This story originally appeared in a 2011 issue of the AKC Canine Partners News newsletter. Since the story was published, Harley, now 9 years old, has earned the AKC’s highest honor in agility – the Master Agility Championship (MACH) and is now pursuing her Preferred Agility Championship (PACH). Most puppies spend their early months being […]

MACH Dewey MXB MJS OF T2B owned by Elise Strauss of Anchorage, AK Dewey is a 7-year-old Jack Russell Terrier/Chihuahua mix and is Elise’s first agility dog. She never would have discovered the fun sport if it was not for trying desperately to find a way to keep Dewey busy! “I got him when he […]

“We both enjoy doing this because we like seeing how the residents light up when Max enters the facility,” Burn said.  “It provides joy to all involved in the encounters.” Steve rescued Max from the Arlington (TX) Animal Services Center in December 2009. He is a mixed breed and, according to a DNA test, he […]

MACH Pancho Villa MXB MJB MXF T2B2 owned by Kacey McKinney of Princeton, TX Pancho is a Chihuahua-terrier mix who was just under 1 year old when he came to live with Kacey. Kacey had never trained a dog before, but Pancho and she clicked during agility training and became a great team. They went […]

Twelve-year-old Buddy loves spending vacation weeks by the sea shore in his favorite red, white & blue chair. The 12-year-old Chihuahua-terrier mix looks forward to beach trips with his owner, Michelle Antonio of Benicia, CA. Taking your dog to the beach can be a great way to spend a beautiful summer day. However, as a responsible dog […]

2017 AKC Scholarship Recipient Samantha Van Buren I am currently attending the University of Minnesota. I am studying environmental studies and animal science. I plan to pursue a career in these fields. I also plan to stay involved with AKC dog events, as it is my passion and I think I can contribute positively to […]

We often hear dog shows accused of being nothing but “beauty contests.” In reality, they’re organized more like job fairs. At AKC shows, dogs are exhibited in seven groups organized by the original work the breeds were created to do. The dog judged best in each group becomes one of the final seven to vie […]

The Westminster Kennel Club recently announced that Mr. Thomas H. Bradley III is scheduled to judge Best in Show at the club’s 141st dog show Feb. 13–14, 2017. A lifetime participant in the dog sport, Mr. Bradley competed in his first dog show as a teenager in 1955, showing his German Shorthaired Pointer at the […]

Alan Kalter and Dr. Chris Lezotte were presented with the 2016 AKC Breeder of the Year award for their HappyLegs Bullmastiffs at the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin on Saturday, December 17, 2016. The annual award honors those breeders who have made an impact on their breed and dedicated their lives to improving […]

The range of sizes among dog breeds is greater than that of any other animal. For example, a 150-pound Newfoundland is 50 times the size of a three-pound Pomeranian. And as you might expect, large breed puppies and small breed puppies have very different nutritional needs. There are general rules for feeding any puppy, but […]

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 […]

Now holding the title of world's smallest dog, a one-pound chihuahua named Milly has become a celebrity in her hometown of Dorado, Puerto Rico, KING 5 reported. Measuring at less than four inches tall and weighing only one poud, four-year-old Milly has been officially recognized by Guiness World Records as the smallest dog in the […]

Gracie is a survivor. And now she is helping others going through cancer treatment. The long-hair Chihuahua-mix is a therapy dog who works with her owner Cheryl Tankersley at Planet Hair, a wig store for cancer patients in Virginia, and was recently featured on WRIC, a local ABC affiliate, in honor of October’s Breast Cancer […]

The winners of this year’s photo contest created unforgettable images by placing their models in vivid landscapes. A red barn, for example, provides a perfect backdrop to show the range of Newfoundland colors. Seagrass complements the straight, coarse coat of a tiny brown dog. A German Shorthaired Pointer stands on a rock, staring out at […]

Michael Delgado’s family thought they lost everything when powerful tornados roared through the town of Rowlett, Texas, the day after Christmas. Their home and most of their belongings were gone, but they still have something to be thankful for—their yellow Labrador Retriever, Sawyer, and Chihuahua-mix puppy, Lucy. Both survived, even after being buried in rubble […]

Did you know that in most of the animal kingdom, larger animals outlive smaller ones? For dogs, however, the opposite is true. Smaller dogs, like Chihuahuas, often outlive larger breeds, like Great Danes, by a number of years. As dog owners, we hate watching our dogs go through the often difficult aging process; we want […]

7-year-old Ethan Engum is on a mission, and it isn't a typical one for a first grader. Ethan has been working diligently to raise money for the Green Bay, WI Police Department to help them purchase and train a new K-9 officer. Ethan (who has a German Shepherd and two Chihuahuas at home) became interested […]

On the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina wreaking havoc in the southeastern United States, Seattle Times journalist Ranny Green reflects on his time in Louisiana on assignment with Noah's Wish, an organization that helps animals affected by natural disasters. Read Ranny's diary of his trip below, which originally ran in The Seattle Times in 2005. -- […]

Pirate, a German Shepherd Dog, curls up in a laundry basket. The 7-year-old dog jumped in with little enticing, says owner Kathy Green, of Gold Bar, Wash. Header photo courtesy of Kathy Green When it comes to the Great Box Challenge, there simply are no limits—on size, shape, or container. And those loose parameters apply […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) and Royal Canin are pleased to announce the judging panel for the 2016 National Championship to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 17 and Sunday, December 18, 2016. The 2016 event will showcase the top national and international dogs and will also […]