From Our Nation's Capitol AKC Government Relations team continues to monitor Congress for issues of interest to dog owners. Visit our 2020 Legislation Tracking page and click on “US Fed” on the map to get the latest updates on federal bills currently being monitored by the AKC. Highlights of issues we are currently addressing on the federal […]

Local/Other: Issues at the City, County, and Metropolitan Levels, and in U.S. Territories The AKC Government Relations Department is pleased to assist dog owners with canine legislation issues in their local communities, but we can't help unless we are aware of the proposal. Please contact us at (919) 816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org when new laws are discussed or […]

State Issues: News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Visit the 2020 Legislation Tracking page and click on your state to get the latest updates on state bills monitored by the AKC. Alabama – HB 209 seeks to authorize food service establishments to allow pet dogs in […]

There just seems to be no stopping the Labrador Retriever! For a record 29th year (2019), the versatile sporting breed reigns supreme on the American Kennel Club registry list, a run like no other breed has seen in the record books. Changes in the top ten Little changed in the top ten standings from 2018. Following […]

The AKC Breeder Toolkit will be unveiled in Spring 2020, replacing the current Online Record Keeping System. Features include Litter Registration, Breeding Records, Litter Coupons, and more. AKC Breeder Toolkit will be a comprehensive one-stop-shop for all breeder interactions. The American Kennel Club strives to support our valued breeders in every possible way, so in Spring 2020, we […]

Taylor Schwartz, of Lakeville, Minnesota, partners with Belfox and Misty Hollow Smooth Fox Terriers to both breed and show. She got her start in the breed when she was asked to show a puppy. That puppy eventually came home with her, and “the rest is history,” Taylor said. “I have been fortunate to partner with Terri […]

With closures and stay-at-home orders emerging every day, it’s a tricky time to be breeding or raising puppies. But in 2020 the options for online learning are endless so take advantage of the time to sharpen your skills. While not everyone enjoys distance learning, it’s a necessary part of life for most of us right […]

No Good news for dogs as AKC announces its most popular breeds:  The picture painted of the American Kennel Club in a blog published by HSUS yesterday was filled with so many inaccuracies, we’ve decided to try to fix the inaccuracies section by section, rather than write a full rebuttal. –AKC. HSUS:    Last year, […]

Today, the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that it has adopted updates to the regulations it uses to enforce the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA).  The updates, which will be officially published tomorrow, May 13, reflect public comments and finalized changes to a proposed rule that was […]

The purpose of non-competitive Earthdog tests is to offer breeders and owners of small Terriers and Dachshunds a standardized gauge to measure their dogs' natural aptitude and trained hunting and working behaviors when exposed to an underground hunting situation. The noncompetitive program begins with a basic introduction to den work and quarry and progresses through […]