The American Kennel Club is accepting nominations for its Awards of Canine Excellence for the year 2004. To qualify, the purebred dog must be AKC registered or registerable, and have performed some exemplary act, whether large or seemingly small that has significantly benefited a community or individual. One award will be given in each […]

  The American Kennel Club (AKC) and AKC Companion Animal Recovery (AKC-CAR) continue to offer help to those rescuing and housing animals affected by the fires. As the fires subside, and the full scope of the damage is known, it is expected that requests for assistance will be numerous. AKC will continue to lead efforts […]

  The American Kennel Club (AKC) and AKC Companion Animal Recovery (AKC-CAR) continue to lead efforts in making supplies and other assistance available to the California authorities dealing with animals in areas affected by the wildfires. Donations of crates, scanners, etc., have been made to the follow organizations to date: Norton Air Force base (serving […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC), through its affiliate organization AKC Companion Animal Recovery (AKC-CAR) which provides 24-hour recovery services for microchipped and tattooed pets, is making supplies and other assistance available to the California authorities in counties affected by the wildfires. The AKC is working to identify local animal shelters and animal control agencies involved […]

In anticipation of the family film Good Boy! being released next week by MGM Pictures and Jim Henson Pictures, the American Kennel Club wants to remind moviegoers about the importance of making careful, educated decisions when considering adding a dog to their home. The AKC hopes to reiterate the message, which MGM responsibly included on […]

  The AKC Lifetime Achievement Awards honor those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of purebred dogs on a national level. The recipients are selected by votes cast by AKC member clubs for one of three nominees in the categories of Conformation, Companion Events, and Performance. The awards, engraved Tiffany and Co. […]

  In its endless pursuit to recognize outstanding members of the fancy, The American Kennel Club Lifetime Achievement Awards were launched in 1998 and are now in its sixth year of honoring the Fancy's best. The purpose of the awards is to celebrate those individuals whose many years of selfless effort have made significant contributions […]

Celebrate the holidays with a gift that gives back to purebred dogs. The AKC is pleased to present this year's Holiday Card Collection-cards specially chosen for dog lovers everywhere. Get a jump on the holiday rush by selecting your cards now, and receive two free gifts with your purchase. The Collection features a variety of […]

  The AKC is pleased to announce that an enhanced DNA Certification Test will become available August, 2003. This test is offered in collaboration with MMI Genomics (MMIG), the AKC's principal service provider of DNA testing. MMIG, an established leader in genomic technologies, has developed and validated a new, more advanced DNA marker system for […]

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (Toller) officially joined the ranks of the American Kennel Club on July 1, 2003. As of this date the Toller will enjoy regular status as an AKC-recognized breed in the Sporting Group, and the addition will round out the total number of AKC-recognized breeds to 150. Coincidentally, this Canadian […]

Field trialers and hunt test enthusiasts in Indiana who have been frustrated by their state's recent restrictions on performance events have an opportunity to share their thoughts with state officials in June. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish and Wildlife is hosting a series of open houses around the state June 3-11th. […]

AKC was honored to host Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, at a luncheon at our Corporate Headquarters in New York City on Wednesday, April 30. Princess Anne was the guest of honor at an event to celebrate the launch of AKC's Pet Healthcare Program. As the president of the Animal Health Trust […]

  The summer 2003 issue of AKC Family Dog, a new lifestyle magazine with a focus on purebred dogs, is almost here. The latest issue, available June 1st, is packed with how-to's, news updates, and vital information to help owners provide all the best for their pet.   Media may request advance copies of feature […]

AKC was honored to host Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, at a luncheon at our Corporate Headquarters in New York City on Wednesday, April 30. Princess Anne was the guest of honor at an event to celebrate the launch of AKC's Pet Healthcare Program. As the president of the Animal Health Trust […]

  Dear Fanciers: As you know, the AKC registration department has undergone a major systems conversion in the last two months. Unfortunately, the new system was not adequately tested prior to the dismantling of the old system. As a result, a very significant backlog of registration applications developed. I am pleased to report that the […]

Including the family dog in the family vacation plans this summer can be a great alternative to sending Rover off to the local kennel. By planning ahead, you can ensure a safe and enjoyable trip for you and your cherished canine companion. The American Kennel Club provides tips on what you need to know: By […]

The American Kennel Club is delighted with the announcement of the AKC Pet Healthcare Plan by Pet Partners, Inc. AKC Pet Healthcare Insurance, underwritten by State National Insurance Company, an A rated company by AM Best, which features two comprehensive plans for fanciers and pet owners: the “Premier Plan” and “Premier Plus Plan.”  The plan […]

Rottweilers, Dobermans and “pit bulls” would be declared vicious under a bill introduced this week in Iowa. The bill, SSB1195, was introduced by the Senate Committee on Government Oversight April 8th and was approved just two days later for consideration by the full Senate. Iowa fanciers must act now to stop this fast-moving bill. WHAT […]

  The American Kennel Club is pleased to announce that a National Tracking Invitational will be held September 20th and 21st, 2003 at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. All dogs that have earned the Champion Tracker (CT) title prior to June 23, 2003 will be invited to participate; however, entry is limited to 10 […]

The American Kennel Club is delighted with the announcement of the AKC Pet Healthcare Plan by Pet Partners, Inc. AKC Pet Healthcare Insurance, underwritten by State National Insurance Company, an A rated company by AM Best, which features two comprehensive plans for fanciers and pet owners: the “Premier Plan” and “Premier Plus Plan.”  The plan […]

  As of April 2003, AKC has reduced the supplemental transfer fee to $5 from $15, and will accept the reduced fee for older forms indicating a $15 supplemental transfer fee. The fee reduction is not retroactive for items received before April 2003. Supplemental Transfer Statement forms indicating the new fee are now available for […]

The American Kennel Club is in the process of transitioning to a new registration system. This new system uses digital imaging technology to capture and preserve digital images of every document processed by the AKC. These digital images never degrade, are of much higher quality than our previous microfilmed images, and are available for use […]

UPDATE (March 21, 2003)—Rhode Island dog fanciers had a productive meeting with House Leader Gordon Fox this week regarding the “animal protection” bill (HB5817) that contains many troublesome provisions. Fox, who is a sponsor of HB5817, listened to the concerns expressed by the fancy and appears committed to addressing their many concerns. He will take […]

In an ongoing effort to improve customer service, the American Kennel Club has launched the new AKC Registration System. This state-of-the-art system will significantly expand our data processing capability and result in much improved customer service. Some of the key features of the new system are:   Integration of registration records with competition records Previously, […]

In celebration of St. Patrick's Day on Monday, March 17th, 2003 the American Kennel Club celebrates seven purebred dogs of Irish heritage. Additional information including the full breed standards, links to Parent Club web sites and video clips of each breed, is available on this site.   The Glen of Imaal Terrier - "There is […]

Help is needed immediately to defeat legislation that has been introduced in Maryland to severely restrict debarking of dogs. The bill (H355) is currently awaiting a vote by the House Committee on Environmental Matters. Debarking of dogs is a commonly misunderstood practice. When performed by a veterinarian, debarking is an acceptable medical procedure that is […]

  The Board of Directors is considering some changes to the procedures and policies for approval of judges. It requests your comments on them. Your written comments should be addressed to: Mr. James P. Crowley Executive Secretary American Kennel Club 260 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10016. All comments must be received by Mr. […]

Basic obedience training is the foundation upon which all canine activities are based, whether it be competition in conformation, conquering the obstacles on the agility course, sniffing out a suspect in law enforcement work or a service dog guiding a visually impaired person safely across the street. In 1933, when AKC Obedience competition began, the […]

  The American Kennel Club (AKC) and the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation (AKC/CHF) have agreed to relocate the seven-year-old AKC Canine Health Foundation to Raleigh, North Carolina with the Foundation offices to be located in the American Kennel Club building. "This is a major step forward and the American Kennel Club is pleased […]

Immediate help from New Jersey dog owners is needed to defeat legislation that would severely restrict ownership of "pit bulls" and possibly Rottweilers. A2906 was introduced in October 2002 and fanciers immediately rallied to educate lawmakers about the ineffectiveness of breed-specific legislation. An identical Senate bill, S2381, was introduced in late February. We must act […]