Every sport has a Code of Sportsmanship. Some are unwritten, informal guidelines that people learn along the way in their journey to learning a new sport. Others are more formal and rigorous, written out for all to see, appreciate and embrace. The Board of Directors, as a result of the Chairman's Committee on Conflict of […]

--"Keep On Keepin’ On"-- In his insightful and highly acclaimed biography of Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson chose to capture a defining characteristic of Jobs by giving him the last word on his own life. Jobs, who proved to be a good student of singer-songwriter Bob Dylan’s philosophical insights, used a Dylan lyric to explain his […]

-- New Additions to the Grand Championship Program and AKC/Eukanuba National Championship -- Since the introduction of the new AKC Grand Championship title in April, we've had hundreds of dogs in nearly every breed complete the requirements for a Grand Championship title. Thus far, the program has fulfilled the hopes we had for it - […]

-- Changing the Future -- New York, NY – Last Thursday we posted a charming photograph of three Golden Retriever puppies on the American Kennel Club Facebook page. The caption was “I love my breeder” with a request to “share your love for your dog’s breeder.”  The image was shared 2,500 times, received 11,000 likes and […]

Despite our patriotic name, the American Kennel Club® is a world-class organization with an international presence. Earlier this month, the AKC/USA World Agility Team put in a stellar performance in Basel, Switzerland at the 11th FCI World Agility Championships. Sending Americans and their globe-trotting dogs to world competitions represents just one way in which we […]

-- Advancing Our Sport-- New York, NY – This year we celebrate the 129th anniversary of the American Kennel Club. Today, as it has been throughout those years, our beliefs and traditions continue to guide us in our sport, while innovation continues to advance us. We began the year with the spirit of relentless positive action […]

Good morning. I lost my dear friend a few weeks ago. Dealing with Ron’s passing is a deeply personal experience for me. He was my mentor, a colleague, and above all, a special friend. He had an enormous capacity to give of himself. I am today, because I knew him. However, I can comfort myself […]

New York, NY — The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) announced today the 2014 AKC Breeder of the Year Award group recipients, recognizing seven breeding programs from the Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups that are dedicated to excellence and the advancement of the purebred dog. “Breeders are the heartbeat of the American Kennel […]

John Buddie was presented with the 2015 AKC Breeder of the Year award for his Tartanside Collies at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship on Saturday, December 12, 2015.  The annual award honors those breeders who have made an impact on their breed and dedicated their lives to improving the health, temperament and quality of purebred dogs. […]

History Made With Same Dog Winning Both Stakes For the first time in the history of the event, one dog, the German Shorthaired Pointer FC Slicks Cuttin Wild, won both the Retrieving Championship and the Non-Retrieving Championship stakes in the 17th annual American Kennel Club® Pointing Breed Gun Dog Championship, sponsored by Purina and Tri-Tronics. […]

Improvements Made to the Animal Welfare Act   New York, NY – The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) applauds the US Senate today for passing  a new five-year farm bill that addresses AKC concerns regarding recent regulatory changes to the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regarding the redefinition of retail pet stores and licensing exemptions. The House […]

  The American Kennel Club® announced recently that the Detroit Kennel Club (DKC) has been named a recipient of the AKC® Community Achievement Award for using its annual dog show as a golden opportunity for public education on a grand scale. The DKC received one of three awards for the third quarter of 2007- Joseph […]

New York, NY — The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) has recognized seven breeding programs from the Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups as 2015 AKC Breeder of the Year group honorees. “The individuals that make up these breeding programs have dedicated their lives to the advancement of the purebred dog, producing dogs […]

--Westminster Triumph is Second Jewel of "Dogdom's Triple Crown;" Will Crufts Be Next? -- The American Kennel Club®, a non-profit organization whose rules govern more than 20,000 canine competitions each year including the famed Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, is pleased to congratulate Ch. Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot, a 4-year-old Scottish Terrier who goes by […]

  The American Kennel Club® is pleased to announce that 30 Junior Scholarships have been awarded to students from 14 states and Puerto Rico. The scholarships for high school, college and graduate school students range from $1,000 to $5,000 each for a total of $50,000. "The students we recognize with these awards are the future […]

  The American Kennel Club® is pleased to announce that 26 Junior Scholarships have been awarded to students from 16 states. The scholarships for high school, college and graduate school students range from $1,000 to $3,000 for each student. "These awards have been given to successful students who have also reached the highest levels of […]

The American Kennel Club is in full support of research that assists us in gaining greater knowledge of our canine companions. We agree with the data in the AAAS study but differ in their interpretation and conclusions. The study focused on “newer” breeds that were developed over the past 100 years (i.e., different sight hound […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panel for the 25th AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14, 2025. The 2025 event will showcase the top canine athletes and will also […]

New York, NY –Trap Falls Kennel Club (TFKC), Northwest Obedience Club, Inc. (NOCI) and Black Hills Dog Training Club (BHDTC) have each been honored with an AKC Community Achievement Award for the fourth quarter of 2013 for hosting exceptional AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day events. The AKC Community Achievement Awards support and recognize outstanding public […]

The AKC® Humane Fund is proud to announce the winners of the 21st annual AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). These awards celebrate five loyal, hard-working dogs that have significantly improved the lives of their owners and communities. The five winners were carefully chosen from a pool of more than 800 impressive nominations. […]

Assembly Bill 2110 was recently amended and the new language will affect certain AKC sanctioned events. The bill will prohibit "live field coursing," which is now defined as "a competition in which dogs are, by the use of rabbits, hares, or foxes, assessed as to skill in hunting live rabbits, hares, or foxes." AB 2110 […]

AB 2110 Fails to Pass Committee Assembly Bill 2110 was held yesterday in the Appropriations Committee Suspense File and can not move forward. The bill would have prohibited field trials in the state of California. Congratulations to all fanciers and field trial participants who worked to oppose this measure.     California Bill Would Outlaw […]

Volunteers may soon be seen throughout Colorado collecting signatures to put a measure on the November 2022 ballot that they will claim will protect animals in the state. The American Kennel Club joins many other animal welfare, livestock and animal husbandry groups in expressing grave concerns and opposition to the proposal. We urge all dog […]

The Township Committee of Mendham Township, New Jersey, will consider changes to its animal control ordinance on Tuesday, October 23, 2012. The American Kennel Club (AKC) encourages all interested New Jersey residents to attend Tuesday's meeting and voice concerns with the ordinance. Dating back to late 2011, the Mendham Township Committee attempted to address some […]

Today, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) announced that it is seeking comments from the public regarding appropriate standards for (1) the care of breeding female dogs at dog breeding facilities and (2) exercise and socialization of dogs subject to the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Details: […]

As previously reported, the American Kennel Club (AKC) is deeply concerned with Assembly Bill 2354, as it still fails to both adequately protect the rights of bona fide co-owners and address the constitutional issues of procedural due process, unreasonable seizures, and excessive fines.  Despite ongoing efforts, the bill is scheduled to be voted on by […]

This week, the Georgia Senate enacted Senate Resolution 868, which recognizes May 1, 2022, as Purebred Dog Day in Georgia.  Congratulations to Gail LaBerge, president of the Georgia Canine Coalition (GCC); the American Kennel Club (AKC)-affiliated clubs and individuals who, through the GCC, are the collective voice of responsible dog owners in Georgia; and purebred […]

Last week, the New Jersey Assembly Appropriations Committee amended the controversial “cost of care” bill, Assembly Bill 2354, and voted to forward it to the full Assembly for further consideration.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) believes amended A.2354 still fails to both adequately protect the rights of bona fide co-owners and address the constitutional issues […]

-- Click here for more information about PAWS -- The following is an interview with AKC's federal government relations consultant Jim Holt in response to dog owners' questions about PAWS. The article originally appeared in Dog News June 10th, 2005. Who is regulated under current law and how would PAWS change that? In simple terms, […]

-- Click here for more information about PAWS -- To help dog owners better understand the recently introduced PAWS legislation, please see the bill analysis below as prepared by Dr. James Holt, AKC's federal government relations consultant. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS OF S. 1139/H.R. 2669, THE "PET ANIMAL WELFARE STATUTE" (PAWS) INTRODUCED MAY 26, 2005. […]