Header photo courtesy of Nancy Bishop, AKC Breeder of Merit The decision to get a puppy is a big one. First, there's deciding what kind of puppy you want, choosing a breed, and then, finding a reputable and professional breeder to ensure you are getting the dog of your dreams. And finding the right breeder […]

For 54-year-old Army veteran Rob Shaw life is a rollercoaster of psychological turbulence triggered by PTSD, severe depression, and anxiety disorder. In other words, there is plenty of bite behind the bark. For the past three years, a dose of Pepper has been the best prescription medicine in his attempt to overcome the challenges, all […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) and Royal Canin are pleased to announce the judging panel for the 2016 National Championship to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 17 and Sunday, December 18, 2016. The 2016 event will showcase the top national and international dogs and will also […]

Arizona firefighters showed both heroism and heart when they dashed into a burning house in Tucson at around 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 14, and rescued two dying dogs. They rushed the limp creatures outside, where other members of their team immediately got to work, administering oxygen with the Tucson Fire Department’s (TFD) pet CPR kits. […]

We recently comes across several stories of pet owners acting courageously when their dogs’ lives were threatened by wild animals. For instance, one woman fought off a python that had wrapped around her dog. Another tussled with an alligator that snatched her dog. And then there’s Pierce Orminston, a 15-year-old Canadian, who saved his dog […]

On the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina wreaking havoc in the southeastern United States, Seattle Times journalist Ranny Green reflects on his time in Louisiana on assignment with Noah's Wish, an organization that helps animals affected by natural disasters. Read Ranny's diary of his trip below, which originally ran in The Seattle Times in 2005. -- […]

Many dogs hate their names because their owners always use their names as part of a verbal correction. Make sure your dog likes its name. Here is a fun game to play to increase the positive association. They constantly hear: “Rover, No!” “Rover, Down!;” “Rover, Quiet!” The list goes on and on. It might be […]

Spring is here, and warm weather can bring about hazards and new behaviors. Learn what to look for and how to prepare your dog.

By Allan Reznik   By Allan Reznik (Reprinted with permission from Dogs in Review and author Allan Reznik, from the November 2014 issue of Dogs in Review magazine. People get into a new breed for all kinds of reasons: the need to downsize, a desire for less grooming, a thirst for greater challenges, even the search […]

The number-one breed of the 1940s, the Cocker Spaniel, enjoyed a renaissance in the 1980s, climbing to the number-one position. The breed was the most popular dog in the nation from 1983 to 1990, giving it the distinction of holding the number-one spot for more years than any other breed to that point (23). After […]

New York – The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is gearing up for the 14th annual AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Days (AKC RDO Days) this summer and fall when hundreds of clubs and dog organizations around the country will host free events to educate the public about the responsibilities and unlimited joys of dog ownership.   […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) and Royal Canin are pleased to announce the judging panel for the 2016 National Championship to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 17 and Sunday, December 18, 2016. The 2016 event will showcase the top national and international dogs and will also […]

Join the American Kennel Club® (AKC®) and host an AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Days event this year. Dogs give us so much: excitement when a favorite person arrives home, company on the couch at night, and full effort on the obedience or agility course. Give back to them by being a responsible dog owner and […]

New York, NY – AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Days (RDO) returns for 2014 celebrating a very important American Kennel Club® (AKC) milestone   – the 25th birthday of AKC’s Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) program! Join in on the birthday fun by hosting an AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Days event that includes a Canine Good Citizen […]

New York, N.Y. – Eleven AKC® National Agility Champions, one National Obedience Champion and four AKC Rally® National Competition class winners...   were crowned from an entry of more than 1,600 dogs at the inaugural Companion Events Extravaganza, hosted by the American Kennel Club® (AKC®) this weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma.   “Congratulations to our new […]

Thirteen-year-old Halli was only 2 years old when the cute terrier mix joined her family, but the partnership that was meant to be almost did not happen, Halli’s mother Cathie Tyler recalls. Shelter staff felt that the scruffy little dog was too much dog for a mother with a young child and did not even […]

Not every dog is cut out for the demanding role of a therapy dog. Rachel Shaw shared this story about her rescue Catahoula Leopard Dog and her discovery along the training road that Odette preferred not to do therapy work - except for one special moment that she will never forget. This story originally appeared in […]

Buster’s owners did not want him because he kept running away. Rather than provide secure fencing or a kennel, they dumped him at the shelter. Today, the 3-year-old Labrador mix still specializes in escaping without jumping over a single gait or slipping through any open doors. Buster helps a war veteran escape from his bad […]

  Riley peered through the tunnel, as if he were Alice about to tumble down the rabbit’s hole into Wonderland. Such a small space, such a big dog, it seemed impossible. Yet, on a bright, sunny Sunday morning in May, Riley’s trusted, well-loved human, Jay Cruz, was asking the 14-month-old Mastiff to squeeze his whole […]

  Welcome to the AKC . We have put together definitions for dog words that you may not be familiar with. If you have additional questions regarding the glossary, please contact our Special Services Department. A Abdomen The belly or under surface between the chest and the hindquarters. Acetabulum The concave lateral portion of the […]