Helfgott-Turner Productions is in the process of funding their latest project, a movie called “A Little Magic: The Trish and Cinnar Story.” The feature film will tell the true Cinderella story behind the 1980 Westminster Kennel Club show, where young Trish Kanzler handled her mother’s red Siberian Husky, Cinnar, to Best in Show—a remarkable feat, […]

In the early 1950s, a stunning Doberman Pinscher came charging out of California to vanquish the best show dogs the East Coast elites had to offer. In the process, he became an international superstar. Among the treasures of the AKC Library & Archives is the Len and Shirley Carey collection of photos, clippings, scrapbooks, correspondence, […]

Sir Edwin Landseer (1802–73) was Victorian England’s leading painter of canine subjects. He was said to be the Queen’s favorite artist, and to this day museums and private collectors treasure his works. But the amusing little dogatelle related here begins not in Victoria’s British Empire but in the Macedonian empire built in the fourth century […]

When the nation’s greatest show dogs descend on New York City for the 140th Westminster Kennel Club dog show presented by Purina® Pro Plan®, several newcomers will be strutting their stuff on the big stage for the first time. Here’s quick primer on the seven new AKC breeds making their Westminster debut in 2016. Bergamasco […]

5 Good Dog Books We Can't Even Give Away!Books arrive here at our New York offices by the bushel, sent by publishers in hopes of an AKC Family Dog review or a plug in our social media. For every book we review there are dozens more that, for reasons not always connected to their quality, […]

The marketing and advertising industries experienced unprecedented growth in the 1950s, and a gorgeous rough coat Collie led the way. The website of the Museum of Broadcast Communications tells us, “Lassie helped to demonstrate the potential development of ancillary products associated with television programs, appearing in everything from comic books and Big Little Books to […]

Among the marvels of human ingenuity is the way various breeds of dog were developed, mentally and physically, to tackle specific jobs. Consider the farmer’s eternal war against rodents and other burrowing mammals that devastate grain stores, raid henhouses, tear up fields, dig away riverbanks, and carry disease. As their number-one weapon in subterranean warfare, […]

While watching a dog show on television or in person, many casual viewers find themselves completely mystified about aspects of the sport. But here are answers to four basic questions to give you a better understanding of dog shows. Who Attends Dog Shows? Most dog handlers you’ll see in the TV portion of the show […]

  The dog’s long march from wild animal to ball-chasing, couch-hogging, kibble-crunching family pet might have begun 40,000 years ago. This places the domestication of canines much farther in the past than has been previously thought, according to the study “Ancient European Dog Genomes Reveal Continuity Since the Early Neolithic.” The findings were published this […]

No velvet pillows, hair ribbons, or French pedicures for these big bruisers. These are the no-nonsense, punch-the-clock-and-get-it-done dogs of the AKC Working Group, the Ford pickups of the canine kingdom. Many factors go into breeding dogs that work hard for their feed. Let’s consider a few, and then watch some well-bred workers in action. Physical […]

Dachshunds are bound to pop up anywhere, doing anything. But who has time to keep track of all those Dachsie doings? As a public service, AKC Dog Lovers goes around the corner and around the world to bring you (cue deep-voiced announcer with lots of reverb) DACHSHUNDS IN THE NEWS! EL PASO, TEXAS—You never know […]

Francis Redmond’s “Totteridge” Smooth Fox Terriers were a famous British line of the late 19th century. Redmond was a master dog man who did much to standardize his breed, and the Totteridge kennel was pivotal in the creation of the modern Smooth. It was the custom to immortalize dogs of such renown on canvas. These […]

The Standard Schnauzer is described as a friendly and cheerful companion that's particularly good with children. Are they a good fit for your lifestyle?

The digging, the barking, the chasing: Welcome to Westie world. Don’t panic. There’s no need to sign him up for couch time with an expensive Park Avenue shrink. All you have to do is take a moment to consider what has been genetically hardwired into the spunky little critter. Once you know what drives your […]

Meet Hungary’s russet-coated dog-of-all-trades: the Vizsla. While talking with the breed’s American fanciers, it seems the exclamation point and the Vizsla were made for each other. If this breed could talk (one of the few things it can’t do—yet) it would say things like “Yes I can!,” “Go for it!” and other such interjections that […]

Deep in the AKC Gazette photo archive is a battered old Kodak film box. It contains several rare—and extremely fragile—glass negatives taken by Rudolph Tauskey. They date to the early 1920s. Canine photography buffs have assumed for years that all of Tauskey’s glass negatives were lost, but six survive. Using a sophisticated scanner, the AKC Publications […]

It’s National Dog Week! You have a right to be skeptical of these “national weeks.” It seems like every Monday brings the start of another national something week: National Kumquat Week, National Duct Tape Week, National Braunschweiger Week, and who knows what else. Mostly, PR flunkies of limited imagination concoct these faux celebrations because they […]

It’s not primarily about the ribbons and titles but about forging a closer, more fulfilling bond between dog and owner. But let’s face it: After all that time and effort, adding an official title to your dog’s name can be awfully satisfying. Let’s take a look at the latest ways the AKC has enabled you […]

  Since the first issue of AKC Family Dog in 2003, we have been telling the stories of service dogs who guide the blind, hear for deaf, perform household tasks for wheelchair users, indicate on impending seizures and diabetic trauma, and perform many other jobs for disabled owners. During our 13-plus years of interviewing service-dog […]

I’m a caricaturist. I draw funny faces. That is, I draw faces funny. It’s an important distinction. Any decent draftsman can draw a funny face; a caricaturist finds the funny in a nondescript or even beautiful face. And caricaturists who aspire to a certain level of sophistication, those of the "New York School" whose dean […]

The Scottish Terrier is among the most recognizable of purebred dogs. It has been a mainstay of American iconography since its great wave of popularity in the 1930s, when the breed was a celebrity fad. Humphrey Bogart was a Scottie owner. So were Charles Lindbergh and Shirley Temple. Both Bette Davis and Joan Crawford were […]

Among the marvels of human ingenuity is the way various breeds of dog were developed, mentally and physically, to tackle specific jobs. Consider the farmer’s eternal war against rodents and other burrowing mammals that devastate grain stores, raid henhouses, tear up fields, dig away riverbanks, and carry disease. As their number-one weapon in subterranean warfare, […]

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, one of our “60-Second Seminars” can provide you with just enough breed knowledge to bluff your way through a conversation at the […]

If you’ve landed on this page, you probably already know that the lovable Beagle is an irresistible pet. But these merry little hounds with the shoe-button eyes and melodious bark weren’t bred to be just the perfect companion hound. Here, five dog experts, past and present, explain the original working function of the breed and how […]

Are you considering getting an Irish Wolfhound puppy? If so, it’s certainly understandable. These sweet-tempered creatures have beguiled us since ancient times. Originally bred as fearless big-game hunters capable of dispatching a wolf in single combat, Wolfhounds today are the most serene and agreeable of companions for owners of all ages. But, with big dogs […]

Happy Father's Day! To celebrate all things paternal, we are featuring eight great sires in AKC history. These studly champions did some of their best work outside of the show ring. Standard Poodle: Ch. Nunsoe Duc de la Terrace of Blakeen Ch. Nunsoe Duc de la Terrace of Blakeen, the 1935 Westminster Best in Show […]

Is the Scottish Terrier the right breed for your lifestyle? Learn more about this iconic terrier breed and see if they're right for you.

AKD 4.17 1890-2005 12 linear ft (in 15 doc boxes, 3 flat boxes, 4 card boxes, and one oversize box). Processed by Kari Dalane, 2009; Additions, edits, and conversion of legacy finding aid by Brynn White, 2016.   Click here to the view complete inventory and/or to search all AKC archival collections Click here for […]

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, including another Champion Tracker! Agility AGCH Congratulations to this dog for earning the Agility Grand Champion title: AGCH MACH3 Tuckman Of San Francisco MXC PDS MJB2 […]

AKC National Agility Championship Champion Teams 2026 - Temecula, CA AKC National Agility Champions 08" - MACH Welly MXB MJS XF T2B CGC, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi known as Welly, handled by Peter Wirth of Longmont, CO 12" - MACH6 Safranne's Have No Fear MXS2 PAD MJG2 PJS NF, a Poodle known as Skye, handled […]