The Recycled Dog: Unlocking One Dog’s Potential Through Play This issue’s training article is contributed by agility competitor & AKC Agility League participant Norah C. Strebel of Utah, who shares her story of working with an “unadoptable” rescue dog. Norah discovered the world of dog sports with the adoption of a flying disc-obsessed mixed-breed dog in 2000. […]

The AKC works with non-AKC service and sports organizations to recognize the titles that AKC-registered dogs earn in their programs. This includes the AKC Therapy Dog program and the AKC Search & Rescue program. AKC also recognizes titles of the Barn Hunt Association (BHA); North American Diving Dogs (NADD); the North American Flyball Association (NAFA); […]

Training Tip: Condition Before You Compete  This issue’s training tip is contributed by Jeanne Baker of North Carolina, who has taken her former shelter dog, Abby, to the top heights of agility competition. Abby is a MACH6 and was the number one ranked All American Dog last year! Jeanne shares tips on the importance of keeping […]

Meet Tessa Trusner: The Family Pet Became Her Sports Partner Name: Tessa Trusner Age: 14 Grade: Eighth Hometown: Stephens City, VA Family: Sisters, Audrey and Ella; Parents, Katie and Ryan Trusner Just a few months after Molina became the Trusner family pet, it became clear that she would really be Tessa’s dog. Now the pair […]

A GREAT PREVIEW TO AN AGILITY TRIAL: THE ACT PROGRAM The AKC Agility Course Test, or ACT, is an entry level agility event designed to introduce beginning dogs and their handlers to the sport of agility. Any dog who has not earned any agility title is eligible. Dogs must be 15 months old and do […]

PHOTO GALLERY - MY FAVORITE PRESENT Thank you to all who submitted holiday pics! Allie Casey Daisy Mae Jackpot Jaxie Karma Linda Magic Marli Pico Precious River Ruby Watson Zeus

Meet Maria Griffin: Parents made the right choice in getting her a dog  Maria Griffin, 17, persisted with her parents in getting them to let her have a dog. Her persistence paid off, and her All-American Dog MACH Bisquik MXB MJB PJD OF placed fourth in the 16-inch class at the Junior Agility Competition in […]

Don’t let stress keep you from doing your best By Jordan York This issue’s training tip is from Jordan York, who lives in Southern Indiana with three dogs: a 9-year-old All American, Moses; a 4-year-old Border Collie rescue, Nile; and a 7-month-old Border Collie puppy, Capture. Jordan is a registered nurse and works as an […]

Great Adventures Thanks to everyone who submitted pictures! [gallery ids="73676,73675,73674,73673,73672,73671,73670,73669,73668,73666,73665,73664,73663,73662,73661,73660,73658,73656,73655,73653,73652,73650,73649,73646,73645,73644,73641,73640,73639,73638,73637,73636,73635,73634,73633,73632,73630"]

Competition & Title Updates  We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles in Agility, Coursing Ability, Rally, Obedience, Scent Work, and Tracking. AGILITY Congratulations to the winners at the 2019 AKC Agility Invitational AKC Canine Partners congratulates the All-American Dogs and their owners who competed and won honors at the AKC […]

Season 3   [accordion] [accordion_panel title="Regulation"] Freshman Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Sophomore Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Senior Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Ph.D. Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round […]

Meet Alyssa Daube, a Dedicated Agility Competitor Name: Alyssa Daube Age: 17 Hometown: Edwardsville, IL Grade: 12th Family: Parents, Rosemary Jones, Jason Daube, brother Jacob Daube, and stepfather Mike Jones Allyssa is an avid agility competitor who has qualified for the NAC two years in a row - 2022 and 2023 (which she will be attending […]

CANINE PARTNERS SPOTLIGHT - MEET BREYON AND LIGHTNING – A TALENTED TEAM WITH BIG GOALS Breyon Gunn worked hard to convince his parents that he and his brother should have a dog, and he has more than proven to them that it was a great decision to add Lightning to the family. Little Lightning Bolt […]

Meet Lauren Ecker: Keeping the Fun in a Successful Agility Career Lauren was accompanying her mother to an agility training class while she was training her dog, Scout. One day Lauren wanted to try her hand at the sport, and that was the beginning of a great agility career. Scout became Lauren’s dog. She handled […]

Meet Sierra Hagar: A Dog Sports Enthusiast Name: Sierra Hagar Age: 15 Hometown: Council Bluffs, Iowa Grade: 10th Family: Jennifer Vincent, Great Aunt/Guardian, and Aiden Hagar, brother Sierra belongs to a family that is all about dog sports. From early childhood she has helped out at flyball tournaments, disc events, scent work trials, and more. […]

It All Starts with Confidence This issue’s training tip is brought to us by Valerie Dietz of O’Fallon, IL. Valerie has learned through experience the importance of building confidence in her dogs.  She has enjoyed much success with her two All-Americans, Sally & Shani, in several sports. Sally, 10, has earned eight MACH titles in […]

AKC Title Recognition Program – New Title Holders  The AKC works with several non-AKC service and sports organizations to recognize the titles that AKC- registered dogs earn in their programs. This includes the AKC Therapy Dog titling program and the AKC Search & Rescue title program. AKC also recognizes titles of the Barn Hunt Association […]

Senior Rescue Pup Becomes Much Loved Therapy Dog Sparky was 11 years old when his family turned him into rescue. They had to move and could not keep him. Sparky was small and adorable, but he also had health issues that were a deterrent to his adoption. Enter Colleen Colenso who was looking for another […]

CANINE PARTNERS SPOTLIGHT - CONGRATULATIONS TO FIRST ALL-AMERICAN DOGS TO EARN AKC SCENT WORK TITLES The American Kennel Club’s newest sport, AKC Scent Work, launched Oct. 1, 2017, but it kicked off in September with the first AKC Scent Work trial. The sport mimics the work of detection dogs to locate a scent and alert […]

The AKC works with non-AKC service and sports organizations to recognize the titles that AKC-registered dogs earn in their programs. This includes the AKC Therapy Dog program and the AKC Search & Rescue program. AKC also recognizes titles of the Barn Hunt Association (BHA); North American Diving Dogs (NADD); the North American Flyball Association (NAFA); […]

We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles and honors in Agility, Coursing Ability, Fast CAT, Rally, Obedience, Scent Work, Tracking, and Trick Dog. Many dogs are also having success in AKC’s Virtual Titling programs! Agility Congratulations to these dogs who have added more MACH titles to their […]

An Ambassador for Many & Therapy Dog Extraordinaire: Meet Petey As a 4-month-old puppy, Petey was running loose and struck by a car, left for dead. A passer-by rescued him, and Petey was lucky to be adopted by a dog trainer who recognized the pit bull had the makings of a great therapy dog. Like […]

Showing dogs—the formal term for it is “Conformation”—is a sport. Like any football game or tennis match, dog shows have rules, too. But folks who sit on the sidelines can easily become bewildered if they don’t understand how guidelines apply to the game at hand. Whether you’re taking aim at a fastball or trotting with […]

There is a general movement within the dog world that has breeders and their clubs looking for new ways to make breed improvements. This is occurring because of the growing arsenal of tools available to breeders and their clubs. Given these conditions, the opportunity for making improvements is well within the reach of most clubs […]

On Oct. 27, 2019, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois military working dog named Conan took part in the Barisha raid, which resulted in the death of the leader of ISIS. Conan joined a long list of heroic military working dogs. Call ‘em what you want — war dogs or military working dogs — they have been around for centuries […]

Puppy strangles (or juvenile cellulitis) is a rare inflammatory skin disease. Learn how vets diagnose and treat this noncontagious condition.

For weeks the excitement built up for 70-year-old Randy Schepper returning to his natural turf – the dog-show arena – before attending the Seattle Kennel Club Dog Show in mid-March. One of the Pacific Northwest’s most-loved – and premier – dog handlers, Schepper has been hospitalized and recovering from a devastating auto accident in early […]

Thanks to Avery and Mara for sharing their experience in Junior Showmanship. We wish to feature as many juniors as possible, so please send your stories to juniors@akc.org. Avery Miller Hello, my name is Avery Miller and I am 12 years old. I started in the competition dog world with Barn Hunt about 5 years […]

The hardworking Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, renowned as the “supreme gundog,” is known for the harsh, low-shedding coat the breed is named for. Outgoing, eager, and quick-witted, Griffs are incomparable in the field and loving at home.