tips for responsible dog owners - american...

TIPS FOR RESPONSIBLEDOG OWNERS

PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction - 3

Think First - 4

Make the Commitment - 9

Get Ready - 12

Bring Your Dog Home - 15

Keep Your Dog Healthy - 18

Keep Your Dog Safe - 24

Be a Friend - 28

Train Your Dog - 33

Breed Responsibly - 36

Get Involved - 38

Be a Canine Ambassador - 40

Who We Are and What We Do - 44

INTRODUCTION

Among companion animals, dogs are unmatched in their devotion, loyalty and friendship

to humankind. Anyone who has ever loved a dog can attest to its hundred-fold return.

The excitement your dog shows when you come home, the wagging tail at the sound of

the leash being taken from its hook, the delight in the tossing of a tennis ball, and the head

nestled in your lap-those are only some of the rewards of being a dog owner.

Owning a dog is not just a right, it is a responsibility. These animals depend on us for, at

minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. If you are considering taking a dog

into your life, you need to think seriously about the commitment that dog ownership

entails. If you already have a dog, you need to consider if you are fulfilling all your

obligations as its owner.

The AKC is committed to helping dog owners raise happy, healthy dogs. The list below is

certainly not exhaustive, but it contains some of the essential ways you can be the best

dog owner you can be.

chapter one THINK FIRST

American Kennel Club E-Book - 5

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Dog ownership is not something to be entered into lightly. Owning a dog is a long-

ter e otional and financial co it ent. efore deciding that a certain dog is

right for you, you ust a e an honest assess ent as to hether your ho e is

right for any dog.

EVALUATE YOUR LIFESTYLE

If you get a dog, he ill eco e a art of your life. ou need to a e sure that

he s suited for your lifestyle. or e a le, if you are athletic, you ill ro a ly not

e ha y ith a dog that has a lo energy level. If you are e tre ely neat, you

ill ro a ly ant a dog that doesn t shed uch. ll as ects of your fa ily s life

ho ies, activities, ersonalities, and schedules should e evaluated efore you

get a dog.

MAKE A LIST

ased on your evaluation, deter ine hat ualities you ant in a dog. onsider

si e, energy level, groo ing needs, traina ility and te era ent. o you ant a

guard dog or a la dog Is it i ortant that your dog get along ith children If you

rent your ho e, are there restrictions on height, eight or reed ns er these

uestions no once you ring a dog ho e, it can e heart rea ing to reali e that

you ade the rong choice.

THINK FIRST


THINK FIRST

CHOOSE A BREED

nce you have ade your list of ideal characteristics, do so e research to find hich

reeds fit that rofile. o to your local li rary, attend a dog sho , and visit the

e site. arro your choices to the reed that see s right for you.

1. Get a Referralou have a uch etter chance of eing satisfied if you get your dog fro a

res onsi le, ethical reeder hose ri ary concern is to roduce dogs of high

uality, good health and sta le te era ent. he has a reeder eferral

contact for each recogni ed reed. hese individuals can ut you in contact ith

reeders or rescue organi ations in your area.

2. Make Contactet in touch ith the reed contacts in your area. et the no that you are

interested in their reed. e a le to de onstrate that you have ut thought into your

choice. on t e discouraged if the first reeder you tal to does not have u ies

availa le right a ay. hat erson ay no another reeder in the region.

3. Ask Questionss the reeder any uestions you can thin of a out the reed. hen you find

a reeder you re co forta le ith, as to visit the ennel and vie the dogs on

the reeder s re ises. In uire a out health ro le s of the reed, and hat can

e done to revent or control the . ind out hat inds of activities, including

co etition, the reeder s dogs artici ate in and en oy. he reeder s dogs are a

revie of hat your dog ill e.


THINK FIRST

CHOOSE A BREED

4. Consider an Older Dogu ies aren t for everyone. If an older dog etter fits your lifestyle, chec the

e site to find a reed arent lu and or reed rescue. hese organi ations rescue

ure red dogs that have een lost, a andoned or surrendered due to the death or illness

of their o ners. ost rescue dogs have een s ayed or neutered and are screened for

health and te era ent ro le s. escue is a not only a great source for ure red dogs,

it s also a ay to save the life of a dog in need.

5. Expect Questions res onsi le reeder or rescue contact ill as you e tensive uestions a out the ty e

of ho e you can offer a dog. hese eo le are as co itted as you are to a ing the

right atch et een you and a dog. ive honest ans ers to their uestions. e e er

that, due to their e erience in the reed, they no hat issues are i ortant in lacing

one of their dogs.

6. Prepare to Waitvaila ility varies. e a are that a u y or dog of the reed you ve decided on ay not

e easy to find. es onsi le reeders do not reed often, and any ti es the u ies

of a lanned reeding are already s o en for. ust re e er that a good dog is orth

aiting for.


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THINK FIRST

CHOOSE A BREED

7. Skip the Holidaysany eo le try to uy u ies as hrist as gifts for children or other fa ily e ers.

ost reeders do not reco end this. ou should e re ared to give a ne u y your

undivided attention, and that is rarely ossi le during the usy holiday season. etter

idea is to give dog related gifts toys, leashes, groo ing tools and then ring your u y

ho e hen all the e cite ent has died do n.

chapter two MAKE A

COMMITMENT


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make a

COMMITMENT

PICK YOUR PET

hen the ti e has co e to select your et, consider your o tions carefully. es ect your

reeder s in ut a out hich u y is right for you. If you are rescuing an older dog, as

your contact erson for infor ation on its health, te era ent, ehavior and history.

GET IT IN WRITING

Infor ation a out the sale or ado tion should e in riting. he contract should include,

for e a le, details regarding any fees, s ay neuter agree ents, health guarantees,

ter s of co o nershi , restrictions on reeding, and living arrange ents. It should also

include instructions on hat to do if the dog, des ite your est efforts, si ly doesn t

or out for you or your fa ily. ost res onsi le reeders ill insist that the dog e

returned to the .


GET YOUR PAPERS

et your registration a lication fro the reeder hen you urchase the u y.

a e sure the reeder co letes the a ro riate sections of the for and signs it. he

reeder can also hel you fill out your section correctly.

REGISTER YOUR DOG

end the co leted, signed registration a lication to the . our dog ill then

eco e art of the nation s largest registry of ure red dogs and as ell as eing eligi le

for a variety of co etitive events and can also activate the o li entary ay rial

of et Insurance . If you rescue a dog, consider a lying for a ure red lternative

isting Indefinite isting rivilege I nu er. his nu er ill allo your dog to

artici ate in so e co anion events.

make a

COMMITMENT

chapter three GET READY


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GET READY

PREPARE YOURSELF

et ready for your ne friend efore you ring hi ho e, to a e sure the transition

ill e as s ooth as ossi le. uy food, treats, a collar and leash, toys, groo ing tools and

other necessities in advance so your dog or u y ill have everything he needs.

MAKE A SCHEDULE

ou and your fa ily e ers should decide ho ill e res onsi le for food, ater,

al ing, e ercise, clean u and groo ing. ost a schedule of tas s in a visi le area of the

house to re ind everyone of their res onsi ilities.

DOG-PROOF YOUR HOME

re are your ho e efore your ne dog arrives. ove rea a les or che a les to

higher ground. a e electrical cords inaccessi le to curious a s and noses. loc off

any area of the house that you ant off li its to the dog. ut the lid do n on your toilet

and your shoes u in your closet. loc access to any house or garden lants that ay e

to ic to dogs.

SET A CONTAINMENT POLICY

It is essential that you have a secure ethod of ee ing your dog on your ro erty. hec

your fence for s ots vulnera le to che ing or digging. If your yard is not fenced, consider

a large dog run or invisi le fencing. If your ro erty is not fenced in so e ay, e hasi e

to fa ily e ers that the dog ust e leashed at all ti es hen ta en outdoors.


GET READY

GET A COLLAR

our dog should ear a at leather or nylon collar ith a uc le at all ti es, e ce t hen

in a crate. he uc le can catch on the crate and cause in ury. he collar should e tight

enough that it ill not slide over the dog s ears, ut loose enough that you can fit t o

fingers et een the collar and the dog s nec . hec the fit of the collar often, es ecially

if you have a fast gro ing u y.

MAKE A BED

very dog needs a uiet lace to call his o n. reate a co forta le area, hether a crate,

a at or a ile of lan ets, for your dog to go to hen he needs rest or rivacy.

BUY SOME TOYS

rovide your dog ith a variety of toys to revent hi fro laying ith your soc s and

shoes, your orning a er, or your child s favorite doll. et so e toys that you and your

dog can lay ith together, such as alls and lush toys, and so e things to ee hi usy

hen he s alone, such as che ies or ro e ones. ever leave your dog unattended ith

any toy that has s all, detacha le arts.

FIND A VETERINARIAN

ou should choose a veterinarian for your dog as soon as ossi le. ave your dog

e a ined y the vet ithin a fe days of his arrival. ive your vet co ies of the dog s

health records, and set u a vaccination and chec u schedule.

chapter four BRING YOUR DOG HOME


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bring your dog

HOME

t last ou ve ade all the re arations, and it s finally ti e to ring your ne friend

ho e. ive hi the est elco e ossi le. ith love, atience and utual res ect, he

ill feel li e art of the fa ily in no ti e.

LET YOUR DOG ADJUST

ive the dog ti e to ad ust to his ne ho e. he dog is ound to feel insecure and

frightened y a change in environ ent, and a u ay e ho esic for his other or

litter ates. ho hi to his crate or ed, and here to find food and ater. hen leave

hi alone to e lore the ne surroundings.

NAME YOUR DOG

our dog ill need a good na e. our reeder ay have suggestions or even

re uire ents for his registered na e, ut his call or infor al na e is u to you.

lder ado ted dogs can ad ust uic ly to a ne na e.

MAKE INTRODUCTIONS

Introduce your dog to your household slo ly. any airs of hands etting hi at once

ay over hel hi . ater, introduce hi to neigh ors, regular visitors and other fa ily

e ers. ive your dog a sense of ho your and your dog s friends are.


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bring your dog

HOME

INTRODUCE OTHER PETS

ther co anion ani als in your ho e should also e ro erly introduced to your ne

dog or u y. on t e ect the to get along right a ay, and don t try to force the to

lay together. ive the ti e to ad ust to one another.

HOUSETRAIN

hichever ethod of housetraining you have chosen crate training, a er training or

litter o a e sure that all e ers of the fa ily enforce it consistently. ccidents

ha en, so have a rocedure for clean u .

SET HOUSE RULES

each your dog fro the eginning hat is and is not a ro riate ehavior. If so ething

is today, your u y ill

thin it s forever. a e

sure that every e er of

the fa ily enforces the house

rules. onsistency is the ey

to having a well-behaved pet.

chapter f ive KEEP YOUR DOG

HEALTHY


keep your dog

HEALTHY

GO TO THE VETERINARIAN

et u a schedule for regular chec u s ith your veterinarian. s the vet uestions

a out your dog s diet, ehavior, activity level or other concerns. ontact the veterinarian

at once if your dog see s ill or in ain. s a s ecial registration enefit, the has

arranged a o li entary ay rial of et Insurance for ne ly registered

u ies. etails a out this s ecial co li entary enefit ill e sent to you shortly after

registration.

FEED A GOOD DIET

or ith your veterinarian or reeder to find the food that is est for your dog s age,

si e and activity level. ee the diet consistent. l ays rovide lenty of fresh, clean

water.

EXERCISE

ogs need regular e ercise to ensure continuing good health. a e your dog for al s,

run around in the yard, thro a all around anything to get hi u and oving. his ill

enefit his health and could revent ehavior ro le s.

VACCINATE

ogs should follo a strict schedule of vaccinations to revent diseases. ee your dog

current on his vaccinations, follo ing the schedule reco ended y your veterinarian.

ee a co y of your dog s vaccination records handy.


keep your dog

HEALTHY

PREVENT DISEASE

ou can ta e ste s to revent other diseases not covered y the regular series of

vaccinations. e ending on the area of the country you live in, your dog could e at ris

for diseases such as heart or and y e disease. s your veterinarian for advice on

prevention.

REPEL FLEAS AND TICKS

side fro disco fort, arasites such as eas and tic s can cause serious diseases.

ee your dog, his edding, and your ho e free fro arasites y using the ethod

reco ended y your veterinarian.

KNOW YOUR DOG’S PATTERNS

ou should eco e fa iliar ith your dog s atterns in ter s of eating, drin ing, slee ing

and relieving hi self. ny a or variations in these atterns could indicate illness and

should e re orted to your veterinarian.

PROVIDE CHEW TOYS

ogs never outgro the need to che . rotect your ossessions y roviding a variety of

che toys to satisfy your dog s urges.


keep your dog

HEALTHY

BATHE YOUR DOG

clean dog is a healthy dog. athe your dog on a regular asis a ro riate to his reed

and environ ent. ver athing can e har ful to a dog s s in. se a good sha oo

and e sure to rinse ell. If athing your dog is ore than you can handle, ta e hi to a

groo er or veterinarian for hel .

GROOM YOUR DOG

ll dogs should e groo ed regularly for health and est a earance. o e short coated

reeds need ust a uic rushing every ee , hile so e longer coated reeds need

daily rushing to revent atting and to reduce shedding. If your dog re uires cli ing or

scul ting, you ay ant to consult a rofessional groo er.

CLIP THOSE NAILS

ee ing your dog s nails short ill ee hi co forta le, revent in ury to his feet,

and ay save the surface of your oors. If you can hear your dog s nails clic on a hard

surface, they need to e tri ed. s your veterinarian for advice on cli ing your dog s

nails yourself.

CLEAN THOSE TEETH

o revent tooth decay and gu disease, clean your dog s teeth regularly. ost dogs ill

acce t a tooth rush if introduced to it slo ly and gently. ou can also give your dog

roducts such as hard iscuits, ro e ones and nylon che s to ee his teeth clean.


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keep your dog

HEALTHY

PREVENT OBESITY

ee your dog healthy y aintaining hi at an a ro riate eight. eed hi a ell

alanced diet and give hi lenty of e ercise. on t give in to egging eo le food is

generally ad for dogs.

KNOW YOUR BREED’S HEALTH RISKS

ou should e a are of co on health ro le s in your reed, ho to revent the ,

and ho to recogni e their onset. or e a le, so e giant reeds are rone to loat,

hile so e short faced reeds are rone to res iratory ro le s. s your reeder or

veterinarian for infor ation a out any signs or sy to s you should atch for in your

pet.

PROTECT FROM POISONS

a e sure that your ho e and yard are free fro oisonous su stances, such as

antifree e, hich tastes good ut can cause serious illness or even death. ee your

veterinarian s nu er handy in case of accidental ingestion.

BE ALERT TO CHANGING NEEDS

s your dog ages, his needs ill change. e ay re uire a different diet, need ore

slee , and e less active. o hat you can to ee hi co forta le. our dog ay not

e as fun as he once as, ut he is the sa e dog you loved as a u y. ou should do

everything you can to a er hi in his final years.


keep your dog

HEALTHY

PROTECT FROM POISONS

a e sure that your ho e and yard are free fro oisonous su stances, such as

antifree e, hich tastes good ut can cause serious illness or even death. ee your

veterinarian s nu er handy in case of accidental ingestion.

BE ALERT TO CHANGING NEEDS

s your dog ages, his needs ill change. e ay re uire a different diet, need ore

slee , and e less active. o hat you can to ee hi co forta le. our dog ay not

e as fun as he once as, ut he is the sa e dog you loved as a u y. ou should do

everything you can to a er hi in his final years.

END SUFFERING

If, due to illness or old age, your dog reaches a oint here his uality of life is severely

co ro ised, arrange to end his life hu anely. etting go is so eti es the indest thing

you can do. on t rolong the suffering ecause you fear the ain of losing your dog.

chapter s ix KEEP YOUR DOG

SAFE


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I.D. YOUR DOG

our dog should ear an

identification tag ith your

na e, address and hone

nu er at all ti es. his ill

increase the chances of your dog

eing returned to you if he is lost

or runs a ay.

CONSIDER MICROCHIPS OR TATTOOS

icrochi s and tattoos are

ethods of er anently

identifying your dog, and can e invalua le in recovering your dog should he eco e

lost. ou ay ish to enroll your dog in s affiliate, the eunite service, hich

is the nation s largest data ase of icrochi ed ets.

WATCH THE HEAT

ogs can succu to heat stress in a atter of inutes. o not leave your dog in

an unventilated vehicle hen the te erature is high. hen your dog is outside, he

should have a shady lace to lay do n and lenty of fresh, cool ater.

keep your dog

SAFE


keep your dog

SAFE

PROVIDE SHELTER

our dog needs a sheltered area for the ti e he s ends outside. he shelter should

rovide shade in su er and ar th in inter.

TRAVEL SAFELY

ee your dog safe in the car y using a crate, or y attaching the dog to a seat elt

ith a harness. ever let your dog ride free in the ac of a ic u truc , or allo hi

to hang his head out of the car indo .

FIND A PET-SITTER OR BOARDING KENNEL

a e arrange ents for your dog s care hen you go a ay. ave a friend or relia le

et sitter co e over to tend to the dog, or find a good ennel for oarding. If you o t

for oarding, try to ins ect the facilities efore you dro your dog off.


keep your dog

SAFE

PREPARE FOR DISASTER

e re ared to care for your dog in the event of a disaster such as fire, ood,

hurricane or earth ua e. a e an e ergency it ith clean ater, food, and first aid

e ui ent. ind out in advance if the evacuation shelters in your area allo ani als. If

not, develo alternatives.

ESTABLISH AN EMERGENCY CONTACT

nlist a fa ily e er or friend to ta e care of your dog in the event of a sudden

illness, hos itali ation or other e ergency. his erson should ideally e so eone

your dog has s ent so e ti e ith and is co forta le ith. eave a list of general

care instructions in a safe lace.

MAKE A WILL

ou should a e arrange ents for the safety and care of your et in the event of your

death. on t assu e that a fa ily e er ill ste in to ta e care of the dog.

TAKE PICTURES

f course, you ill ant a icture of your dog to grace your des or to send as a

hrist as card. ore i ortantly, a current hoto ill e invalua le in the event that

your dog is lost.

chapter seven BE A FRIEND


be a

FRIEND

PLAY!

ogs, of course, love to lay. et aside ti e each day for lay sessions. art fro

the o vious enefit of having fun together, lay also rovides an outlet for your dog s

energy.

GO ON WALKS

a e your dog on fre uent al s. e ill en oy e loring the neigh orhood and ill

enefit fro the e ercise. a e sure that you have a good strong leash and that you

aintain control of the dog at all ti es.

TALK TO YOUR DOG

our dog on t understand your ords, ut he ill en oy the sound of your voice.

al ing to your dog ill a e hi feel involved. ou can also use different voice levels to

raise or correct your dog s ehavior.

GIVE TREATS

our dog ill al ays a reciate a treat, and treats can e used as a su le ent to his

regular diet, as ell as an e cellent training aid.

SWITCH OUT TOYS

ee your dog entertained y rotating his toys. ut old toys out of sight for a onth

or t o and then ring the out again your dog ill en oy the ust as uch as hen

they were new.


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be a

FRIEND

GIVE YOUR TIME

ou are the center of your dog s orld. ou ay e tired after a long day at or , ut

your dog has s ent the day an iously a aiting your return. e ard that loyalty ith

your ti e. et hi , tal to hi , lay ith hi , laugh ith hi . et your dog no you

value his co any.

FIND THE “SPOT”

cratch your dog s elly often. If you find the s ot, so uch the etter.


be a

FRIEND

LEAVE THE RADIO ON

ry leaving the radio or television on hen you leave your dog alone. he noise ill

ee hi co any.

PLAN ACTIVITIES WITH YOUR DOG

Include your dog in fa ily activities. a e hi to the ar or on outings to the each, or

to s ecial activities such as the og ly ics or dog arades. our dog ill love eing

out and a out ith you.

GIVE A MASSAGE

ogs love to e etted, and recent studies have sho n that structured assages ay

e eneficial to your dog s health and ehavior. hey ay also e very rela ing for you

MAKE THAT TAIL WAG

our dog s tail is a aro eter of his e otions. o hat you can to ee it ha ily

wagging.


be a

FRIEND

GO ON TRIPS

ogs can add another ele ent of fun to a fa ily vacation. hec ahead for lodging that

acce ts dogs. If ying, as a out travel acco odations for your dog hen you a e

your reservations.

EASE SEPARATION ANXIETY

our dog ill ant to e ith you at all ti es, ut for ost eo le that si ly isn t

ossi le. el your dog get used to eing alone. eave hi each day ith a ini u of

fuss. hen you co e ho e, greet hi cal ly. his ill teach hi that your leaving is not

so ething to e concerned a out.

GET ANOTHER ONE!

ogs are ac ani als y nature and generally en oy the co any of other dogs. our

dog ay enefit greatly fro having a co anion to lay ith. e as conscientious

a out getting a second dog as you ere a out getting the first ulti le dog o nershi

isn t for everyone, and so e dogs do etter as an only.

DON’T LET YOUR DOG DOWN

ou aren t a dog o ner ust at hrist as, or on the ee ends, or in the afternoon, or

hen you have s are ti e. ou aren t a dog o ner ust hen the dog is ehaving, or

hen he s a cute fu y u y, or hen he s inning a ards. hen you ring a dog into

your fa ily, that dog is yours for life. If you can t ee that co it ent, don t a e it.

nd once you ve ade it, don t rea it. our dog s life de ends on you.

chapter e ight TRAIN YOUR DOG


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TRAIN YOUR DOG

TEACH BASIC COMMANDS

each your dog asic co ands such as sit, stay, co e and do n. raining your dog ill

not only a e your life easier, ut ill also fulfill your dog s desire to learn and lease

you.

SOCIALIZE YOUR DOG

ose your dog to different eo le and settings regularly. a e hi to the ar , to

the et store, on a al through to n. raise hi for acce ting etting fro friendly

strangers, and for ehaving cal ly around other dogs. he ore your dog learns of the

orld, the ore co forta le he ill e in it.

GO TO CLASS

edience classes can e a great e erience for you and your dog. ou ay even

discover that your dog has a great talent for learning, and e a le to co ete in

o edience, agility or trac ing events.


TRAIN YOUR DOG

PREVENT NUISANCE BARKING

on t let your dog s incessant ar ing annoy your neigh ors. each your dog not to

ar ithout real rovocation. If your dog s ar ing is causing a ro le s hile you re

a ay fro ho e, there are several training o tions availa le, consult your veterinarian.

PRAISE YOUR DOG

ecause your dog loves you, he ants to lease you. raise hi lavishly for o eying

co ands and ehaving ell. sing ositive, rather than negative, reinforce ent ill

hel your dog en oy learning.

SUPERVISE PLAY WITH CHILDREN

hildren and dogs can e great co anions, ut they also re uire su ervision hen

laying together. our dog ay e good ith ids, ut hat if he encounters a id that

is not good ith dogs ery s all children should never e left alone ith a dog, no

matter how stable his temperament.

GIVE YOUR DOG A JOB

ee your dog active and alert y giving hi tas s to do. each hi to fetch the a er,

carry groceries in a ac or e ty the dryer. a e hi sit efore getting a treat or lay

do n efore going outside. iving your dog a sense of ur ose and acco lish ent

ill increase his sense of ell eing.

chapter nine BREED

RESPONSIBLY


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BREED TO IMPROVE

reeding should ri arily e done for the advance ent of the reed. If you are thin ing a out

reeding your dog, consult your reeder for advice. onsider all the conse uences and e enses

of reeding a litter efore you do so. onsult u lications for ore infor ation as ell.

FIND A MENTOR

If you lan to reed or sho your dog, you ill ant to find a no ledgea le erson in

the reed to sho you the ro es. entor can e an invalua le source of e erience and

infor ation, and can hel a e your novice days uch easier.

SPAY OR NEUTER

aying eutering are a or surgeries and the decision to s ay or neuter a dog should e ade

y the dogs o ner in con unction ith their veterinarian. ecent scientific studies de onstrate

that s aying neutering, articularly efore a dog is fully ature, ay result in detri ental longter

health i acts. In light of this infor ation, encourages reeders, o ners and veterinarians to

consult on the a ro riateness and ti ing of s aying or neutering an individual dog.

CONTAIN FEMALES IN HEAT

If your fe ale dog goes into heat, or season, a e sure to ee her ro erly secured.

ales can sense a fe ale in heat u to five iles a ay.

PERFORM GENETIC SCREENING

If you lan to reed your dog, it is very i ortant to test for genetic disorders. hile it is

i ossi le to eli inate all genetic disorders, erfor all availa le tests reco ended y

the arent lu .

breed

RESPONSIBLY

chapter ten GET INVOLVED


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GET INVOLVED

JOIN AN AKC CLUB

our local dog clu is a great resource. any clu s offer educational se inars

and health clinics. It s also a good lace to start if you lan to co ete in co etitive

events ith your dog.

EARN AN AKC TITLE

lore the s ort of dogs y artici ating in events. he offers titles for

acco lish ent in a ide variety of co etition ty es and levels. ind an event that s

right for your dog, and have fun.

ENCOURAGE BREED BEHAVIOR

ll ure red dogs ere develo ed ith a ur ose in ind. ind activities that ill

encourage your dog to fulfill her reed s ur ose. he offers any erfor ance

events geared to ard s ecific reeds.

INVOLVE THE KIDS

our children can have fun and learn ore a out dogs and dog care y artici ating

in unior ho anshi events. hrough the ational unior rgani ation, your

child can co ete in confor ation and erfor ance events, attend se inars, and

earn scholarshi s.

chapter e leven BE A CANINE

AMBASSADOR


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SET A GOOD EXAMPLE

s a dog o ner, you are res onsi le not only for your o n dog s ell eing, ut for

the status of dogs every here. ne irres onsi le dog o ner in to n can a e life

difficult for dog o ners all over. ning a friendly, clean, ell annered dog re ects

ositively on the s ecies and ay hel rotect our rights to o n co anion ani als.

RESPECT YOUR NEIGHBORS

ot everyone ill love your dog as uch as you do. ee your dog on your ro erty.

on t force your dog s co any on a neigh or ho isn t co forta le ith dogs.

DON’T LEAVE LEAVINGS

l ays carry a lastic aggie or t o ith you hen you al your dog to ic u any

aste it leaves ehind, then dis ose of the aste ro erly. ailure to clean u after

your dog is disres ectful to your neigh ors.

RESPECT LOCAL LAWS

eed the la s regarding dog o nershi in your city or county. hese ay include

registration, leash la s and nuisance ar ing la s. ailure to o ey the la s in your

area ay not only result in the loss of your dogs, ut ay also infringe u on the rights

of others in your area.

be a

CANINE AMBASSADOR


FIGHT ANTI-DOG LEGISLATION

e a are of any legislation develo ing in your city or state that ay co ro ise the

rights of res onsi le dog o ners. eco e an active voice against legislation directed

against s ecific reeds. or ore infor ation, contact the overn ent elations and

u lic ducation de art ents at the .

LET YOUR DOG HELP OTHERS

ogs are invalua le in roviding service to hu ans visiting the sic , hel ing the

disa led, locating issing ersons, and uch ore. If your dog is of the correct

te era ent, you and he can rea the re ards of hel ing others.

GET A CANINE GOOD CITIZEN® CERTIFICATE

our dog can eco e an erican ennel lu anine ood iti en y assing a

test designed to de onstrate good anners and acce ta le ehavior in everyday

situations. he rogra has eco e a standard for recogni ing o edient dogs

and res onsi le dog o ners throughout the country.

MOST OF ALL …

ive your dog lots of love, ti e, and affection and you ll e richly re arded he ll e

ha y to return the favor

be a

CANINE AMBASSADOR

CONTACT THE AKCFor more information on how to be a

responsible dog owner,

contact the American Kennel Club.

THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB

E-Book - 44American Kennel Club

The AKC is a not-for-profit organization and the largest purebred dog registry in the world.

We are the sports-governing body for over 22,000 dog events a year, including conformation

(dog shows) and exciting sports like agility, obedience, rally, tracking, lure coursing,

earthdog, herding trials, among others.

But the AKC is so much more. Here are just some of the ways we support and enrich the lives

of dogs—purebreds and mixed-breeds alike—and their families.

AKC Humane Fund, su orts reed rescue activities, assists shelters that er it do estic

a use victi s to ring their ets, and educates dog lovers a out res onsi le dog o nershi .

Canine Good Citizen® rogra ste test that certifies dogs ho have good anners at

ho e and in their co unity. ver , dogs across the nited tates have eco e anine

ood iti ens , and states have assed resolutions recogni ing the rogra s erit and

i ortance.

AKC Reunite has rought ore than , lost ets ac together ith their o ners.

he AKC Canine Health Foundation, funds research ro ects and clinical studies. ince the

has donated over illion to the . he is the only registry that incor orates

health screening results into its er anent dog records.

AKC conducts thousands of ennel ins ections annually to onitor care and conditions at

ennels across the country and ensure the integrity of the registry.

e offer the largest, ost co rehensive set of rogra s for arentage verification and

genetic identity to ensure relia le registration records.

su orts one of the orld s largest collections of dog related fine art and artifacts at the

AKC Museum of the Dog,

e have the orld s largest dog library at head uarters in e or , oth of hich are

o en to the u lic.

tips for responsible dog owners - american...

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