AKC GR had a record 120+ New York, New Jersey and Connecticut lawmakers sign on as Honorary Chairs for the 2015 AKC Meet the Breeds event, held in conjunction with “Westminster Weekend”. AKC Government Relations reached out to federal, state, and local lawmakers in the tri-state area with invitations to be listed as Honorary Chairs and to […]

Spring is an incredibly busy season for those involved with canine legislation.  As it currently stands, thirty-nine states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico are still in session, and AKC GR is currently tracking more than 2,000 bills across the United States. Positive, fact-based messaging is a tangible reminder to legislators of the value that fanciers, […]

Calm dog breeds can make great companions and therapy dogs. While any dog can be easy going, these breeds are known to be laid-back.

The Labrador Retriever is continually one of America’s most popular dog breeds. Its lovable nature, friendly and affectionate demeanor, and sociable personality make the Lab a top pick for many owners around the country. Before bringing home a Lab, be sure to do your research on what it takes to own this pup, since all […]

Eva Gellert, who lives in Atlanta, Georgia, got her start breeding Labrador Retrievers. Now, Gellert owns a breeding program for Barbets: Chateau Barbets.

Originally published in the AKC Gazette: The Harrier, Beagle, and English Foxhound are all the same ancestrally, but were developed for different game. This resulted with the slower-moving, superbly nosed Beagle at one extreme and the hard-running English Foxhound, who often overran its nose, at the other. The Harrier, as in most things, was right […]

The Pumi is the latest breed to be recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), receiving full AKC status as a member of the Herding Group on July 1, 2016. This rare breed, with only a few new litters born in the United States each year, may be the new dog on the block, but […]

There is more to the Bichon Frise than meets the eye. Here are some facts you might not know.

Did you know that there are 190 dog breeds registered by the AKC? While many of them are familiar faces, there are several breeds that most people have never seen before, or even heard of. Some are newly registered, and some are just less common in the United States. Here are some facts about a […]

Standard Poodles are among the most instantly recognizable of all dog breeds. Known largely for their stylish looks, the athletic, eager, and intelligent Standard Poodle has so many more talents besides simply looking pretty. Learn more about this iconic Non-Sporting Group breed with these Standard Poodle fun facts. Standard Poodles Originated in Germany Although it […]

  Lauren Watt was heartbroken when her best friend, Gizelle, was diagnosed with terminal bone cancer. She and the 8-year-old 160-pound Mastiff shared so many fond memories. So as a way to create many more in the few months they had left together and to help Gizelle enjoy her last little bit of time on Earth, Watt created a […]

The shaggy Old English Sheepdog is a lovable pet, but they're also a hard worker and smart companion. Here are some facts you may not know about the breed.

Accepted into AKC in 1885, the Saint Bernard swiftly rose to the position of the most popular dog of the 1890s. To this day, it is the only giant breed to secure the country’s top position as well as the only number-one breed to never appear in the top ten again. In later decades, two […]

With a joyful bark and bound, Philo, a 5-year-old Samoyed, pressed his shoulders against his padded harness. Behind him, a cart loaded with gray concrete cinder blocks slowly moved forward, as his handler called out, “Work, work, work.” On that day, Philo pulled a load of more than 1,800 pounds—winning the event at Doggie U […]

The Pointer is skilled at hunting birds and has adapted with the centuries. Here are some fascinating facts about this historic breed.

The Internet is full of advice on evaluating breeders, but there is almost nothing on how breeders view potential puppy buyers. Curious, I put together a questionnaire, and eleven breeders responded. Asked how they begin to weed out buyers, breeders agreed on the basics. The most critical requirement is that a buyer has the financial […]

What do you think of when you hear the word Poodle? For many, it’s an overdone diva—big hair, polished toenails, and a phony French accent. Poodles are often described as “froufrou” dogs, a slur that means prissy and high-maintenance. The image has been widely embraced, even in the wonderful world of Disney, where dogs are […]

Swarms of setters, hordes of herders, oodles of Poodles— with the seemingly endless variety of dogs gaiting around AKC show rings, you might assume every breed in creation is represented. Actually, hundreds of breeds from around the world are outside the AKC orbit. Here are just a few:   ESTRELA MOUNTAIN DOG Birthplace: northern Portugal Job […]

To perform in movies, musicals, and other live performances, dogs must be trainable, reliable, and predictable. One dog that comes to mind when many people think of dogs in theater is Sandy, the dog belonging to little orphan Annie. So what dog played Sandy? In the original 1977 Broadway production, Annie was played by an […]

The Poodle, recognized by the AKC in 1887, did not make the top ten breeds until the 1950s, when it ranked number seven. This glamorous show dog and companion strutted into the number-one position in the 1960s and would become the first breed to hold the number-one crown for two consecutive decades. German Shepherd Dogs, […]

English painter Francis Barraud (1856 - 1924) was an honorable journeyman, an artist of talent but not genius. Yet in 1898, thanks to a typically curious terrier, he created an image more enduring than masterworks by many of his more celebrated rivals.Berraud s subject was his brother's faithful dog, Nipper, whose favorite pastime was peering […]

Through the years, many different breeds have won Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show, including the 2024 winner, "Sage" the Miniature Poodle.

Sometime in spring, when the soil temperature reaches 64 degrees, your dog may suddenly start digging up the yard. They can hear something you can’t yet hear – juvenile cicadas tunneling through the ground getting ready to emerge. Most of the more than 3,000 types of cicadas appear every 2 to 5 years, and their […]

Learn which types of lettuce are safe for dogs, how to serve it, and what risks to avoid when feeding them these leafy greens.

"Tuffie" the Saint Bernard can handle a lot, and she was front-line as a therapy dog when a mass shooting rattled Saint Francis Medical Center, a hospital where she often did therapy sessions.

When it comes to brushing your dog, the last thing you probably think about is sheep. But just like those fuzzy barnyard animals, your dog's coat can be a valuable resource. Dog fur can be spun into yarn, just like wool, and then knit into anything you like, from sweaters to slippers. In fact, people have […]

After a 7-year-old K-9 Belgian Malinois was killed in Paris Wednesday during police raids targeting those responsible for the attacks on Nov. 13, thousands took to social media to show their support for the police dog using the hashtags #JeSuisChien and #NotAllHeroesAreHuman. Many dog owners turned to Instagram to show their support for the police dog, […]

Many of us have experienced the heart-wrenching pain of losing one of our best friends—oftentimes, a dog. For E.B. Bartels, pet loss and the subsequent spiraling emptiness and emotion began at an early age. Not content with the earlier personal aftermath, she became “obsessed” with the wide-scale subject and in 2012 found herself on a […]

By now, I’m certain you’re sick of presidential politics and want this election to be over. Enter a welcome distraction: "Secret Service Dogs: The Heroes Who Protect the President of the United States" by Maria Goodavage, a New York Times bestseller. This insightful read serves up plenty of brief, punchy slices of dog life that […]

Canine Good Citizen®, AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy® and/or AKC Community Canine℠ An AKC club near you can provide you and your dog with training classes and testing for AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, CGC and AKC Community Canine. You will be able to earn official AKC titles in Canine Good Citizen (the "CGC" title) and AKC Community Canine […]