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38-412: A puppy is a juvenile dog , generally one less than 12-18 months old. Puppies are markedly underdeveloped and dependent on their mothers at birth (displaying altriciality ), but healthy puppies grow quickly and begin walking thereafter. Puppies generally weigh 8–16 oz (0.23–0.45 kg) shortly after birth, depending on the breed. A puppy's coat color may change as the puppy grows older, as

76-455: A development stage of their own, and "juvenile" refers to a post-larval stage that is not fully grown and not sexually mature. In amniotes , the embryo represents the larval stage. Here, a "juvenile" is an individual in the time between hatching/birth/germination and reaching maturity. This developmental biology article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . American Kennel Club The American Kennel Club ( AKC )

114-495: A higher breeding age, hip dysplasia ratings, genetic tests for heritable diseases, or any other restrictions. Parent clubs have the power to define the looks of the breed, or the breed standard , and may also restrict participation in non-regular events or classes such as futurities or maturities to only those dogs meeting their defined criteria. These non-regular events can require health testing, DNA sampling, instinct/ability testing, and other outlined requirements as established by

152-748: Is a registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. In addition to maintaining its pedigree registry, this kennel club also promotes and sanctions events for purebred dogs , including the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show , an annual event which predates the official forming of the AKC, the National Dog Show and the AKC National Championship . The AKC is a non-member partner with

190-444: Is a more prolonged process— puberty in humans and other species (like higher primates and whales ), for example. In such cases, juveniles during this transformation are sometimes called subadults . Many invertebrates cease development upon reaching adulthood. The stages of such invertebrates are larvae or nymphs . In vertebrates and some invertebrates (e.g. spiders ), larval forms (e.g. tadpoles ) are usually considered

228-672: Is between eight and twelve weeks; professional animal trainers and the American Kennel Club advise puppies should be introduced to "100 People by 12 Weeks" and have encountered a wide and varied selection of people and environments. The practice of docking began primarily as a preventive measure for injury among working dogs. Docking is now primarily performed for purely cosmetic reasons, and some breeds traditionally have their tails cropped anywhere from slightly to almost entirely. Many countries now ban cropping and docking for cosmetic purposes, including Australia, parts of Canada,

266-533: Is commonly seen in breeds such as the Yorkshire Terrier . Puppy refers specifically to young dogs, while pup may be used for other animals such as wolves , seals , giraffes , guinea pigs , rats or sharks . Dogs go through prenatal development before they are born, just like all animals do. The germinal stage, the embryonic stage, and the fetal stage are the three phases that make up this development. The first stage of prenatal growth in dogs

304-459: Is known as the germinal stage, which starts at fertilization and lasts for about two weeks. The fertilized egg, also known as the zygote, travels through the fallopian tube to the uterus during this period while undergoing rapid cell division. The placenta , which will feed the growing puppy, is formed once the zygote enters the uterus and settles in the uterine wall. The embryonic period lasts from about day 14 of pregnancy until day 28 or so. With

342-674: Is registration necessarily a reflection on the quality of the breeder or how the puppy was raised. The AKC's Foundation Stock Service is an optional breed registry service the club provides for new purebred dog breeds that have been introduced to the US and are yet to be recognized by the AKC. The AKC sanctions events in which dogs and handlers can compete. In AKC conformation shows dogs compete in different classes based on breed and sex, with breeds divided into hound , terrier , working , herding , sporting , non-sporting, toy and miscellaneous groups. The AKC's premier conformation shows are

380-474: Is the AKC Humane Fund, which supports breed rescue activities, assists shelters that permit domestic violence victims to bring their pets and educates dog lovers about responsible dog ownership. The AKC also provides titles for therapy dogs , after the dogs have been certified by AKC recognized therapy dog organizations and have performed a required number of visits. The AKC has been criticized for

418-853: Is the primary sense organ used by puppies to find their mother's teats, and to locate their littermates, if they become separated by a short distance. Puppies open their eyes about nine to eleven days following birth . At first, their retinas are poorly developed and their vision is poor. Puppies are not able to see as well as adult dogs. In addition, puppies' ears remain sealed until about thirteen to seventeen days after birth, after which they respond more actively to sounds. Between two and four weeks old, puppies usually begin to growl, bite, wag their tails, and bark. Puppies develop very quickly during their first three months, particularly after their eyes and ears open and they are no longer completely dependent on their mother. Their coordination and strength improve, they spar with their littermates, and begin to explore

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456-490: The Canine Good Citizen program. This program tests dogs of any breed (including mixed breed) or type, registered or not, for basic behavior and temperament suitable for appearing in public and living at home. Another AKC affiliate is AKC Reunite, formerly AKC Companion Animal Recovery (AKC CAR), founded in 1995, which is North America's largest not-for-profit pet ID and recovery service. Another AKC affiliate

494-769: The Fédération Cynologique Internationale . The AKC recognizes 200 dog breeds, as of 2022. In the early 1800s, the English became concerned with the beauty of dogs as well as their function. This fad spread to North America, and in 1877, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show began. Soon after, the need for a regulating body became obvious. The National American Kennel Club, which had been founded in 1876, began to publish and make publicly available its studbook in 1879. This organization, however, had more vested interest in field trials than in conformation shows , and eventually changed its name to

532-658: The Westminster Dog Show and the AKC National Championship . The AKC organises dog agility competitions open to all AKC registered dogs over 12-months age. The AKC organises obedience trials open to all AKC registered dogs over 6-months age. The AKC organises a variety of field competitions they term performance dog sports, including herding and farm dog trials , scent work trials , earthdog trials , lure coursing trials and field trials for Bassets , Beagles , coonhounds , Dachshunds , pointing dogs , retrievers and spaniels . The AKC also offers

570-436: The AKC determines, through special registry research, that the dog is eligible for AKC registration. Once a determination of eligibility is met, either by litter application or registry research, the dog can be registered as purebred by the AKC. Registration indicates only that the dog's parents were registered as one recognized breed; it does not necessarily indicate that the dog comes from healthy or show-quality bloodlines, nor

608-442: The AKC is committed to healthy dogs, but the AKC's role in furthering dog health is controversial. Temple Grandin maintains that the AKC's standards only regulate physical appearance, not emotional or behavioral health. The AKC itself states that "There is a widely held belief that 'AKC' or 'AKC papers' guarantee the quality of a dog. This is not the case. AKC is a registry body. A registration certificate ... in no way indicates

646-478: The AKC's connections with high-volume breeders among the reasons. The Coton's "reputation and business model is based on a disassociation from 'puppy mills' and similar commercial breeding operations", according to the complaint. The club has also been criticized for courting large scale commercial breeders and for lax enforcement of breeding regulations. The AKC employs just nine field inspectors and critics argue that its inspections are ineffective. For example,

684-617: The AKC; for example, the Berner Garde established such a database in 1995 after genetic diseases reduced the average lifespan of a Bernese Mountain Dog to seven years. By comparison, the Swiss Bernese Mountain Dog Club introduced mandatory hip X-rays in 1971. For these, and other reasons, a small number of breed clubs have not yet joined the AKC so they can maintain stringent health standards, but, in general,

722-727: The AKC; they became members of smaller, individual breed clubs, which were themselves members of the AKC. When arguments began to develop between the American and Canadian breed clubs in 1886, the Canadian clubs pulled out from the organization and established their own kennel club two years later, the Canadian Kennel Club . In 1894, the American Kennel Club began to refuse to allow Canadian dogs without an American pedigree to participate in its shows, following

760-522: The National Field Trial Association and stopped hosting conformation shows completely. In 1884, a group of 13 breed clubs , 10 American clubs and three Canadian clubs founded the American Kennel Club. These 13 clubs pledged "to do everything to advance the study, breeding, exhibiting, running and maintenance of purity of thoroughbred dogs." The AKC differed from The Kennel Club in that individuals could not directly join

798-416: The U.S. and is the only not-for profit registry, as well as the most well-known and the most influential. For a purebred dog to be registered with the AKC, the dog's parents must be registered with the AKC as the same breed , and the litter in which the dog is born must be registered with the AKC. If the dog's parents are not registered with the AKC or the litter is not registered, an exception may be made if

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836-511: The ability to control its own body temperature as well as the maturation of the senses, such as hearing and sight. The puppy is completely developed and prepared for birth by the time the fetal period is over. Puppies are born after an average of 63 days of gestation , emerging in an amnion that is bitten off and eaten by the mother dog. Puppies begin to nurse almost immediately. If the litter exceeds six puppies, particularly if one or more are obvious runts , human intervention in hand-feeding

874-415: The breeders' desire to show their dogs at AKC shows such as the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show has won out over these concerns. Concern surrounding the AKC's connections to low-quality breeders has resulted in some dog owners seeking to distance themselves from the organization. In October 2012, Hailey Parker, a longtime Coton de Tulear breeder, filed a lawsuit (that was settled) against the AKC and cited

912-417: The case of dewclaws , ingrown and ripped-off nails. Docking and declawing procedures are usually performed within the first few days after birth, by a veterinarian , or by an experienced breeder. Juvenile (organism) Some organisms reach sexual maturity in a short metamorphosis , such as ecdysis in many insects and some other arthropods . For others, the transition from juvenile to fully mature

950-550: The club in its home country, eligible for registration in the remaining two clubs as well. In 1909, the group moved to New York and became incorporated . On July 1, 2012, the AKC began to recognize certain titles issued by the North American Flyball Association. These titles are Flyball Champion (FDCh), Flyball Master (FM), and the ONYX title. The AKC is the largest registry of purebred dogs in

988-776: The court that the rescued dogs had ailments that ranged "from serious to severe" and that "most of the injuries appeared to be chronic, having been in existence for a substantial period of time." Similarly, the Humane Society of the United States criticized the AKC for not taking a stand against puppy mills . According to the Humane Society's report, "over the past five years, AKC has opposed more than 80 different state bills and local ordinances designed to provide stronger protections for dogs in puppy mills". The AKC does support several health research initiatives. The AKC Canine Health Foundation funded research that led to

1026-455: The genetics of the breed they represent. These genetic issues have resulted in the emergence of "puppy lemon laws " in several U.S. states. These laws protect dog owners from genetic diseases that their breeder may have neglected to inform them of, allowing them to get a refund for the cost of the puppy or to force the breeder to pay their vet bills. The AKC supports some canine health research and has run advertising campaigns implying that

1064-507: The growth of important organs and body systems, the embryo starts to take on a more recognizable shape at this stage. This involves the development of the digestive system, brain, heart, and lungs. An ultrasound can show the embryo at this time, which is about the size of a grape. Around day 28 is when the fetal period starts, and it lasts until day 63, when the puppy is born. The puppy's organs and systems continue to develop and refine during this period of growth and development. It also involves

1102-484: The hosting club. In summary, attention to health among breeders is voluntary and not mandated. By contrast, many dog clubs outside the U.S. do require health tests of breeding dogs. The German Shepherd Club of Germany, for example, requires hip and elbow X-rays in addition to other tests before a dog can be bred. Such breeding restrictions are not allowed in AKC member clubs. As a result, some U.S. breeders have established parallel registries or health databases outside of

1140-405: The large majority of their time sleeping and the rest feeding. They instinctively pile together into a heap, and become distressed if separated from physical contact with their littermates by even a short distance. Puppies are born with a fully functional sense of smell. They are unable to open their eyes. During their first two weeks, a puppy's senses all develop rapidly. During this stage the nose

1178-643: The majority of the European countries (Austria, Greece, Finland, Netherlands, Italy, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Poland, Slovakia, England, Scotland, Slovenia, Ireland, Norway and Sweden), while others, such as the United States, permit it. As of 2008, the practice is opposed by the American Veterinary Medical Association . Some breeders also prefer to declaw the dogs to prevent future injuries caused by scratching, or in

Puppy - Misplaced Pages Continue

1216-638: The mapping of the canine genome (DNA sequence) with grants totaling more than $ 2,000,000. Sequencing of the dog genome began in June 2003, funded in large part by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and finished the completed sequence of the entire dog genome at MIT's Broad Institute in 2005. Because people inherit many of the same diseases as dogs, humans can also benefit from health research funded for dogs. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and

1254-503: The owner of a Montana Alaskan Malamute kennel approved by AKC inspectors in 2008 and 2009 was sentenced to five years in prison for animal cruelty in operating that kennel. Similarly, an AKC inspector found a North Carolina kennel "in compliance with AKC's Care Conditions Policy" three months before county officers raided the facility and found the dogs in "poor" condition, suffering from illnesses, injuries and living in "unhealthy conditions", according to court documents. A veterinarian told

1292-454: The prevailing trends in American purebred cattle organizations. In 1906, the U.S. Department of Agriculture ruled that any dogs imported to America who were not registered with the AKC would have to pay a duty charge; this was later changed in 1911, allowing any dog registered with a kennel club in its home country duty-free entry into the country. Soon after the AKC, CKC, and KC produced agreements that made any dog eligible to be registered with

1330-414: The prevalence of genetic disorders in their dogs. As many as 25% of purebred dogs registered by the AKC has at least one hereditary genetic problem. These problems cost breeders and owners almost $ 1 billion in vet bills and lost revenues from stillborn pups. Some breed clubs, such as the U.S. Border Collie Club, resisted applying for AKC breed acceptance due to fears that doing so would be detrimental to

1368-628: The quality or state of health of the dog." The AKC has no health standards for breeding; the only breeding restriction is age (a dog can be no younger than eight months). Though the majority of the 170 breed-specific parent clubs have a health committee devoted to their breed's specific concerns, the AKC prohibits clubs from imposing stricter regulations since the AKC Rules Applying to Registration and Discipline apply to all breed clubs and do not provide an option for breed clubs to extend or override them. Thus, an AKC breed club cannot require

1406-452: The stronger puppies is necessary to ensure that the runts get proper nourishment and attention from the mother. As they reach one month of age, puppies are gradually weaned and begin to eat solid food. The mother may regurgitate partially digested food for the puppies or might let them eat some of her solid food. The mother usually refuses to nurse at this stage, though she might let them occasionally nurse for comfort. At first, puppies spend

1444-527: The world outside the nest. They play wrestling, chase, dominance, and tug-of-war games. Puppies are highly social animals and spend most of their waking hours interacting with either their mother or littermates. When puppies are socialized with humans, particularly between the ages of eight and twelve weeks, they develop social skills around people. Those that do not receive adequate socialization during this period may display fearful behavior around humans or other dogs as adults. The optimum period for socialisation

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