For Picks of The Litter, a regular book review series, Ranny Green critiques “Two Dogs and a Parrot: What Our Animal Friends Can Teach Us About Life" (Blue Bridge). This cranial jukebox of enriching stories reflects a tough realism throughout whether the subject is an Irish Setter, Golden Retriever, or a medium-sized parrot. The internationally […]

An Irish Wolfhound in Westerlo, Belgium is now officially the proud holder of a Guinness World Record. The dog, named Keon, holds the record for the "longest tail on a dog." How long is his tail? 30.2 inches (or 2 feet and 6.2 inches). Not only is this an amazingly long tail, but it's also […]

Got a minute? If so, you can learn the essentials of any breed. Not enough to call yourself an expert, of course. But in the time it takes to watch a TV commercial, you can pick up just enough breed knowledge to bluff your way through a conversation at the dog park. The average adult […]

At the Annual Meeting of the American Kennel Club on March 8, 2016, the AKC Board of Directors Class of 2020 was elected. The three Directors elected were:     •       Patricia M. Cruz, Delegate from the Heart of the Plains Kennel Club.     •       William J. Feeney, Delegate from the Sir Francis Drake Kennel Club, Inc. […]

The Westminster Kennel Club recently announced that Mr. Thomas H. Bradley III is scheduled to judge Best in Show at the club’s 141st dog show Feb. 13–14, 2017. A lifetime participant in the dog sport, Mr. Bradley competed in his first dog show as a teenager in 1955, showing his German Shorthaired Pointer at the […]

Long before smushface" and "wigglebutt" became the ubiquitous dog monikers, these seven breeds were given nicknames crafted specifically for them.  the Clown Prince of Dogs At various times devotees of at least a dozen different breeds have claimed this title for their dogs. But to our knowledge only one group of fanciers has incorporated canine clowning […]

We often hear dog shows accused of being nothing but “beauty contests.” In reality, they’re organized more like job fairs. At AKC shows, dogs are exhibited in seven groups organized by the original work the breeds were created to do. The dog judged best in each group becomes one of the final seven to vie […]

Always on the go and looking to keep a canine by your side? We have rounded up the most active dog breeds. They have no short supply of energy and are a perfect fit for an owner looking for a running buddy or an agility partner. Pembroke Welsh Corgi Pembroke Welsh Corgis are strong, athletic […]

Big dogs equal big love and loyalty. Here are the large dog breeds that earn their place at the top of the size chart. Most people will know the Great Dane but what about the lovely Leonberger? When considering getting a dog, size is a factor, but only one of them. The dog’s personality, activity […]

The 1880s was the only decade that the English Setter reigned as the number-one breed and it remained in the top ten for four decades, but hasn’t been in the top ten since the 1910s. Irish Setters, the number-two breed of the decade, fell to number seven in the 1890s and then did not make […]

While going through boxes of dog-related material one day, I came across some interesting facts about porcupines. I live in a small country town nestled in an area consisting of mostly woods, streams, stone walls, and rock formations, where an all-too-curious Red and White might possibly encounter this prickly creature. Since two of my Red […]

-- AKC Celebrates 125th Anniversary with a Look Back at First AKC Registered Breeds in History -- For the 18th consecutive year, the Labrador Retriever is the most popular purebred dog in America, according to 2008 registration statistics released today by the American Kennel Club® (AKC) But, while more than twice as many Labs were […]

AKC Celebrates 125th Anniversary and Tips its Hat to Two Irish Breeds That Were Among the First Recognized In honor of St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th, the American Kennel Club® (AKC) celebrates the loveable breeds of Irish descent. Notable Irish breeds include the Irish Red & White Setter which was welcomed into the AKC […]

  The Sussex Spaniel is a True Original: Among the First AKC Registered Breeds in History "Stump" and owner-handler Scott Sommer won Best in Show at the 133rd Westminster Kennel Club Show. 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 […]

PACH Zucchini of Wylde Green, owned by Trish Nelson & Arron Wings of Iowa City, IA, recently earned one of the highest honors in AKC Agility, the Preferred Agility Championship (PACH). It is hard to believe that ZuZu used to hide in the car when she arrived at class. Trish tells the story of their […]

Deborah Tung is a Virginia teenager who does it all with her dogs. Deborah competes in Agility and the fun new sport of Barn Hunt with her All-American Dog, Nigel. Barn Hunt tests all dogs’ hunting ability in finding vermin, which many breeds were developed to perform. Rats are placed in heavy, safe PVC tubes […]

Grand-View My Retirement Plan RE TD owned by Trish Simon of Borden, IN Trish’s neighbor found then 3-month-old Zoey and her littermate running with a young Beagle through a field in December 2008.  “On her way home, my neighbor saw me and stopped.  ‘Hey Trish, look what I found.’ The beagle was very happy. Then […]

-- Parent Club Breed Flier Valuable Tool to Recruit New Members -- The American Kennel Club recognizes the need for parent clubs to build a strong foundation of members in order to secure their breed's future in this country. Membership rosters should be a diverse list of knowledgeable responsible breeders, breed health enthusiasts, dedicated rescue […]

AKV 1.7 1948-1965 4 linear ft in 4 boxes Processed by Brynn White, 2017 Click here to the view complete inventory and/or to search all AKC archival collections Click here for a printable PDF of the collection guide Biographical Note Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lewis Wiel were well-reknowned exhibitors, judges, and breeders upon whom numerous […]

AKD 2.26  Scottish Deerhound Club of America Collection 1920-1960 11.5 linear feet (in 4 record cartons, 8 document boxes, and 2 oversize boxes.) Click here for a printable PDF of the collection finding aid The Scottish Deerhound Club of America records collect some of the official materials created by the club, particularly those related to […]

AKE 20.3 1889-1908 1.75 linear ft (in 2 flat boxes.) Processed by Brynn White, 2016   Click here for a printable PDF of the collection finding aid   The collection includes clippings of the 204 pen drawings by promiment dog painter and show judge Gustav Muss-Arnolt published between 1889 and 1908 in the American Kennel Club […]

1972-2005 2007:007 18 Cubic Feet Collection processed by Norma Rosado-Blake Click here for inventory PROVENANCE A gift from Janet Boyd, Club Archivist (2007) of the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America. ARRANGEMENT The collection has been partially retained in its original order starting with the meeting minutes dating from 1972. Meeting minutes starting in 1988 […]

AKD 1.22 Irish Setter Club of America collection 1860-1991 7 linear ft in 17 boxes Processed by Norma Rosado-Blake, 2009; Additions and edits by Brynn White, 2016.   Click here to the view complete inventory and/or to search all AKC archival collections Click here for a printable PDF of the collection guide   The Irish […]

-- Click here for more information about PAWS -- --Monday June, 13 AKC Delegate Meeting, Chicago IL Remarks from Dr. James Holt, AKC's Legislative Liaison Regarding the Pet Animal Welfare Statute of 2005-- The Chair now calls on Dr. James Holt, AKC's Legislative Liaison to address this body. Dr. Holt: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and […]

-- 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, […]

THE FOLLOWING DOGS HAVE EARNED VCD TITLES ON THE DATES LISTED BELOW: Versatile Companion Dog 1 (VCD1) 1/11/2009. Muchado's Moonspun Magic VCD2 RE NAP NJP, RET-GOLD. Owned by: Susan C Bates of EARLYSVILLE, VA. 1/11/2009. Smack-Dab's Here For The Party VCD1 RN AX MXJ NJP OF, DOBE. Owned by: Mr. Dan F Faulkner/Mrs. Brenda H Faulkner of […]

THE FOLLOWING DOGS HAVE EARNED VCD TITLES ON THE DATES LISTED BELOW: Versatile Companion Dog 1 (VCD1) 1/10/2010. GCH CH Gebeba Clancy Poetic Justice VCD1 RAE OA AXJ, PBGV Owned by: Megan Esherick/David Esherick/Betty Barth/George Barth of LEESPORT, PA. 1/16/2010. CH Sunbreak's Rainman Of Hapines VCD1 RN MX MXJ NF, SPAN-ENGCKR Owned by: Cathy Dutra of NEWARK, […]

THE FOLLOWING DOGS HAVE EARNED VCD TITLES ON THE DATES LISTED BELOW: Versatile Companion Dog 1 (VCD1) 1/9/2011. Busy B's Watch My Shadow II VCD2 MX MXJ, PEMB-WC Owned by: Patty Fulton/Amy Buchanan of MINNEAPOLIS, MN. 1/16/2011. CH Trailwind's Blind Trust VCD2 RE MH, SPAN-ENGSPR Owned by: Mr. Randy Capsel/Cheryl L Clark of OGDEN, IA. 1/16/2011. CH Ridgebury […]

THE FOLLOWING DOGS HAVE EARNED VCD TITLES ON THE DATES LISTED BELOW FOR 2012: VCCH 3/25/2012. TC OTCH CT Outburst Chasing Butterflies UDX RAE HSAds HSBds HIAds HIBd HXAds MXB MJB NAP OJP, BRDR COLLS. Owned by: Gerianne F Darnell of COUNCIL BLFS, IA. VCCH 6/2/2012. VCCH MACH3 Redwoods Sea Fox UDX3 OM3 RE MXC MJB2 MXF THD, […]

THE FOLLOWING DOGS HAVE EARNED VCD TITLES ON THE DATES LISTED BELOW: VCD1 1/5/2013.  Eastern Waters' Makai Wind VCD1 BN RN, RET-CHES. Owned by: Doreen W Palmer/Gary W Palmer of COLUMBIA, CT. VCD1 1/6/2013.  Rogue Gaia Kuymal VCD2 HSAs MX MXJ MJB MXF, BEL SHP. Owned by: David Vesely/Joan Hagar of CORVALLIS, OR. VCD1 1/6/2013.  K-Tai Sey What? […]