A bill will soon be sent to the governor that would prohibit homeowner’s insurance providers from refusing or cancelling coverage or increasing premiums based solely on the breed of dog owned by the policy holder.  For the past 10 years, AKC has advocated for legislation in New York on this issue, which will protect responsible […]

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 American Kennel Club (AKC®) is pleased to announce that Sandra D’Andrea has been promoted to Field Director of Conformation effective September 1, 2021. In her new role, she will be responsible for managing the field staff at conformation events.  Sandra joined the AKC in November 2012 as an Executive Field Representative based in the […]

The Governor of Illinois has signed House Bill 1711, which restricts pet choice and consumer protection. The bill goes into effect in 180 days. Illinois is now the fourth state (along with California, Maryland, Maine) to ban the retail sale of dogs and cats in pet stores.  The State of Washington also passed a law […]

He was powerfully built, towering a good six inches above his brothers, and was probably a chieftain or great warrior. Whoever he was, in his lifetime he must have commanded tremendous respect, even awe. That much was clear 10 centuries after his death from the way he had been sent to his final rest. Archeologists […]

After his 16-year-old son, Joshua Devon Biggles, tragically drowned, Michael Biggles purchased Rambo, a male Rottweiler puppy. Biggles fell head-over-paws with the brawny working breed. So much so, that he went back the next day and bought Retro, the male littermate he didn't select. Six months later, Biggles and his girlfriend, Mariama Myers, added Rascal, […]

We're facing a national security issue: there aren't enough working dogs. As the need for explosives detection dogs skyrockets, the U.S. struggles to keep up, producing only 7 percent of U.S. government dogs domestically. New research backs our suggested solution: breed more working dogs locally by overcoming the current barriers. New Research on U.S.-Bred Working […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panel for the 2021 AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 18 and Sunday, December 19, 2021. The 2021 event will showcase the top canine athletes and will also […]

You don't always have to have your own dog to win big in agility. Fourteen-year-old Katie Blair Williamson from New Orleans, Louisiana, competes in agility with Blink (Blackmyst's In A Blink Of An Eye), a Shetland Sheepdog, and Voulez (YaYa's Voulez Vous Q Cher), a Golden Retriever. Although Voulez is Williamson's agility partner, she's owned […]

What’s New from AKC Government Relations The work of dog advocates is making a difference! On the federal level, the American Kennel Club, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the National Animal Interest Alliance, and leading dog advocacy organizations continue working on passage of the Healthy Dog Importation Act. This bipartisan measure seeks to require that […]