Dedicated to the Schipperke breed, professional breeder and handler Krista Nuovo-Roe of DeLamer Schipperkes has been involved with dogs since she was a child. Since then she has grown into a serious competitor who has worked extremely hard to produce champion dogs. While Nuovo-Roe began working with a different, much larger type of breed, the […]

Spring has arrived and, along with the welcomed warmer temperatures, comes the not-so-welcome pesky insects. This includes mosquitoes that can transmit disease to humans and pets. The Zika virus, transmitted through mosquitoes, has been in the news lately as a health concern for humans causing fever and joint pain and, of most concern for pregnant […]

ASK AKC Dear AKC: What is the difference between a pure white Siberian husky and an "Isabella" white husky.I have a 1-year-old male who is solid white, but I do notice in bright sunlight there is a very slight yellow coloring in some areas. When he was a pup all his points (nose, lips, eye rims) […]

How did you start breeding Old English Sheepdogs? Michaelanne: The OES was my dream dog as a young girl. When Doug and I got married, I was looking at ads for houses and there was an ad for Old English Sheepdog puppies for sale. We went to see them—just to look—and Doug purchased my first […]

How do you know what your dog is thinking? Give him an MRI, of course. While this isn’t practical for the majority of dog owners, for the past five years Dr. Gregory Berns and his colleagues at Emory University have been training dogs to lie still while awake in an MRI scanner, so that they […]

This year, the French Bulldog took West Palm Beach’s top spot in the 2016 ranking of the most popular AKC-recognized dog breeds in the U.S. The French Bulldog was also recognized as the #1 pup in New York City, Honolulu, and San Fransisco. The big mover and shaker in 2016 was the Great Dane. The […]

Once again, the Labrador Retriever took Denver’s top spot in the 2016 ranking of the most popular AKC-recognized dog breeds in the U.S. The Labrador Retriever was also recognized as the #1 pup in Boston, Atlanta, and Houston. Although there were no changes in the Mile High City’s top five, there were some fluctuations in […]

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone that has been affected by Hurricane Harvey. Here is some useful information on disaster preparedness and response, how you can help, and what AKC is doing for dogs and people in need.  Please check back, as we are constantly updating this page with the most up-to-date information and […]

  Opinion: Nothing is more frustrating to a dedicated breeder-exhibitor than hearing that a wonderful owner with unlimited potential in the sport has purchased a dog from a commercial kennel. After all, your breed parent club works hard to update its website and offer a cornucopia of relevant information. You attend dog shows regularly, breed […]

  As active breeder-exhibitors, much of our lives are tied up in numbers. Progesterone testing. Gestation periods. Keeping track of puppy weight gain. AKC registration numbers. Tabulating majors and point totals as we show our next generation of young hopefuls. One of the most important numbers we must keep in mind at all times is […]

Bergamasco (AKC recognition January 1, 2015) The breed’s traffic-stopping dreadlocks are called flocks. (For the Puli and Komondor, they’re called cords.) The flocks begin to form naturally, but during the first year, owners have to be vigilant about separating the mats. Once grown, they’re easy to maintain. At the AKC’s 2015 Meet The Breeds, the Bergamasco […]

U.S. goalball team member Jen Armbruster is ready for the 2016 Paralympics in Rio. The six-time Paralympian is decorated with a gold medal from the 2008 games in Beijing, a silver from Athens in 2004, and a bronze from Atlanta in 1996. She hopes to take home another medal in her last Paralympics, where she […]

BREED 2015 2014 2013 Retrievers (Labrador) 1 1 1 German Shepherd Dogs 2 2 2 Retrievers (Golden) 3 3 3 Bulldogs 4 4 5 Beagles 5 5 4 French Bulldogs 6 9 11 Yorkshire Terriers 7 6 6 Poodles 8 7 8 Rottweilers 9 10 9 Boxers 10 8 7 Pointers (German Shorthaired) 11 12 […]

Responsible breeders do everything they can to keep their puppies safe and healthy from before they were born until the day they leave their kennel. Around 8 to 12 weeks old, the puppies depart from their breeder, and their new lives begin in their meticulously, hand-picked homes. By discerningly choosing the right family for each […]

  Will a Meatless Diet Jeopardize Your Dog’s Health? As farmers’ markets blossom with a wider assortment of fresh fruit and vegetables during the summer months, many families choose to spice up the dinner menu with occasional vegetarian meals. But can the family dog handle a vegetarian diet? In general, dogs are omnivorous. They eat […]

In a letter dated March 30, 2016, the American Kennel Club expressed its concern over the recently passed law that would permit discriminatory practices in employment and public accommodations.  Below is the text of the letter sent to Attorney General Roy Cooper. Mr. Roy Cooper Attorney General North Carolina Department of Justice The American Kennel Club employs more […]

AKC Breeder Spotlight: Julia Heidbrink of Buggytown Bird Dogs Each month the American Kennel Club profiles breeders to hear how they got started, their breeding program, and their experience with AKC Marketplace. We recently spoke with Julia Heidbrink of Buggytown Bird Dogs. Julia started breeding German Shorthaired Pointers about 10 years ago and today she […]

  AKC Breeder Spotlight: Jennifer Young-Hopkins of Y-Farms Kennels Each month, the American Kennel Club (AKC) profiles breeders to hear about how they got started, their breeding program, and their experience with AKC Marketplace. We recently spoke with AKC Breeder of Merit Jennifer Young-Hopkins of Y-Farms Kennels in Zachary, La. Here, she answers questions about […]

  A dog gate creates a boundary that keeps your dog either inside or outside another area of the house or grounds. It’s a useful piece of equipment, whether you have a brand new puppy or dogs that usually have the run of the house. A gate gives a puppy a safe, dog-proofed area to […]

Although one of the earliest breeds to be registered with the AKC, the Field Spaniel almost faded into obscurity prior to the 1960s. And that would be a shame because this is one terrific dog. In the field, he’s known for endurance and energy, equally adept on land or water. But where the Field Spaniel […]

The Norwich Terrier is living proof that good things come in small packages. Although only 10 inches tall, there's a lot of dog in that small body. Bred as a fearless ratter, this is a real working terrier. But combine that with his affectionate, fun-loving nature, and he's also an ideal family companion. Longtime fans […]

By now the lean, chiseled body of Rin Tin Tin is engraved in most people’s minds. A faithful companion, best friend, and super sleuth alongside his partners, Rin Tin Tin brought the emblematic German Shepherd Dog into our lives and living rooms throughout the years, gaining popularity for this intelligent dog breed that waned only […]

Although GCHS Oceano Darbydale’s Xecutive Decision (affectionately known as Xander) is entering the ring at the Beverly Hills Dog Show this weekend for the first time, he’s already accustomed to winning big—especially at the expense of his owner. The Newfoundland, though a member of the Working Group, decided early on that he shouldn’t have to […]

There's so much to see at this year's AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin. One of the most thrilling events on display is dock diving, where dogs seem to fly through the air into a body of water. We had the chance to catch up with one of the canines competing this year, Storie, […]

The Spinone Italiano has always been near and dear to Italy, but only made a splash in the United States recently. If you haven't yet had a chance to get to know the breed, here are six interesting facts about the Spinone: 1. They Are Among the World's Oldest Hunting Dogs Until recently, the Spinone […]

The Chinese Shar-Pei has an incredible story, going from exceedingly rare to exceedingly popular in only a couple of decades. Here are some interesting things you didn't know about the Chinese Shar-Pei: 1. They Originated in Ancient China The Chinese Shar-Pei has been around since at least 200 B.C. Archeologists discovered statues that bear a […]

Courtesy of Mary J McKennan, AKC Breeder of Merit   The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is a hard worker and a loyal companion. It's most popular in Poland, naturally, but it also has a community of devoted owners in the United States. Here are some interesting facts you may not know about the Polish Lowland Sheepdog. […]

Socializing puppies has traditionally been considered the responsibility of the new owner. We instruct them to take the puppy to classes and make sure they are exposed to a variety of people and situations. But more research shows that encouraging a stable temperament can start even before puppies are born. Breeders can do a lot […]

In honor of Check the Chip Day, we wanted to share some great lost-dog recovery stories courtesy of AKC Reunite. These dogs all went missing, but were eventually found and reunited with their families with a little help from their microchips. Meet Monroe, the French Bulldog.   Monroe snuck out the front door and was […]

If you're reading this...you're probably someone who loves animals, especially dogs. And at AKC's eighth annual Meet the Breeds event, Piers 92 and 94 were packed full with dog lovers of all kinds. Families, breeders, agility competitors, and more all came out to NYC to meet different dog and cat breeds and work together to […]