Diving Dog Millie is a 4-year-old brindle Great Dane who has jumped 24.5 feet in Diving Dogs, and is competing at the Diving Dogs Challenge airing on April 9, 2023, on ESPN2.

Apollo, the Greek god of sunlight, music, and poetry, was credited with a bright, shining countenance of great beauty. At the reins of his fiery chariot, Apollo drove across the sky, bringing the life-giv­ing warmth of the sun. Fittingly, the tall and handsome Great Dane is called “the Apollo of dogs,” with a gentle temperament […]

Great Danes are easy to spot—thanks to their physical magnitude—and quite easy to live with too, despite their large stature. The breed is known to be friendly, patient, and dependable. They are gentle giants who get along well with kids and are loyal and lovable pets all around. However, their large size and giant breed […]

Training a new puppy does not come with a one-size-fits-all approach — especially when dealing with a very large breed like the Great Dane. “Great Danes are considered working dogs and are intelligent dogs," says Russell Hartstein, CDBC, CPDT-KA, Fear-Free Certified trainer and Founder of Fun Paw Cares. “Still, all [dogs] are individuals." Hartstein points […]

They’re certainly great, but did you know they’re not Danish? Dogs resembling Great Danes appear as far back as ancient Egyptian carvings, but the modern Great Dane was actually bred in Germany in the 1800s as a boar-hunting beast. Today, these gentle giants make beloved family pets.

Big, brave, and beautiful, Great Danes hold a special place in our hearts. But despite their larger-than-life persona, this giant breed has a relatively short life span. Why Are Great Dane Life Spans So Short? For such big dogs, Great Danes sure get the short end of the stick when it comes to longevity. Great […]

The easygoing Great Dane, the mighty “Apollo of Dogs,” is a total joy to live with—but owning a dog of such imposing size, weight, and strength is a commitment not to be entered into lightly. This breed is indeed great, but not a Dane.

These Great Danes, Calla and Wrigley, waited six months for their owner to return from military service in Afghanistan. Spending many days at a dog daycare, they were used to people coming and going. But one day, someone walked through the door that had them bounding with joy— literally.  The feels are so real. Welcome […]

  The American Kennel Club® announced recently that the Illini Great Dane Club (IGDC) of Wesmont, Illinois has been named a recipient of the AKC® Community Achievement Award for expanding its yearly match show into an extensive AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day (RDO Day) event. The IGDC received one of three awards for the first […]

Love is in the air during the month of February, and many dog owners find their “true love” in a canine companion, warming their laps and their hearts. To help keep those hearts happy and healthy, dogs and humans alike benefit from a daily walk or play time in the yard. However, there are many […]

Tuxedos are usually reserved for formal affairs, but Brittany Cipriotti of Warrenton, Virginia, lives with that striking black-and-white pattern day in and day out. Under her Ellenni banner, she breeds mantle Great Danes with her mentor and co-breeder Kristi Allison of Blackstone Great Danes, as well as similarly patterned but more vertically understated Boston Terriers. That’s not to say this Silver Breeder of Merit is monochromatic: Cipriotti also breeds fawn and brindle Danes with Marion Clark of […]

“Times Past,” AKC Gazette: Lina Basquette (1907–1994) did enough living for 10 lifetimes: Ziegfeld Follies dancer, movie star, widow of Sam Warner (of Warner Brothers fame), and fabulously successful breeder-handler-judge of Great Danes. Basquette handled her Honey Hollow Danes to 125 BIS, 500 group wins, and more than 1,000 BOB. Along the way, she was […]

Fleas are parasites that carry disease and feed on the blood of the host animal. One alternative to flea medication is Diatomaceous Earth.

The AKC DNA Program is proud to announce the official launch of a new DNA test, AKC DNA + Health. This test combines the original AKC DNA profile with genetic health and traits testing for a powerful breeder tool. The goal of this new test is to satisfy all the needs of breeders with just […]

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 […]

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_panel title="2024"] 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. Review and FAQ's on Conformation Judging Procedures, Policies and Guidelines Tuesday, January 16, 2024 View […]

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, not everything available. Order AKC DNA + Health Kit The AKC DNA Program recommends that breeders perform DNA tests that are relevant to their breed. Although the AKC DNA + Health Kit includes over 328 markers for health and traits, not all genetic variants have been validated […]

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 […]

Over their lifetime, cancer affects one in three dogs. Understand this high risk and life threatening disease so you know the signs and treatments.

It's easy to panic when you see something on your dog's eye, especially if it's a large pink or reddish bump, which could be cherry eye in dogs.

Nominees in Conformation Michael Canalizo Michael Canalizo has spent many years in the Dog Show World as a Breeder/Owner, Professional Handler, turned Judge. His first exposure to his primary breed: the Afghan Hound came in 1961 as a member of “the typical Hobby Breeder family” with their purchase of “Babu Bamn of Grandeur”. He showed […]

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 in 2024, or are thinking about attending an event in the future, you can […]

Can dogs with missing tails, ears, or eyes compete in AKC conformations shows? It depends on the missing part and the breed standard.

Update: Season 4 is coming soon! In our award-winning Down and Back: Stories From the American Kennel Club Archives dog podcast, host Bud Boccone tells the tales of breeds, dogs, and personalities who’ve shaped America (and Americans) over generations. Using the American Kennel Club's historical records, archival material, oral histories, interviews, and more, the show […]

When you compete at a national level in any dog sport, it takes a special kind of passion, but being an emergency vet on top of that is dedication.

The AKC Museum of the Dog is pleased to announce the opening of their new exhibit “Fashionable Dogs”, which will run from September 7th, 2023, through December 31st, 2023. This exciting exhibition is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor […]

[accordion] [accordion_panel title="Saturday, Sept. 2"] Freshman Class Standard 12-inch Regular 1st: Maple - Shetland Sheepdog; Viveka Rosenberger, Westrover's So Fresh & So Clean 2nd: Joan Jett - Poodle; JoAnn Burtness, Westrover's So Fresh & So Clean 20-Inch Regular 1st: Ronan - Border Collie; Jessica King, The Wrecking Balls at DSK 2nd: Tofer - Border Collie; […]

Ever wonder if you can go from watching dog shows on TV to competing at big shows yourself? Well that's exactly what Junior Handler Ashlyn Navis did.