Until Dean Eelman married Melissa 17 years ago, he had never had a dog. Over the years, they had two Golden Retrievers and two Keeshonden. But about five years ago, Dean met his first Borzoi, and he immediately fell in love with the breed. Six months later Dean and Melissa welcomed two Borzoi to their […]

As strong as it is swift, the Borzoi was bred for centuries to course fox, boar, hare and, famously, wolf – hence its moniker, the Russian Wolfhound.

When the Borzoi is characterized in books or on breed webpages, you see glowing adjectives such as affectionate, loyal, aristocratic, and graceful. Lifeline or liberator are terms not included in the profile toolbox. But for Joy Sargis, of Encinitas, Calif., these more aptly capture the heart and soul of what her own Borzois have meant […]

Louis Murr was a renowned Borzoi owner, breeder, exhibitor, and judge. Most authorities of the time considered Murr's Ch. Vigow of Romanoff to be the greatest Borzoi ever bred on American soil A tragic event cut Vigow's career short Murr died in 1978, two years after retiring from judging, at age 84 Never mind Rasputin's […]

Among the most impressively beautiful of all dogs, the aristocratic Borzoi is cherished for his calm, agreeable temperament. In full stride, he is a princely package of strength, grace, and glamour flying by at 35 to 40 miles per hour.

The graceful Borzoi is a very large breed with a Russian hunting heritage. The elegant flowing lines of this hound make for a beautiful dog, whether they're resting or running. Here are some interesting Borzoi facts to know. 1. They're a Giant Breed The Borzoi is considered a giant breed, with adult males standing at […]

It was an exciting first night of the 2016 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show presented by Purina® Pro Plan® on Monday, Feb. 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York, as winners of the Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding groups were named. CH Belisarius Jp My Sassy Girl, aka "Lucy," a 3-year old Borzoi won the […]

Adapted from a story originally published in the June 2011 AKC Gazette:After nearly a half-century in Borzoi, the best advice I can offer is to proceed slowly. When you begin to breed dogs, your first show dog will represent the ideal in your mind. That dog morphs in memory to near perfection in the years […]

One aspect of silhouette in the Borzoi standard is underline. The standard does not specifically mention underline; however, this aspect of the breed reflects the combination of chest, ribs, back, and loin. The standard says the following: Chest rather narrow, with great depth of brisket. Ribs very deep, giving room for heart and lung play. […]

Through the 1920s and early '30s, a debate raged among Russian Wolfhound fanciers: Keep the breed name, or change it to "Borzoi"? Louis Murr, Gazette breed columnist and leading "Wolfhound" advocate, insisted that "any sane breeder can see why the name Russian wolfhound should be retained." In his November 1928 column, Murr invited fellow fancier […]

Based on American Kennel Club registration statistics, we rank the most popular dog breeds in America each year. The French Bulldog takes the No. 1 spot!

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panel for the 25th AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14, 2025. The 2025 event will showcase the top canine athletes and will also […]

AKC Group Standards Download AKC approved breed standards by complete group for use on any portable electronic device. Sporting Hound Working Terrier Toy Non-Sporting Herding Misc. Judges Study Guide No single written guide is ever comprehensive enough to be the only learning tool utilized in preparation for judging a new breed. We urge you to […]

The following are the group designations that AKC breeds have been assigned. There are currently 202 breeds and 9 breeds with 21 varieties.  The varieties are by size, color or group.   The varieties are marked by **(Revised 1/01/25) [accordion] [accordion_panel title="Sporting Group – 33 breeds"] Sporting Group Naturally active and alert, Sporting dogs make likeable, […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®), the world's largest purebred dog registry and a leading advocate for dogs, wishes to acknowledge those individuals who have excelled at breeding dogs that have proven to be outstanding in AKC sports over an extended period. The commitment to preserve, protect, and improve a breed represents the very essence of […]

Congratulations 2023 NLCC winners! December 3, 2023Ardmore, OK   Best of Breed Winners: FC Kaatje Vlam Of Synergon SC BCAT Afghan Hound     M O'Neill/E Abresch FC Kel Simoon Ramisi 'N Sambala RN MC CA BCAT CGC Azawakh     M BISBEE DC Bisa's Bold Spirit MC LCX Basenji     T Colbert FC Oxota I Am The Storm SC ATT Borzoi     L Abordo Kd Just A […]

Congratulations 2022 NLCC Winners! December 11, 2022Weirsdale, FL Best of Breed Winners: NFC FC Kominek’s Fleura At Acires MC LCX BCAT Afghan Hound E. Seward/E. Kominek/S. Kominek FC Kel Simoon Ramisi ‘N Sambala RN MC CA BCAT CGC Azawakh M. Bisbee FC Kinobi Fly Me To The Moon MC LCX DCAT Borzoi B. Schuster GCH DC Via2 Broken Rules D’Lea SC […]

When did Fast CAT start? Was it when it when the dog's wolf ancestors chased down their first rabbit? When the Pharaohs unleashed swift hounds in...

Originally bred in wide open land, Sighthounds pursue prey over long distances by sight rather than scent. Relying on their keen vision and astounding...

Hypothyroidism in dogs is common endocrine disease. It can be tricky to diagnose and needs lifelong management, but it is relatively easy to treat.

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panels for the 2024 National Owner-Handled Series (NOHS) Finals and the AKC Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida in conjunction with the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin. The […]

Based on American Kennel Club registration statistics, we rank the most popular dog breeds in America each year. The French Bulldog takes the No. 1 spot!

[accordion] [accordion] [accordion_panel title="2025"] Below you will find recording links and resources for webinars that aired in 2024. Once you click the recording link, you will be asked to enter your name and email address in order to access the recording. Webinar Topic Recording Link Review & FAQ's on Conformation Judging Procedures, Policies & Guidelines […]

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

Test for what is recommended for your breed. Order AKC DNA + Health Kit The AKC DNA Program recommends that breeders perform DNA tests that are relevant to their breed. The AKC DNA + Health Kit includes over 328 markers for health and traits, and every dog receives results for all tests. However, not all […]

18 years old I started training dogs when I was just 9 years old. I joined the local 4-H club with my family’s old rescue shih tzu, Oliver. I was hooked from the very first training session. The next year my mom allowed me to get my own dog, Levi. Levi was a Miniature American […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panel for the 2024 AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15, 2024. The 2024 event will showcase the top canine athletes and will also […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®), a not-for-profit organization, the world’s largest purebred dog registry and leading advocate for dogs, is pleased to announce the winners of the AKC Junior Versatility Scholarships. Scholarships are awarded to the top 10 Juniors who competed in a minimum of three different competitive AKC Events. The dates of eligibility were […]

AKC Meet the Breeds events are a fun and educational way to spend a day with the whole family, and maybe even figure out which dog breed is right for you! If you are attending an AKC Meet the Breeds event, or are thinking about attending an event in the future, you can find out […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®), a not-for-profit organization, the world’s largest purebred dog registry and leading advocate for dogs, wishes to acknowledge those individuals that have excelled at breeding dogs that have proven to be outstanding in AKC sports. The commitment to preserve, protect and improve a breed represents the very essence of the AKC. […]