Rangel admits. "You have to be ready and perform well, but it all depends on what happens at the show. It's like at the races. Not always the favorite horse wins. Somebody could come from behind. But, definitely we have a beautiful dog that we love regardless of what she does."

Meet the Breeds - What A Weekend!

by Eliot Glazer (Subscribe to Eliot Glazer's posts): Oct 22nd 2009 9:00AM Filed Under: Dogs, Pet Clothes, Photo Galleries

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Meet the Breeds

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 17: Karen Dewey pets her dog "Garth", a bloodhound, during the "Meet The Breeds" show at the Jacob Javits Convention Center October 17, 2009 in New York City. Forty-one CFA registered cat breeds and 160 AKC registered dog breeds were shown at the Meet the Breeds event. (Photo by Afton Almaraz/Getty Images)

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Meet the Breeds

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 17: Cindy Lopez shakes hands with a black lab during a demonstration at the "Meet The Breeds" show in the Javits Convention Center October 17, 2009 in New York City. Lopez works with NEEDS service dogs. Forty-one CFA registered cat breeds and 160 AKC registered dog breeds were shown at the Meet the Breeds event. (Photo by Afton Almaraz/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Cindy Lopez

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 17: Diane Bove shows her black Selkirk Rex cat, during the "Meet The Breeds" show at the Jacob Javits Convention Center October 17, 2009 in New York City. Forty-one CFA registered cat breeds and 160 AKC registered dog breeds were shown at the Meet the Breeds event. (Photo by Afton Almaraz/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Diane Bove

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 17: An Exotic breed cat is shown during the "Meet The Breeds" show at the Jacob Javits Convention Center October 17, 2009 in New York City. An Exotic, is a mix between an American Shorthair and Persian. Forty-one CFA registered cat breeds and 160 AKC registered dog breeds were shown at the Meet the Breeds event. (Photo by Afton Almaraz/Getty Images)

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 17: Two Borzoi dogs, owned by Debra West, are shown on the floor during the "Meet The Breeds" show at the Jacob Javits Convention Center October 17, 2009 in New York City. Forty-one CFA registered cat breeds and 160 AKC registered dog breeds were shown at the Meet the Breeds event. (Photo by Afton Almaraz/Getty Images)

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 17: Hahl Perry walks his Afghan Hound outside the Jacob Javits Convention Center during the "Meet The Breeds" show October 17, 2009 in New York City. Forty-one CFA registered cat breeds and 160 AKC registered dog breeds were shown at the Meet the Breeds event. (Photo by Afton Almaraz/Getty Images)

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 17: A Beagle and its owner Nanette Prideaux, pose during the "Meet The Breeds" show at the Jacob Javits Convention Center October 17, 2009 in New York City. Forty-one CFA registered cat breeds and 160 AKC registered dog breeds were shown at the event. (Photo by Afton Almaraz/Getty Images)

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 17: "Garth", a bloodhound, receives attention from his owner Karen Dewey (L) and a spectator during the "Meet The Breeds" show at the Jacob Javits Convention Center October 17, 2009 in New York City. Forty-one CFA registered cat breeds and 160 AKC registered dog breeds were shown at the Meet the Breeds event. (Photo by Afton Almaraz/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Karen Dewey

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 17: Owners and their dogs get ready to walk on the floor during the "Meet The Breeds" show at the Jacob Javits Convention Center October 17, 2009 in New York City. Forty-one CFA registered cat breeds and 160 AKC registered dog breeds were shown at the Meet the Breeds event. (Photo by Afton Almaraz/Getty Images)

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 17: Hundreds of spectators view the different breeds of dogs and cats during the "Meet The Breeds" show at the Jacob Javits Convention Center October 17, 2009 in New York City. Forty-one CFA registered cat breeds and 160 AKC registered dog breeds were shown at the Meet the Breeds event. (Photo by Afton Almaraz/Getty Images)

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This past weekend, Paw Nation visited the American Kennel Club's "Meet the Breeds" event at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. Packed wall to wall with dogs, cats, breeders, specialists, merchants, and veterinary professionals, the weekend-long showcase featured hundreds of extremely patient animals, ready to be pet for hours on end.

Some famous faces were there, including Whoopi Goldberg, Mario Lopez, and Cindy Adams. We're pretty sure we even passed fashion icon Michael Kors after we finished up at the Havanese booth, one of 160 stations occupied by specific breeds and their respective specialists, all of whom were eager to provide the history behind their beloved pooch of choice.

Amid the amazing dog-trick demonstrations and swarms of cat ladies (no, literally, there were a lot of ladies dressed up like cats), we were lucky enough to stumble upon a booth for the Fundle, a pet sling we've been eyeing for a number of months. We're happy to report that the Fundle is even better than we imagined.

Hope to see you next year, Meet the Breeds! You'll be able to tell it's us by the Fundle we haven't taken off in 365 days.

Poll: Which Is Your Favorite Dog Toy?

by Paw Nation Staff (Subscribe to Paw Nation Staff's posts): Oct 19th 2009 9:00AM Filed Under: Dogs, AKC Top 125 Dogs

Which canine toy will be top dog? Pound Puppies/AP

In honor of the American Kennel Club's 125th Anniversary, we're searching for the top 125 dogs in pop culture! Do you prefer Snoopy or Scooby Doo? Cujo or Clifford The Big Red Dog? Make your woof heard in the AKC 125 Popular Dogs Poll Series! Each Monday, we'll poll you about your favorite dogs in pop culture, then the AKC will reveal the top dogs!

Poll: Who Is Your Favorite Movie Dog? (Part 2)

by Paw Nation Staff (Subscribe to Paw Nation Staff's posts): Oct 12th 2009 9:00AM Filed Under: Dogs, AKC Top 125 Dogs

Which canine movie star will be top dog? Photo: MGM

Canine Good Citizen Trains Dogs and Their Owners

by Sonia Zjawinski (Subscribe to Sonia Zjawinski's posts): Sep 1st 2009 3:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Pet Training

How many times have you applied for an apartment only to be turned away because of your dog? We know how you feel.

While Rent.com recently gave us tips on how to woo a landlord to the furry side, one program that's been gaining popularity is Canine Good Citizen (CGC).

Started in 1989 by the American Kennel Club, CGC is a two-part, 10-step certification program that stresses responsible pet ownership and basic doggy manners. Similar to basic training and puppy school, CGC teaches dogs how to properly socialize with both other pups and people, walk on a loose leash, and (most importantly for potential landlords) the ability to be left with a trusted person and still remember his or her training.

To date, more than half a million dogs have received CGC certificates. So how do you get started?

Find a training club near you and ask if they offer CGC classes or find a CGC evaluator and ask them for the best and closest place to get trained.

Once you complete the certification process you'll not only have a well-behaved dog, but a certificate to prove to potential landlords that your pup knows how to be a good tenant.

And don't worry if your dog isn't a spring chicken; dogs of all ages and breeds can participate. "One of my favorite teams of all times," CGC Director, Dr. Mary Burch, tells Paw Nation, "was a 94-year-old lady in Georgia with her 16-year-old Dachshund. When that team passed the test, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. They proved you can teach an old dog new tricks." And, we suppose, an old lass as well!

Dr. Burch will give demos of CGC training at the main demo ring at this year's Meet the Breeds event in New York City.