The American Kennel Club met for the first time on September 17th 1884 in Philadelphia. 140 years later, we've become the trusted experts on all things dog.

Have you wondered how a dog show works? How does a dog win a dog show? We break down how a dog is chosen to win Best in Show.

The AKC Juniors program offers children ages nine to under 18 an opportunity to develop their handling skills and learn about good sportsmanship, dogs, and dog shows. Juniors are eligible to compete in Showmanship, Obedience, Agility, Rally, Tracking, Hunt Tests, Herding, Field Trials, Earthdog, Lure Coursing, Coursing Ability, and Coonhound Events. There is no minimum […]

Corgis are known for being smart, energetic, and adorable. Plus, they're practically royalty: Pembroke Welsh Corgis are a favorite of Queen Elizabeth II. But they also require some extra love and attention when it comes to exercise, training, and grooming. For tips, we talked to Anne Bowes, the owner of Heronsway Pembroke Welsh Corgis who […]

A combination of breed and socialization will help determine how your dog will behave. Here's why breed matters when selecting a pet.

Abbey, the only French Bulldog competing at the 2025 AKC RACH Invitational, is a powerhouse in rally and agility challenging the expectations of her breed.

When Scout the Labrador Retriever was a puppy, she loved her wool blanket toy. Her owner, Bill Vore, would drag it around as she chased it. Then they would play hide-and-seek with it out in the snow. Sounds like a devoted owner having fun with his pup, but it was far more than that. Vore […]

Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Visit the 2017 Legislation Tracking page and click on your state to get the latest updates on state bills monitored by the AKC. Alabama — Senate Bill 17 /House Bill 45 would create the “Alabama Dog and Cat Breeders Commission” with authority to license, regulate, and inspect dog and […]

Policies for All New Clubs: Two Path Event Process for New Club Accreditation to License Status (July 2023 Bd Mtg): The Club Relations Department proposed a two-path event process from accreditation to license status for all new clubs. Currently, there are eight event paths for clubs to reach license status. The event path assigned to a […]

Issues at the City, County, and Metropolitan Levels, and in U.S. Territories The AKC Government Relations Department is pleased to assist dog owners with canine legislation issues in their local communities, but we can't help unless we are aware of the proposal. Please contact us at (919) 816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org when new laws are discussed or introduced […]