Lauren Watt was heartbroken when her best friend, Gizelle, was diagnosed with terminal bone cancer. She and the 8-year-old 160-pound Mastiff shared so many fond memories. So as a way to create many more in the few months they had left together and to help Gizelle enjoy her last little bit of time on Earth, Watt created a […]

With a joyful bark and bound, Philo, a 5-year-old Samoyed, pressed his shoulders against his padded harness. Behind him, a cart loaded with gray concrete cinder blocks slowly moved forward, as his handler called out, “Work, work, work.” On that day, Philo pulled a load of more than 1,800 pounds—winning the event at Doggie U […]

The Pointer is skilled at hunting birds and has adapted with the centuries. Here are some fascinating facts about this historic breed.

The Internet is full of advice on evaluating breeders, but there is almost nothing on how breeders view potential puppy buyers. Curious, I put together a questionnaire, and eleven breeders responded. Asked how they begin to weed out buyers, breeders agreed on the basics. The most critical requirement is that a buyer has the financial […]

What do you think of when you hear the word Poodle? For many, it’s an overdone diva—big hair, polished toenails, and a phony French accent. Poodles are often described as “froufrou” dogs, a slur that means prissy and high-maintenance. The image has been widely embraced, even in the wonderful world of Disney, where dogs are […]

Swarms of setters, hordes of herders, oodles of Poodles— with the seemingly endless variety of dogs gaiting around AKC show rings, you might assume every breed in creation is represented. Actually, hundreds of breeds from around the world are outside the AKC orbit. Here are just a few:   ESTRELA MOUNTAIN DOG Birthplace: northern Portugal Job […]

To perform in movies, musicals, and other live performances, dogs must be trainable, reliable, and predictable. One dog that comes to mind when many people think of dogs in theater is Sandy, the dog belonging to little orphan Annie. So what dog played Sandy? In the original 1977 Broadway production, Annie was played by an […]

The Poodle, recognized by the AKC in 1887, did not make the top ten breeds until the 1950s, when it ranked number seven. This glamorous show dog and companion strutted into the number-one position in the 1960s and would become the first breed to hold the number-one crown for two consecutive decades. German Shepherd Dogs, […]

English painter Francis Barraud (1856 - 1924) was an honorable journeyman, an artist of talent but not genius. Yet in 1898, thanks to a typically curious terrier, he created an image more enduring than masterworks by many of his more celebrated rivals.Berraud s subject was his brother's faithful dog, Nipper, whose favorite pastime was peering […]

Through the years, many different breeds have won Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show, including the 2024 winner, "Sage" the Miniature Poodle.

Learn which types of lettuce are safe for dogs, how to serve it, and what risks to avoid when feeding them these leafy greens.

Sometime in spring, when the soil temperature reaches 64 degrees, your dog may suddenly start digging up the yard. They can hear something you can’t yet hear – juvenile cicadas tunneling through the ground getting ready to emerge. Most of the more than 3,000 types of cicadas appear every 2 to 5 years, and their […]

"Tuffie" the Saint Bernard can handle a lot, and she was front-line as a therapy dog when a mass shooting rattled Saint Francis Medical Center, a hospital where she often did therapy sessions.

When it comes to brushing your dog, the last thing you probably think about is sheep. But just like those fuzzy barnyard animals, your dog's coat can be a valuable resource. Dog fur can be spun into yarn, just like wool, and then knit into anything you like, from sweaters to slippers. In fact, people have […]

After a 7-year-old K-9 Belgian Malinois was killed in Paris Wednesday during police raids targeting those responsible for the attacks on Nov. 13, thousands took to social media to show their support for the police dog using the hashtags #JeSuisChien and #NotAllHeroesAreHuman. Many dog owners turned to Instagram to show their support for the police dog, […]

There was a time not long ago that nearly every advertisement featuring a child with a dog seemed to include a Lab or a Golden Retriever, consistently among the most popular dog breeds in America. Today, there’s a bit more variety in the breeds being photographed with children for commercial advertising. Perhaps the public perception […]

Many of us have experienced the heart-wrenching pain of losing one of our best friends—oftentimes, a dog. For E.B. Bartels, pet loss and the subsequent spiraling emptiness and emotion began at an early age. Not content with the earlier personal aftermath, she became “obsessed” with the wide-scale subject and in 2012 found herself on a […]

By now, I’m certain you’re sick of presidential politics and want this election to be over. Enter a welcome distraction: "Secret Service Dogs: The Heroes Who Protect the President of the United States" by Maria Goodavage, a New York Times bestseller. This insightful read serves up plenty of brief, punchy slices of dog life that […]

Can dogs eat edamame? Find out how and why to safely give your dog a bit of this nutritious snack as an occasional treat in their diet.

AKC Reunite and Assisi Animal Health are pleased to announce a challenge grant to help victims of Hurricane Harvey and their pets. The challenge grant will match donations to AKC Reunite's Pet Disaster Relief Fund dollar for dollar for a total amount of $10,000 to support efforts for the families and pets in Texas and […]

Come Meet All 167 AKC Breeds at www.meetthebreeds.com From George Washington’s Foxhounds to Thomas Jefferson’s Briards, purebred pups are as all-American as apple pie.  To celebrate the Fourth of July and the New York City return of Meet the Breeds™ – the world’s largest gathering of dogs and cats – the American Kennel Club® (AKC®) […]

Patricia M. Cruz, William J. Feeney, & Thomas S. Powers Elected   At the Annual Meeting of the American Kennel Club on March 13, 2012, the AKC Board of Directors Class of 2016 was elected. The three Directors elected were: Patricia M. Cruz, Delegate for Heart of the Plains Kennel Club; William J. Feeney, Delegate for […]

-- Disney DVD Will Include Insert with Breed Information -- New York, NY - The American Kennel Club® and Walt Disney Home Entertainment announced today that they are joining together on another initiative to help inform viewers about the joys and responsibilities of owning a dog. Air Buddies, an all-new movie now on Disney DVD, […]

Spring is an incredibly busy season for those involved with canine legislation.  As it currently stands, thirty-nine states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico are still in session, and AKC GR is currently tracking more than 2,000 bills across the United States. Positive, fact-based messaging is a tangible reminder to legislators of the value that fanciers, […]

It seems hard to believe that it is almost Thanksgiving.  AKC Government Relations continues to be hard at work around the country, but we would be remiss if we did not pause for a moment and thank the federations, legislative liaisons, breeders, and local dog owners around the country who have taken the time this […]

Best of luck to these super speedy All American Dogs who have been invited to the  2023 Fast CAT Invitational to be held Tuesday, December 12 through Saturday, December 16 in Orlando, Florida at the Orange County Convention Center. The top five dogs in each height class are qualified to compete.   LARGE Saluq's Athena CA […]

Lilly of Windstone XFP OAP XJP SCN TD owned by Amy and Alex Nathanson of Palm City, FL Lily earned her TD on March 21, in Orlando, FL. “This is a huge accomplishment for a dog who wouldn’t even move forward without whimpering and crying when she first started learning about two years ago,” Amy […]

The American Kennel Club is delighted with the announcement of the AKC Pet Healthcare Plan by Pet Partners, Inc. AKC Pet Healthcare Insurance, underwritten by State National Insurance Company, an A rated company by AM Best, which features two comprehensive plans for fanciers and pet owners: the “Premier Plan” and “Premier Plus Plan.”  The plan […]

The American Kennel Club is delighted with the announcement of the AKC Pet Healthcare Plan by Pet Partners, Inc. AKC Pet Healthcare Insurance, underwritten by State National Insurance Company, an A rated company by AM Best, which features two comprehensive plans for fanciers and pet owners: the “Premier Plan” and “Premier Plus Plan.”  The plan […]

The California Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water is scheduled to consider a bill on Tuesday, March 24, that ostensibly bans the use of dogs for deer hunting.  This is a follow-up to a bill passed in 2019 that banned bobcat hunting in the state. Supporters of Senate Bill 1041 characterize hunting with dogs […]