Yorkies are famous for their human-like hair and show-worthy coats, and that's why learning how to groom your Yorkshire Terrier puppy will be an important part of welcoming your new dog into your home. "Grooming is a critical part of owning a Yorkshire Terrier," says Daron Newcomb, a professional groomer with 21 years of experience. […]

Great Britain has given us a large and boisterous family of dogs called the terriers. Latin buffs know “terrier” derives from “terra,” which means earth. And this scrappy bunch is born and bred to go to ground to battle critters that defend themselves tooth and nail – literally. Today, many terriers have left badger holes […]

As one of the AKC’s top 10 breeds year after year, Yorkshire Terriers are popular toy dogs, offering a big personality in a tiny package. Here are six surprising facts about Yorkies and the people who love them: 1. Yorkies are called the “Tomboy Toy.” Don’t be fooled by this toy breed’s tiny stature—they are […]

Getting ready to welcome a Yorkshire Terrier puppy into your home for the first time? Be prepared for that high Terrier energy and many important firsts in your young dog's initial weeks, months, and year of life. One of the most beloved and famous breeds of the toy group, Yorkies—known for their diminutive stature—require extra […]

The popular Yorkshire Terrier or 'Yorkie' is often confused with the rarer Silky Terrier or 'Silky,' a breed for which it played a part in the development.

Beneath the dainty, glossy, floor-length coat of a Yorkshire Terrier beats the heart of a feisty, old-time terrier. Yorkies earned their living as ratters in mines and mills long before they became the beribboned lapdogs of Victorian ladies.

A 79-year-old New York woman is crediting her Yorkshire Terrier, Labella, with saving her life. When Dottie Fisher was napping last week, Labella, a hearing-alert dog, jumped on her and incessantly nudged her. Although Labella will let Fisher know when a doorbell is ringing or calling on the phone, she's rarely so insistent. And true to […]

Got a minute? If so, you can learn the essentials of any breed. Not enough to call yourself an expert, of course. But in the time it takes to watch a TV commercial, you can pick up just enough breed knowledge to bluff your way through a conversation at the dog park. The average adult […]

Ask AKC   Dear AKC: My question deals with how Yorkshire Terriers socialize. Do "Yorkie" females get along better with other females or with male Yorkies? We have been told varying opinions and need to know, as we are in the process of purchasing another Yorkie and need to pick the correct gender to get […]

You're constantly forcing a smile when someone says, “Wow, she must be ferocious!” while out on a walk.   Forget to wipe his eye boogers off for a day or two? Be prepared for Stinky Face. That high-pitched yap that pierces through into your ear drum, through your brain, and into your soul.   Bath time […]

Recognized by the AKC in 2021, the Biewer Terrier has been a welcome addition. Standing less than a foot tall and weighing in at four to eight pounds, this dog is a tiny bundle of devotion and charm. 1. "Biewer" is pronounced "beaver." First, let’s get the pronunciation right. Biewer is pronounced "beaver," like the […]

When a pup’s age is still counted in weeks, he’d be lucky to get much farther than the front door. But in 1954, a 6-week-old black and tan pup from the sub­ urbs of Sydney made a 7,500-mile journey on Qantas Empire Airways to his new home in La Crescenta, California. His name was Sir […]

There is, carved into a Scottish Highlands farm wall, the image of a short-legged, longheaded, prick-eared, cobbily built dog barking on a wheelbarrow. The image appears to date from around A.D. 200, and is about three-eighths of an inch in diameter, small enough that the viewer cannot make out if the dog is double-coated or […]

In the COVID-19 era, you better be careful when uttering the word fever. But rest assured, Biewer Fever is all about smiles and plenty of engaging inquisitiveness tossed in for good measure. Welcome the Biewer (pronounced Beaver) Terrier to the American Kennel Club’s full-fledged competition family in the Toy Group. As the AKC’s 197th recognized […]

English novelists of centuries past gave us timeless characters who hopscotched from the printed page into our cultural consciousness, from Daniel DeFoe’s “Robinson Crusoe” to Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein.” And in the dog world, there is one exceedingly rare terrier that owes its name – and arguably its continued existence – to a peripheral character in […]

Heroism during wartime can propel an average Joe into the spotlight. Just ask the Airedale Terrier. Called the “King of Terriers” because he is the largest in that family of earth dogs, the Airedale is believed to be the result of crossing various terriers with another British original, the Otterhound. That shaggy-haired hound contributed not […]

Does your terrier or Dachshund love to dig in the dirt? Maybe he squirms his way into animal tunnels and comes out with a surprise in his mouth. What is he thinking? Well, there's a reason Dachshunds and small terriers are classified as earthdogs. Rather than trying to stop this “bad” behavior, channel the go-to-ground […]

A charming member of the AKC Toy Group, the compact, glossy-coated Silky Terrier is nonetheless a true terrier of energetic high spirits. The Silky, a native of Sydney, Australia, is larger than his close cousin, the Yorkshire Terrier.

These Silky Terrier facts will provide insight into this adorable but determined terrier.

Did you know that the dog who played Toto in "The Wizard of Oz" was a Cairn Terrier? Learn more about this dog, as well as more Cairn Terrier facts.

We often hear dog shows accused of being nothing but “beauty contests.” In reality, they’re organized more like job fairs. At AKC shows, dogs are exhibited in seven groups organized by the original work the breeds were created to do. The dog judged best in each group becomes one of the final seven to vie […]

National Champion Beats Thousands of Dogs from All 50 States and Over 50 Countries   National Obedience Champion and Best Junior Handler are Repeat Winners!   Orlando, FL (Dec. 16, 2012) – The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship Best in Show honors and $50,000 in prize money went to GCH CH Afterall Painting the Sky, a Wire […]

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.

Watch a dog show, and the routine looks so easy. But handling a dog in the conformation ring is harder than it looks, and takes practice.

Dog training comes with its own lingo. Learn the definitions for common dog training terminology so you can train your dog with confidence.

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 […]

When your dog is wet from a bath, swimming, or from walking outside in the rain or snow it's important to dry them thoroughly. Drying your dog can help...

The French Bulldog reigns supreme! The American Kennel Club (AKC®), a not-for-profit organization, the world’s largest purebred dog registry and leading advocate for dogs, announced this morning that the playful and adaptable French Bulldog is America’s most popular breed for the second consecutive year, according to AKC registration statistics. Since overtaking the loveable Labrador Retriever […]

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!

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 […]