Lockdown, Our Lives, and Our Pets The past year of dealing with the pandemic has been challenging for all of us. Our pets have been there through all of it with us from the good (the extra companionship) to the bad (overeating, binge-watching television, and not exercising regularly). Unfortunately, our altered lifestyle has also taken […]

During the COVID-19 lockdown, your puppy won the people lottery by enjoying your attention around the clock. Snuggling for hours on the couch, long neighborhood walks, and extra lunchtime treats were all in a day's work. It's a heavenly routine your canine best friend has come to rely on. The downside is that your pup […]

If there was one winner during the past year of social distancing and staying home to stop the spread of COVID-19, it was dogs. Pups across the world relished the constant presence of their people and the extra attention that comes with it. But there's also a flip side to that coin: Once we all […]

Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking.  Alabama – HB 235 would authorize food service establishments to allow pet dogs in outdoor restaurant seating areas and sets out access, sanitation, and other requirements. It also specifies that emotional support animals are not service animals within the meaning of the Americans […]

A passion for terriers and dog shows led 17-year-old Royal Miller, from Pennsylvania, to become ranked as #7 Junior Handler in the Terrier group. "I never expected to be in the top 10 in my group because of COVID-19," Royal explains. "Yet there I was, winning in juniors and moving up to #7 in the […]

Agility really is for any dog, and at the 2021 AKC National Agility Championship (NAC) in Tulsa, Oklahoma, dozens of rescue dogs showed up to prove it. In total, more than 1,000 dogs took place in the competition on March 26-29. Representing 100+ breeds, these dogs came from across the nation. For some dogs, Agility is more than […]

Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking.  Alabama – HB 235 would authorize food service establishments to allow pet dogs in outdoor restaurant seating areas and sets out access, sanitation, and other requirements. It also specifies that emotional support animals are not service animals within the meaning of the Americans […]

It's been a hard year for everyone, and teachers and young students have faced some of the toughest battles of all. One teacher in Seattle hoping to boost morale and engagement in her second-grade remote-learning class hit upon a winning solution: a class pet. A class dog, to be precise, who would join the children […]

Of the 1,119 dogs competing at the 2021 AKC National Agility Championship, 248 are Border Collies. 109 are Shetland Sheepdogs. 98 are mixed breeds. 21 are Pembroke Welsh Corgis. Two are Pugs. One is a Borzoi. More than 100 different breeds are represented at the competition after qualifying last year. This year's event takes place […]

“When Harry Met Minnie: A True Story of Love and Friendship,” by Martha Teichner. Celadon Books. $26.99. OK, admit it. When you see that book title your first thoughts turn to the popular 1989 romantic comedy, “When Harry Met Sally,” starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan. Some of the same elements are in this tender, […]

News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Alabama – House Bill 235 would authorize food service establishments to allow pet dogs in outdoor restaurant seating areas and sets out access, sanitation, and other requirements. It also specifies that emotional support animals are not service animals […]

Aurora, a seven-year-old white, gray, and black mottled Border Collie, kept complete focus, jumping, spinning, and sitting on command in perfect unison with her handler. Aurora was competing in the Rally National Championship in Orlando, Florida, for the fourth time. She's placed in the top 10 of every national event she's competed in. To compete […]

Tomorrow, February 3, the Maryland House Judiciary Committee will be holding a hearing on House Bill 508, which provides certain liability protections when there has been exposure to the COVID-19 virus. Those AKC clubs with concerns about the ability to conduct events while under a higher potential exposure to liability actions associated with COVID-19 may […]

The Indiana State Senate continues to advance Senate Bill 1, which provides certain liability protections when there has been exposure to the COVID-19 virus. This new law may be of potential interest to some AKC-affiliated clubs with concerns about conducting their events while under a higher-than-normal exposure to liability risks. Those who participate in dog […]

From daily walks to proper socialization, you do a lot to make sure your dog is healthy and able to live a long fulfilling life. Whether your dog is from a local rescue or a champion breeder, an important component of keeping your dog healthy is annual vet visits. At these appointments, your vet gives […]

On Tuesday, January 26, the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee will be holding a hearing on Senate Bill 210, which provides certain liability protections when there has been exposure to the COVID-19 virus. Those AKC clubs with concerns about the ability to conduct events while under a higher potential exposure to liability actions associated with […]

I wasn’t initially too worried about the impact the lockdown would have on my dog. We live at the top of Courmayeur, a town with a population less than 3,000, in the Italian Alps, at the foot of Mont Blanc. It’s a tranquil location, nearly 5,000 feet above sea level, with access to stunning mountain […]

Rolissa Nash has been fighting her whole life for equality in and out of the show ring. Rolissa Nash was born in 1950 — a premature baby wedged halfway between a century. At only four pounds, 11 ounces, her difficult birth was just the beginning of her lifelong health struggles, and only one of the […]

It’s been about a year since we first heard the words Corona and COVID on the airwaves and reports. Today, with a vaccine looming, we still are still having massive outbreaks of COVID-19 throughout the country and may still we have questions about the virus, the disease and ideal protocol.  But what we have gained […]

Tomorrow  (Wednesday, January 13), the Indiana Senate Judiciary Committee will be considering Senate Bill 1, which provides certain liability protections when there has been exposure to the COVID-19 virus. This new law may be of potential interest to some AKC-affiliated clubs with concerns about conducting their events while under a higher-than-normal exposure to liability risks. […]

“HOLD STILL!” Telemedicine sounds easy—talk to your vet, never leave your armchair.  And sometimes it is. But sometimes it isn’t. Like now. Have you ever tried holding your dog while pulling his lips back to expose his rearmost molars while at the same time trying to aim your cell-phone camera at the tooth in question? […]

Seventeen-year-old Ariella Harris was the first person in her family to show dogs. Today she's the number one Junior Handler Doberman Pinscher handler in the country. Although she might be the first dog fancier in the family, Ariella's family members are no strangers to working with animals. As a third-generation horse-woman, Ariella is proud to […]

In the COVID-19 era, you better be careful when uttering the word fever. But rest assured, Biewer Fever is all about smiles and plenty of engaging inquisitiveness tossed in for good measure. Welcome the Biewer (pronounced Beaver) Terrier to the American Kennel Club’s full-fledged competition family in the Toy Group. As the AKC’s 197th recognized […]

COVID-19 has changed the way we live and the things that we are able to do with our dogs. But amidst all the cancellations and hardships, one bright light has been the expansion of virtual competition in dog sports, and the ability to participate in dog events remotely. One of the exciting side effects of […]

More than 100 competitors from 29 states and Canada submitted videos of performances for the 2020 AKC Trick Dog Competition. This 2nd Annual competition was a virtual event, open to Elite Performers, AKC’s highest level of trick dogs. The videos were then judged by three AKC licensed judges who selected the winners. The winner, it […]

Czarina Ellingson held her breath as she took the leash off her Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Gatsby, at an Agility trial. She had decided that if he didn't obey her, Czarina would pick him up and walk him out of the ring — therefore willingly disqualifying them from their favorite dog sport. Gatsby — named after […]

Each year, the AKC Humane Fund pays tribute to five dedicated, hardworking dogs for making significant contributions to an individual or entire community. One award is given in each of the following categories: Uniformed Service K-9, Service, Therapy, Search and Rescue, and Exemplary Companion Dog. “Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” –author Roger Caras […]

“Dog’s Best Friend: The Story of an Unbreakable Bond,” by Simon Garfield Talk about timing for a book release! Has there ever been a period in your lifetime when you felt more connected to your dog? COVID-19 has altered our lifestyle this year with work and study at home nonstop, which means we all need […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has given us a lot more time at home with our dogs. That's meant more time for training, either on our own or with virtual dog training classes. One advantage of this at-home learning has been the lack of distractions. It's easier to teach your dog new behavior without anything disrupting their […]

Facing COVID-19, cancellations, and a torrential rainstorm, two Washington state all-breed clubs more than 200 miles apart worked together to put on a safe, five-day cluster. In 1995, the Seattle Mariners fashioned an incredible late-season run that catapulted them into the American League playoffs. In the process came the slogan, Refuse to Lose! On August 24, […]