What would you do if you won one million dollars? That's what four New Jersey dog groomers are trying to figure out. The four women, Kristle Ellicott, Laura Lahm, Alice Lynch, and Kimberly Visser won $1 million from their $1 Powerball ticket, USA Today reports. So yes, the co-workers of Garden State Barkway Grooming Salon […]

Bretagne, the last surviving 9/11 search dog, was honored in her hometown of Cypress, Texas with a special ceremony on the 16th anniversary of the tragic attacks, TODAY reports. At the ceremony, a life-size bronze statue of Bretagne was unveiled. The statue sits at the entrance of the Fairfield subdivision where Bretagne lived with her […]

If you're reading this...you're probably someone who loves animals, especially dogs. And at AKC's eighth annual Meet the Breeds event, Piers 92 and 94 were packed full with dog lovers of all kinds. Families, breeders, agility competitors, and more all came out to NYC to meet different dog and cat breeds and work together to […]

In honor of Check the Chip Day, we wanted to share some great lost-dog recovery stories courtesy of AKC Reunite. These dogs all went missing, but were eventually found and reunited with their families with a little help from their microchips. Meet Monroe, the French Bulldog.   Monroe snuck out the front door and was […]

Socializing puppies has traditionally been considered the responsibility of the new owner. We instruct them to take the puppy to classes and make sure they are exposed to a variety of people and situations. But more research shows that encouraging a stable temperament can start even before puppies are born. Breeders can do a lot […]

It can be challenging to keep an active dog occupied when the weather is bad and they can’t go outside to run. But you can create fun games to keep your dog busy on inclement days. Mental challenges are just as tiring as physical exercise! To play the Memory Game, you will need three buckets, […]

  Pet owners might sometimes wish their dogs could talk, but according to new research, we may have a better idea than we realize of what they’re thinking and how they feel. A recent Hungarian study asked 40 volunteers to classify recorded dog growls taken during three scenarios: during a play session, while protecting food […]

  The English Toy Spaniel is the quintessential lap dog. Loyal and loving, they always want to be with their owners. Here are some interesting facts about this cuddly breed: 1. They Are Believed to Have Come From Japan Although no one is sure exactly where the English Toy Spaniel originated, experts agree the breed […]

"Wait, was that a Siberian Husky? Or was it an Alaskan Malamute?" Many dog breeds can be difficult to tell apart. To celebrate National Look-Alike Day, we're taking a closer look at six pairs of dogs that look remarkably similar to each other, but are actually completely different breeds. 1. Alaskan Malamute vs. Siberian Husky […]

  If you were to choose just two words to describe the Norwegian Lundehund, they would likely be "rare" and "unique." These dogs have so many unusual characteristics, they seem almost otherworldly. Let's take a look at the fascinating attributes of the Norwegian Lundehund. 1. Their Name Comes From the Puffin "Lunde" is the Norwegian […]

The Bullmastiff is physically imposing, but incredibly patient and loving. Here are seven things you probably didn't know about this gentle giant: 1. They Were Bred To Be Guard Dogs The Bullmastiff was created in England in the 1860s by crossing a Mastiff with a Bulldog. The goal was to create a guard dog that […]

The Spinone Italiano has always been near and dear to Italy, but only made a splash in the United States recently. If you haven't yet had a chance to get to know the breed, here are six interesting facts about the Spinone: 1. They Are Among the World's Oldest Hunting Dogs Until recently, the Spinone […]

The Rat Terrier is a relatively new breed that has experienced some highs and lows during its history. Let's take a look at how Rat Terriers became the energetic, loyal, family dogs they are today. Here are six interesting facts about the Rat Terrier: 1. They Used to Be Wildly Popular With Farmers In the […]

There's so much to see at this year's AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin. One of the most thrilling events on display is dock diving, where dogs seem to fly through the air into a body of water. We had the chance to catch up with one of the canines competing this year, Storie, […]

If you own a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, or know someone who does, you'll need this list. For the most part, when we have our dog, we’re pretty content with our lives. What more do we want than that cold wet nose in the morning, the snuggling in the afternoon, and the hopping with excitement […]

  AKC Breeder Spotlight: Jennifer Young-Hopkins of Y-Farms Kennels Each month, the American Kennel Club (AKC) profiles breeders to hear about how they got started, their breeding program, and their experience with AKC Marketplace. We recently spoke with AKC Breeder of Merit Jennifer Young-Hopkins of Y-Farms Kennels in Zachary, La. Here, she answers questions about […]

Responsible breeders do everything they can to keep their puppies safe and healthy from before they were born until the day they leave their kennel. Around 8 to 12 weeks old, the puppies depart from their breeder, and their new lives begin in their meticulously, hand-picked homes. By discerningly choosing the right family for each […]

BREED 2015 2014 2013 Retrievers (Labrador) 1 1 1 German Shepherd Dogs 2 2 2 Retrievers (Golden) 3 3 3 Bulldogs 4 4 5 Beagles 5 5 4 French Bulldogs 6 9 11 Yorkshire Terriers 7 6 6 Poodles 8 7 8 Rottweilers 9 10 9 Boxers 10 8 7 Pointers (German Shorthaired) 11 12 […]

U.S. goalball team member Jen Armbruster is ready for the 2016 Paralympics in Rio. The six-time Paralympian is decorated with a gold medal from the 2008 games in Beijing, a silver from Athens in 2004, and a bronze from Atlanta in 1996. She hopes to take home another medal in her last Paralympics, where she […]

So now you are ready for the next step after puppyhood for a potential future therapy dog. A great place to start in preparing your dog for therapy work is to take an AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) class. Some therapy dog organizations require a dog to obtain a CGC certificate as a prerequisite for […]

Real Life Search and Rescue Dog Hero Unveils New DOGNY Sculpture Ruger Von Konigsdorf, one of the many search and rescue (SAR) dogs who inspired the American Kennel Club's charitable DOGNY public art program, had the honor Wednesday, September 4, of unveiling the DOGNY sculpture that will serve as the unofficial mascot to New York […]

Once again, the Labrador Retriever took Chicago’s top spot in the American Kennel Club’s (AKC®) 2016 ranking of the most popular AKC-recognized dog breeds in the U.S. The Labrador Retriever was also recognized as the #1 pup in Washington, D.C., Seattle, and Boston, among others. The Labrador Retriever held strongly to the #1 spot in Chicago, […]

Once again, the Labrador Retriever took Denver’s top spot in the 2016 ranking of the most popular AKC-recognized dog breeds in the U.S. The Labrador Retriever was also recognized as the #1 pup in Boston, Atlanta, and Houston. Although there were no changes in the Mile High City’s top five, there were some fluctuations in […]

ASK AKC Dear AKC: What is the difference between a pure white Siberian husky and an "Isabella" white husky.I have a 1-year-old male who is solid white, but I do notice in bright sunlight there is a very slight yellow coloring in some areas. When he was a pup all his points (nose, lips, eye rims) […]

  With their active, friendly, and outgoing personality, it's no wonder Labrador Retrievers have been the AKC's most popular breed for 26 years in a row. The Lab is gentle, intelligent, and easy to train. They are excellent guide dogs, loyal members of search-and-rescue teams, and faithful K-9 owners. They're also perfect family pets and […]

Dedicated to the Schipperke breed, professional breeder and handler Krista Nuovo-Roe of DeLamer Schipperkes has been involved with dogs since she was a child. Since then she has grown into a serious competitor who has worked extremely hard to produce champion dogs. While Nuovo-Roe began working with a different, much larger type of breed, the […]

  When you're training a dog, there are several ways to get him or her to do what you want. The method of capturing a behavior may be a bit time consuming, but sometimes it's the only way to get a very specific behavior. Capturing means marking and rewarding a specific target behavior. There are […]

Training began for Jax on the day he joined the Majerle family of Phoenix, AZ. He was nine weeks old. “From day one,” Brandi Majerle said. “At meal time, instead of putting down a bowl full of his food, I treated each meal as a training session. I hand fed him small bites of food […]

In addition to bills to be considered by the Joint Judiciary Committee, the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture is also scheduled to consider several dog-related bills on Tuesday, September 12.

Due to a number of changes on the Governor's staff, House Bill 2810 is still sitting idle. This bill would increase the instances where an animal is seized on suspicion of cruelty and may result in more Illinois dog owners losing their pets even if they are ultimately found not guilty.