Written by AKC “Mean seeds” refers to foxtails or any number of plants, including Canada wild rye and cheatgrass, that have barbed grass awns or seed heads. Dogs may pick up a grass awn on an ear, eye, mouth, nose, or between their toes – and an awn can even burrow directly into their skin. These plants and seeds can be particularly dangerous, causing pneumonia if the dog inhales them. The shape of the barbs allows the seed to continuously move forward, traveling inside the d

Written by Harriett Meyers for AKC Humans don’t question their ability to love their dogs. We feed and exercise them, set our schedules based on their needs, get up with them in the middle of the night, buy them silly toys, and tell them our deepest secrets. For years, however, scientists and animal behaviorists have researched whether our dogs have the ability to return our love. Are we being anthropomorphic when we interpret our dogs’ behavior in human terms of love? Summar

By AKC Staff When you bring that fuzzy ball of puppy energy into your home, you know right away that your new puppy depends on you for, well, everything. It’s up to you to give your new puppy all the care they need every day. It can be a little intimidating — your puppy needs the best puppy food, plenty of attention, puppy training, puppy-safe toys, puppy socialization, a comfortable place to sleep, and proper veterinary care. And that includes making sure to schedule puppy s

Written by Mara Bovsun for AKC Learning how to potty train puppies at the right time and place is one of the most important first steps you can take for a long, happy life together. House soiling is among the top reasons why dogs lose their homes or end up in shelters. Few people are willing to put up with a dog who destroys rugs and flooring, or who leaves a stinky mess that you have to clean after a hard day at work. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that you do som

Written by Chewy Editorial Many of us have been stung by bees. No one likes it. When a bee comes by, people often flail and scream and run like Godzilla is attacking the city. Luckily a bee sting is generally not too bad. It might be a little painful and then it turns itchy, but that’s about it, unless of course you are allergic (in which case, please do run and scream). While dog’s don’t have the same fear reaction that humans have, they physical reaction to a bee sting is n

Written by Kelli Bender for People.com We recently learned that your dog most likely lovingly dreams of you, so it should be no surprise that you are on their mind almost all of the time. To get an idea of just how your pup thinks and feels, Dr. Brian Hare has dedicated his life to studying canine cognition and its eccentricities. He has recently teamed up with Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind, a dog food dedicated to improving your pet's cognitive function, to help owners figure

Written for Johns Hopkins Medicine Adopting a pet may seem like a selfless act, but there are plenty of selfish reasons to embrace pet ownership. Research has shown that owning a pet provides an amazing array of health benefits, says Jeremy Barron, M.D., medical director of the Beacham Center for Geriatric Medicine at Johns Hopkins. Not ready for a full-time furry friend in your home? Offer to walk a neighbor’s dog, cat-sit for a friend, or donate time at a local animal shelt

Written by Anna Burke for AKC As a dog owner, I frequently come across the 10-percent rule. It sounds simple. “Treats should not make up more than 10 percent of your dog’s diet,” say veterinarians everywhere. I’ve quoted this so many times I’ve lost count, but then, as I was in the middle of a training session with my dog, treat bag full of tiny treats, I had a crisis of faith. What does 10 percent of a dog’s daily diet actually mean? It’s All About Calories It is easy to mak

Written by AKC Staff Dogs do get food poisoning, an illness usually involving gastrointestinal upset caused by bacteria or toxins in food. It is sometimes difficult to diagnose since there are a variety of causes for tummy upset in dogs, including viruses or other medical conditions, anxiety, consuming people foods that are toxic to dogs, or eating garbage and spoiled food. Bacterial causes of food poisoning, like Staphylococcus, have a short incubation period between ingesti

Written by Ranny Green for AKC eroy, a 17-pound Coton de Tulear, should be the poster dog for why microchipping your dog is so important. Assumed permanently lost—or even dead—Leroy was reunited with his family in Daphne, Alabama, after being missing for nearly two years. “Microchipping was part of the price we paid when we purchased Leroy from Jaco Kennel in Hulbert, Oklahoma, in 2014,” said Karen Elleard. “It will probably turn out to be the best insurance policy we will ev

Written By Harriet Meyers for AKC Ticks are a problem for dogs (and for humans) throughout the United States during all seasons of the year. When temperatures rise, and you and your dog are spending more time outside, these bloodsucking pests become a larger threat. Ticks sit themselves on tall grasses and shrubs, waiting for your dog to walk by, so they can attach themselves to him. Tick prevention should be taken seriously, and not just because these arachnids make many peo

Written by Nicola Davis for The Guardian Dr Lucy Asher, co-author of the research, with her dog Martha. Photograph: Glen Asher-Gordon/PAMoody, unpredictable and with a striking disregard for the rules, teenagers can be hard to handle. Now it turns out the same is true for adolescent dogs. Researchers say they have found that pooches become less responsive to instructions from their carer during adolescence. And the parallels go further. “Generally teenagers that have a less s

Written for AKC.com by Jan Reisen This gentle, affectionate breed won over royal hearts as early as the 17th century. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels combine the lovable traits of a companion dog with the lively sporting instincts of their ancestors and are beloved, popular pets today. Not convinced? Check out some of the things Cav owners would tell you. 1. Cavs are toy-sized bundles of love. They are one of the friendliest breeds, showering affection on their family and happ