Originally bred to help hunters, retrievers were tasked with finding birds or other game and bringing them back undamaged. For this sort of job, the dog needed a “soft,” gentle mouth, where they would carefully carry the prey without damaging it. Also required were strength and agility to traverse a rugged landscape or work in […]

It was the canine version of the Titanic – but with far less tragic results. In 1807, a ship left Newfoundland, Canada, bound for the English harbor of Poole in Dorset. Off the Maryland coast, it encountered a heavy gale, and began to take on water. With the smaller boats on the brig swept out […]

n 1897, when two Newfoundland puppies, Canton and Sailor, were rescued from a shipwreck off the Maryland coast, the heritage of the Chesapeake Water Dogs began. Hunting season on the Chesapeake Bay is cold and stormy, with icy winds and strong tides. The sportsmen needed a tough retriever who could brave the bay’s freezing waters […]

What makes your dog's coat long, short, straight, curly, wiry or silky? Most coat types are determined by genes at just three genetic locations.

Order AKC DNA + Health Kit Activate AKC DNA Kit DNA Resource Center All AKC DNA + Health Kits include the original 201 markers for genetic identity and parentage verification purposes, as well as over 328 genetic variants for health and traits, including coat color. Results are delivered by our trusted service provider (Neogen) with […]

Canine degenerative myelopathy (also known as DM) is a spinal cord disease. DM can result in gradual paralysis in dogs, starting in the hind legs.

All AKC DNA + Health Kits include the original 201 markers for genetic identity and parentage verification purposes, as well as over 328 genetic variants for health and traits. Download a pdf of all included tests Health Tests Acral Mutilation Syndrome (AMS, SN) This genetic variant is associated with an inherited neurological disease characterized by […]

The AKC uses registration data to collect the most popular breeds of the past year, and for the first time in history, the French Bulldog takes the #1 spot

Imagine you are 19 years old, your apartment has been destroyed by Russian bombs, and you have left your family and friends behind in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Now, nine months later you find yourself in the bright lights at The National Dog Show in Oaks, Pennsylvania, with an affable 3½-year-old Chesapeake Bay Retriever named Quentin beside […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to recognize breeding programs from the Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups as 2021 AKC Breeder of the Year group honorees. “It is our pleasure to honor this group of esteemed breeders,” said Dennis Sprung, AKC President and CEO. “These individuals have made important contributions […]