The top dogs in the nation were crowned from an overall combined entry of 217 dogs this past weekend at the 10th AKC® Obedience Classic. Competitions were held December 16-17, 2023, in conjunction with the AKC® National Championship Presented by Royal Canin at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. Some juniors and their […]

In conjunction with the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin, the third Fast CAT Invitational took place between December 13 and December 17 in Orlando, Florida. The top five of the fastest representatives of each dog breed, based on AKC Fast Coursing Ability Tests (Fast CAT) ratings, were invited to compete. In total, more than 380 dogs […]

The AKC invites the top three Obedience dogs of each breed, based on Obedience Trial Championship points, to the event that takes place March 19-20 in Tulsa, OK. This year, Jasmine is the only All-American Dog entered in the NOC. Jasmine holds the AKC title of Utility Dog (UD) and is a High in Trial […]

The 13th AKC® Obedience & Rally Junior Showcase was held December 14-15, 2024, in conjunction with the AKC® National Championship Presented by Royal Canin at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. In AKC Rally®, junior handlers competed in Rally Novice, Rally Intermediate, Rally Advanced, Rally Excellent, and/or Rally Master based on the dog’s […]

Dogs have fought alongside man since ancient times. The Egyptians, Greeks, Persians, Romans, and others used dogs as sentries and scouts and sometimes brought dogs into combat. Attila the Hun used fierce Mastiff-like breeds that were sometimes armored and sent into battle. In more modern times, Germany created military dog-training programs late in the 19th […]

The bond that exists between canines and humans is unmistakable (there’s a reason dogs are called “man’s best friend,” after all). They’re adaptable creatures that bond with their human counterparts — and that includes babies. Like humans, dogs are extremely social creatures. Alexandra Bassett, lead dog trainer and behaviorist at Dog Savvy Los Angeles, says, […]

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) has become a hot topic in education. Schools all over the country are finding ways to enrich students in these key subject areas. Why is STEM important? The U.S. Department of Commerce claims that STEM careers are growing at a rate of 17%, which is almost double the growth […]

I will start by stating that I was raised as an Air Force brat and was told I could never have a dog, because we moved so frequently. So, being an obstinate child, I asked for a dog for every birthday that I was old enough to speak. When I was 14 I “borrowed” a […]

Put Your Dog’s Nose to Work in the Fun Sport of Tracking This issue’s training tip is brought to us by Sue Kotlarek of Romulus, Michigan. Sue has had great success in a variety of dog sports with her two rescue mixed-breeds, including the sport of AKC Tracking. Her All-American, Rodger Rowbinawitz UD GO VER […]

A quick quote from Brian Hare, Ph.D https://evolutionaryanthropology.duke.edu/people/brian-hare “There are so many questions that we have as dog lovers that are impossible to truly answer based on expertise and individual observation alone. Our most powerful tool is to work together collectively and contribute data to citizen science projects that can bring the full power of […]

https://fs.blog/2018/12/spacing-effect/ I like the above article because it reminds us that rote and repetition are not necessarily the best tools for learning. Ebbinghaus’ theories, which were based on language and symbols, are still reasonable in considering training our dogs. Great food for thought! Ebbinghaus found: 1. It takes longer to forget material after each subsequent […]

The American Kennel Club, Inc. ("AKC") grants nonexclusive, limited permission to website owners to develop a link ("Permitted Link") from the owner's website (the "Linking Site") to the AKC website home page (www.akc.org) or any other page of the AKC website, subject to the following terms and conditions: Permitted Links shall be: text-based and may […]

https://www.atf.gov/resource-center/fact-sheet/fact-sheet-national-canine-division https://youtu.be/Sz2gTaLFD2o At an EU/US working group meeting I recently attended, there was much reference to the national odor recognition test that was established by the ATF. The ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms), DOS (Department of State), and FPS (Federal Protective Service) all mentioned the use of the preliminary test for their certification/validation […]

I will start by stating that I was raised as an Air Force brat and was told I could never have a dog, because we moved so frequently. So, being an obstinate child, I asked for a dog for every birthday that I was old enough to speak. When I was 14 I “borrowed” a […]

The Professional Grooming Credential (PGC) program assess practices and showcases the wide knowledge base of the working professional groomer. Worldwide, pet owners spend billions on pet services and products. Pets are a valued part of the family, and when it’s time to be groomed, owners expect the top in the industry. Earning the PGC displays […]

The 2026 AKC Photo Contest — Now Open to All! Are you an accomplished shutterbug (or aspiring to be one)? Then we invite you to enter the 2026 AKC Photo Contest! Our theme this year is “The Great Outdoors.” As always, the entries are based solely on creativity, quality, and originality. The top winners will take home […]

CGC-Ready is how the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program is implemented in settings where staff or volunteer trainers train dogs either 1) for their existing owners, or 2) or to prepare them for adoption. The CGC-Ready program applies when CGC training is provided in settings and agencies such as: Rescue organizations (including all of AKC’s […]

June 2026 The Board VOTED to approve a request of the Delegate Companion Events Committee to amend the Obedience Regulations, removing the words “must run” from the current statement and replacing them with “Fast,” meaning that the handler and dog must move forward at a noticeably accelerated speed. These changes are effective June 1, 2026. […]

2026 AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin Orange County Convention Center Orlando, FL December 12 & 13, 2026 All Sporting, Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting Breeds and Junior Showmanship Competition  will be Judged on Saturday All Working, Terrier, Herding Breeds, Miscellaneous and Best in Show will be Judged on Sunday The 2026 event will showcase the top canine athletes […]

What are the age requirements to participate? Puppies must be at least four months of age but under six months on the day of the event. Will my puppy earn points towards his Championship? No, championship points are not awarded in the 4 to 6 Month Beginner Puppy Competition, however, points towards a Certificate of […]