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 […]

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 […]

AKC Family Dog, a new consumer lifestyle magazine with a focus on the purebred pet dog, makes its debut with the Spring 2003 issue. This premier issue of the new quarterly magazine from The American Kennel Club is a special "Puppies Edition," focusing on topics that help new or prospective dog owners welcome their young […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC) is disappointed to learn that a television ad to promote the Westminster Kennel Club dog show depicting a Doberman Pinscher's mouth and teeth along with the words "nasty dog" is continuing to be seen on various television stations. This spot reflects negatively on the Doberman Pinscher and perpetuates an unfair […]

  The recipients of the AKC 2003 Lifetime Achievement Awards were announced at the December 10 Delegates meeting in Orlando, FL. The Lifetime Achievement Awards honor those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of purebred dogs on a national level. The recipients were selected by votes cast by AKC member clubs for […]

Despite dog owners' efforts, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors gave final approval to the proposed "guardian" ordinance on January 13th. The measure adds the term "guardian" wherever "owner" appears in San Francisco's municipal code. The ordinance will now be sent to the mayor, who has ten days to act on it. Residents should contact […]

While we are all eagerly looking forward to seeing the 2002 AKC/Eukanuba National Invitational Championship air on Animal Planet later this month, there are some other AKC events being televised this month that deserve our attention.  For the past six years, the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) has been airing AKC Performance Event Championships with much […]

The 2003 AKC National Agility Championship will be held this December in Long Beach, California, in conjunction with the 2003 AKC/Eukanuba National Invitational Championship, which will include Conformation and Obedience competition. The Agility Nationals will begin on Tuesday, December 2 with the Iams International/State Team Tournament. The National Agility Championship will be held on December […]

The 4th Annual Awards for Canine Excellence Know of A Kind or Courageous Canine? Show Your Appreciation to that Heroic Hound, Valiant Vizsla, Brave Beagle or Selfless Spaniel with an ACE Nomination The American Kennel Club is now taking entries for its 2003 Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). The AKC ACE Awards are designed to […]

On Monday, January 13th, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors will give final consideration to changes to the city's animal control regulations. The proposed amendments would add the term "guardian" wherever "owner" appears in San Francisco's municipal code. The measure passed first reading in early December and now needs only 6 votes to become law. […]

When we think about the activities of our dogs, usually we picture their play, their “jobs” or their quiet repose on our laps or couch. However, in all animals the ability to stand quietly at rest is critically important for health and soundness. Many dog owners don’t realize that the reason their dogs flop down […]