FAST CAT is a 100-yard dash for dogs. The FAST CAT Ranking is a list of handicapped speed standings for the top 20 dogs in each breed based on FAST CAT races for a given year. It's a performance-driven way of answering questions about how fast a dog is or can be. FAST CAT is […]

Carole Lee Richards got her first Weimaraner in 1978. She was just looking for a pet at the time, but her interest in the breed quickly grew, and eventually she bred her first litter and was competing in dog shows. Since then she has bred many champions, become an AKC judge, and handled Weimaraners in […]

Dogs have fought alongside man since ancient times. The Egyptians, Greeks, Persians, Romans, and others used dogs as sentries and scouts and sometimes brought dogs into combat. Attila the Hun used fierce Mastiff-like breeds that were sometimes armored and sent into battle. In more modern times, Germany created military dog-training programs late in the 19th […]

Can dogs eat sticks safely? What about stones? Here's why both sticks and stones aren't good options for your pet to gnaw on.

The much-anticipated Warner Brothers/MGM film Max opened last Friday, bringing in $12.2 million from the box office over the weekend. We got the chance to see the movie last week (and we talked to the dog trainer—read that interview here), and as much as we loved the flick, we couldn’t help but reflect on the Hollywood-like stories […]

When we did agility with our dog, we drove 2.5 hours one way to take lessons from a world-class trainer. I have a friend in Houston who starts a 2-hour drive across Houston in 5 o’clock traffic to get to the best training school she could find. So when we surveyed 3500 dog owners and discovered […]

The Poodle's fluffed and coiffed coat, coupled with the breed's spirited intelligence, and passion for a good swim explains the Poodle's popularity.

Bike riding is a great way to enjoy the outdoors with your dog. Here are top tips on how to safely enjoy biking with dogs.

  A few short weeks ago, it felt like you had all the time in the world with your new litter, but now it’s nearly time for your puppies to go home with their forever families. The 6-to-8-week period is especially critical for meeting as many people as possible and experiencing as many stimuli as […]

Paid Advertisement It’s important that your puppy owners move their puppy to an adult formula at the right time to meet nutritional needs and maintain a healthy weight. Timing the transition from a puppy formula to adult formula can vary greatly when considering both the breed and the activity level. Large and giant dogs, for […]

Learning Objectives Students will be able to use their senses to observe various objects. Students will be able to sort and classify objects based on their attributes.   Grade Levels K-1   Next Generation Science Standard Grades K-1: Foundational Science Skills   Materials Needed Model pictures Sets of dog pictures (one set for each group) […]

Math and science skills, people skills, love for animals (Veterinarian, vet science and research) A compassion for animals, empathy, patience, brain power, people skills, ability to take direction (Veterinary Technician) Love for animals, managing skills, good business sense, people skills (Boarding Kennel Operator) Strong love and knowledge of animals, a desire to be self-employed, access […]

“If it quacks, moos, or meows, we can't help you. But if it barks, it’s AKC.” The American Kennel Club is excited to launch its first ever nationwide brand marketing campaign “If It Barks, It’s AKC.” Catered to the dog-loving public, the campaign is based around AKC’s 135 years of dog expertise and the desire […]

Do dogs respond to play signals given by humans? Nicola J.Rooney, John Bradshaw, Ian H.Robinson Specific actions used by humans do communicate a playful context to dogs and can be described as interspecific play signals. Why do adult dogs ‘play’?  John W.S. Bradshaw, Anne J. Pullen and Nicola J. Rooney “We suggest that the domestic […]

The AKC works with several non-AKC service and sports organizations to recognize the titles that AKC-registered dogs earn in their programs. This includes the AKC Therapy Dog titling program and the AKC Search & Rescue title program. AKC also recognizes titles of the Barn Hunt Association (BHA); North American Diving Dogs (NADD); the North American […]

The above chart shows the work of Jaak Panksepp. His study in animals led him to a new theory of personality. Working with the idea of primitive base emotions he developed his theory of Affective Neuroscience. It is easy to see how his theories dovetail with what we need from detection dogs. His studies discovered […]

The above chart shows the work of Jaak Panksepp. His study in animals led him to a new theory of personality. Working with the idea of primitive base emotions he developed his theory of Affective Neuroscience. It is easy to see how his theories dovetail with what we need from detection dogs. His studies discovered […]

“Differentiated instruction” has been a hot topic in education for many years. There are workshops and books dedicated solely to helping teachers differentiate their lessons, assignments, and assessments. To say it simply, differentiated instruction is providing students the type of instruction they need based on their level of readiness (Vygotsky, 1986) and their learning profile […]

At this year’s AKC Detection Dog Conference, I was asked to create a scoring rubric for the weekly assessment records. You can find it on the webpage under the Records tab, along with the link for submitting your weekly records. This is adjustable based on the participants needs, but it should serve our purposes.

At this year’s AKC Detection Dog Conference, I was asked to create a scoring rubric for the weekly assessment records. You can find it on the webpage under the Records tab, along with the link for submitting your weekly records. This is adjustable based on the participants needs, but it should serve our purposes.

At this year’s AKC Detection Dog Conference, I was asked to create a scoring rubric for the weekly assessment records. You can find it on the webpage under the Records tab, along with the link for submitting your weekly records. This is adjustable based on the participants needs, but it should serve our purposes.

Why am I being contacted for an inspection? American Kennel Club rules provide that the AKC or its duly authorized representative shall have the right to inspect the records required to be kept and the practices that must be followed and to examine any dog registered or to be registered with the American Kennel Club.  […]

A quick quote from Brian Hare, Ph.D https://evolutionaryanthropology.duke.edu/people/brian-hare “There are so many questions that we have as dog lovers that are impossible to truly answer based on expertise and individual observation alone. Our most powerful tool is to work together collectively and contribute data to citizen science projects that can bring the full power of […]

Learning Objectives Students will demonstrate an understanding of mathematical modeling and its components by engaging in real-world problem solving involving choosing the best dog food brand based on quality and price. Note: This lesson may take multiple days to complete.   Grade Levels 9-12   Common Core Mathematics Standards (Modeling) CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSN.Q.A.1 Use units as a […]

The 2023 AKC® Fast CAT® Invitational took place December 12-16, 2023, in Orlando, FL in conjunction with the AKC® National Championship presented by Royal Canin. The top 5 of the fastest dogs from each breed, based on rankings from AKC Fast Coursing Ability Tests (Fast CAT), were invited to participate in the third annual AKC […]

The top three All American Dogs of each height class have qualified for the 2021 AKC Fast CAT Invitational taking place Dec. 15 – 18 in Orlando, FL. In FastCAT, dogs run individually in a timed 100-yard dash. The top three fastest dogs of each breed, based on the 2020 averages, were invited to the […]

If your dog is constantly on the prowl for squirrels, moles and any other critters that appear in your backyard, then they should be a natural for the fun sport of Barn Hunt.   As of April 1, 2013, the American Kennel Club recognizes titles earned at events sanctioned by the Barn Hunt Association (BHA). […]

The top dogs in the nation were crowned from an overall combined entry of 217 dogs this past weekend at the 10th AKC® Obedience Classic. Competitions were held December 16-17, 2023, in conjunction with the AKC® National Championship Presented by Royal Canin at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. Some juniors and their […]

You might think your sweet and affectionate spaniel was born just to be cuddled and adored by you, but you’d be wrong: Spaniels were actually first bred to be hunting companions! Their role was to hunt, find game, and then drive them out of their hiding places (also called “flushing”). Want to see those natural […]

The AKC/Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy & Junior Stakes is held in conjunction with the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin   Orange County Convention Center Orlando, FL Friday, December 11, 2026   The AKC/Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy & Junior Stakes is a competition created especially for purebred dogs aged 6-18 months (Puppies 6-12 months/ […]