This article originally appeared in the AKC Canine Partners News newsletter. Chris Moore and her family were content with owning two small dogs until a crime stripped their security away. The family returned home one day to discover a theft had taken place. Their home had been broken into, but thankfully, their Miniature Dachshunds, Mocha […]

This training tip offers great advice on teaching and building desire to play the “touch” game – a great way to get your dog’s attention even in distracting situations. It is brought to us by Shannon Jones, AKC Rally Judge. She also teaches basic obedience, competitive obedience and rally obedience at two training centers in […]

Seventeen-year-old Linnea Corlette and her All-American Dog, Reece, won first place in the Rally Advanced class with a nearly perfect score of 99 at the AKC Juniors Classic. The annual national competition spotlights junior handlers working with their dogs in Obedience and Rally. The event was held in December in Orlando, FL, in conjunction with […]

THE FOLLOWING DOGS HAVE EARNED VCD TITLES ON THE DATES LISTED BELOW: 8/20/2017 VCCH Webshire's Three Point Shot UDX3 PCDX OM4 BN GN GO MXS MJSRET-GOLD. Owned by: Susan Ruth Oviatt-Harris of CASTLE ROCK, CO. 1/7/2017 VCD1 CH Rolyart's Go Out On A Limb VCD1 BN RM RAE OJP RATO CGC TKISPAN-WELSPR. Owned by: Merrielle Turnbull/Shelley Traylor/Cindy Ford […]

After owning dogs his entire life, retired Marine Cpl. Justin Crabbe feels that having a dog is second nature to him. However, when he enrolled in the United States Marine Corps in 2008, it’s unlikely he realized the crucial role a dog would come to play in his life seven years later. Crabbe is now […]

For 141 years, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show judges have chosen one dog, and one dog only, as Best in Show. You would think that, with 141 different dogs being chosen, America's favorite breeds surely must have won a few times. You'd be wrong. Every year, the AKC ranks the breeds that are most […]

By Jessica Acito, GR Intern, and Phil M. Guidry, J.D., GR Sr. Policy Analyst Last week the Oregon Supreme Court handed down a decision in Oregon v. Newcomb regarding the relationship between animal cruelty and a dog’s legal status as personal property.  The court allowed a blood sample, taken from a dog seized without its […]

Does your dog have almond shaped eyes? A heavy and muscular neck? A tail medium in length that tapers to a point? A smooth and short coat? A broad chest? If you said yes to these questions, then congratulations, you own a “pit bull” …At least according to the City and County of San Francisco’s […]

TEXT AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY RIA HÖRTER REPRINTED FROM THE CANINE CHRONICLE During war time, dogs have been used as messenger dogs, patrol dogs, guard dogs, mine dogs, Red Cross dogs or as draught dogs for the transportation of weapons, ammunition, food and medical supplies. No role at all Numerous dog books state that Greek and Roman […]

For years her Vizslas’ successes in dog sports have produced many smiles and good vibes for Cathy Cline, of North Hollywood, Calif., but those memories don’t compare to the unshakable happiness triggered by Friends and Vets Helping Pets (FVHP), the foundation she started in 2012. Yes, there have been plenty of hand-wringing, frustrating moments, too, […]

OK, try to pronounce it. I dare you: Nederlandse Kooikerhondje. But better get used to it because it’s now a member of the American Kennel Club’s companion events family. Which means, you’ll be seeing plenty more of these orange-red, parti-colored characters in the breed ring, Sporting Group, and Best in Show rings, as well as […]

Photos courtesy of Wavemaker Staffords Lynn and Jim Caswell of Grayson, Ga., own, show, and breed Staffordshire Bull Terriers. They travel around the country promoting health, exercise, and the breed standard, with a focus on the total dog: temperament, structure, movement, and type. The Caswells have been involved with this breed for 14 years and […]

An event such as the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin offers an amazing opportunity to meet the many breeds competing in the ring. This year, the AKC Meet the Breeds individual booths represented more than 100 breeds. Like every breed, and, in fact, every dog, every booth is truly unique. Each breed club […]

Mom, Elizabeth Hoettels, and her best girl, Rio, are inseparable after work and on weekends. Photo courtesy Sweet Ventures by Nichole DuPont. Picture this for a moment. You're a military critical-care nurse, with a surgical team stationed in East Africa for several months, away from family, friends, and everything familiar. But the wonderful world of […]

A friend recently posted a short video on Facebook that warmed my heart. If we could all follow her example in the coming year, it would make our dog show world a better, more welcoming place. A young girl visiting the prestigious Kennel Club of Philadelphia dog show the week before Thanksgiving made her way […]

He knew beforehand that it wasn't going to be your proverbial walk in the park. But when 31-year-old Will Ransom, of Unadilla, Ga., and his intrepid 6-year-old Australian Cattle Dog, Rhetta, finished the Appalachian National Scenic Trail hike last month, he confessed, "It was a bit more than I bargained for." Their trek began in […]

There's a special event at the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin in Orlando, Fla. where the only competition may be for which dog breed you fall in love with first. AKC Meet the Breeds® gives dog lovers, adults and children, alike, a unique chance to meet and play with dogs of more than […]

If you're a musician, there's the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. If you're an actor, there are the Oscars. And if you're a dog breeder, the maraschino cherry atop a lifetime of hard work is to be named an American Kennel Club Breeder of the Year. After all, anyone can have a one-hit wonder, […]

They call themselves "The Joy Team," but when you see the Rogers girls at a dog show venue, you know it's all about commitment, competition, and character. And that's exactly what the audience will get with Sophia, 19; Emma and Faith, 13; and Julia, 9, at The National Dog Show presented by Purina on Nov. […]

We bet you want to shower your new pup with gifts, so why resist temptation? Choose from our 10 great gifts for puppies! There are ideas for the dog lovers on your list, too. Personalized Puppy Pack A gift for you and your new pup, the Puppy Pack has toys and treats he'll love, his […]

With so many events going on at the AKC National Championship Dog Show Presented by Royal Canin, how do you choose which ones to attend? Since 2014, a new exciting event has been added, and if you've never witnessed the intensity, grace, and sheer joy of a dog leaping off a dock to retrieve a favorite […]

The statistics are staggering; every nine seconds, another woman in the United States is beaten, according to the Partnership Against Domestic Violence. While violence against women often takes place behind closed doors and isn't always visible to others, that doesn't mean it's not happening. Chances are, if there are children involved, they, too, are facing […]

Does your dog love to go for a swim? Does he love to hang-ten like Abbie Girl? That's right, hang-ten. You would think it sounds crazy, but an Australian Kelpie named Abbie Girl has won the World Dog Surfing Championship for the second year in a row. This thrilling event features dogs of all shapes […]

When he debuted as the voice of Westminster in 1990, David Frei was an outsider in many ways, even though he had been a breeder-owner-handler of Afghan Hounds for the previous 20 years. Next month, the affable New Yorker leaves after 27 years as a national television personality and the voice for all dogs. Frei, […]

Many dogs hate their names because their owners always use their names as part of a verbal correction. Make sure your dog likes its name. Here is a fun game to play to increase the positive association. They constantly hear: “Rover, No!” “Rover, Down!;” “Rover, Quiet!” The list goes on and on. It might be […]

At its meeting on Wednesday, February 28, the Rhode Island House Health, Education, and Welfare Committee is scheduled to consider two bills of major concern to the American Kennel Club (AKC).  Part of a multi-state effort by animal rights groups to aimed at ending the purposeful breeding of dogs, House Bill 7477 would mandate that […]

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) has become a hot topic in education. Schools all over the country are finding ways to enrich students in these key subject areas. Why is STEM important? The U.S. Department of Commerce claims that STEM careers are growing at a rate of 17%, which is almost double the growth […]

Being a first-year teacher is exciting and overwhelming. After many years of preparation, you are ready to finally have a classroom of your own and to all that you have learned. The first year of teaching can be challenging, but there are some things you can do to ensure you (and your students) have a […]

Learning Objectives Students will be able to identify and create different types of story introductions.   Grade Levels 3-5   Common Core Standard CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.A Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which related ideas are grouped to support the writer's purpose.   Materials Needed The Incredible Journey by […]

Ten years ago, the American Kennel Club took a bold step with a communications campaign that became the catalyst for a new corporate effort – to clearly establish and reinforce the American Kennel Club as the authority and advocate of purebred dogs in the eyes of the American public.  Since then, AKC has made tremendous […]