This article originally appeared in the summer 2013 issue of the AKC Canine Partners News. Since that time, Diesel, now 4 years old, has added many other achievements, including earning the top AKC Rally title of Rally Advanced Excellent. His full name is now Tennessee Diesel Smoke CD BN GN RAE CGCA. The pointers and […]

Meet Colonel Charles Beckwith RN THDD CGCA owned by Kevin & Kathi Zornes of Lucasville, OH Beck has earned the AKC Therapy Dog – Distinguished title for making more than 400 visits to help others! Beck is a Beagle/English Setter mix whom Kevin and Kathi adopted in February 2010. “With a sweet yet fun personality, […]

The rescue group, which focuses on English Setters, agreed to take her. When the transport driver arrived and asked for “the setter,” he was given Amber who was clearly not a setter. But the driver was true to his mission and took her any way. After a few months of fostering, Amber got posted to the A&B […]

AKC Celebrates 125th Anniversary and Tips its Hat to Two Irish Breeds That Were Among the First Recognized In honor of St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th, the American Kennel Club® (AKC) celebrates the loveable breeds of Irish descent. Notable Irish breeds include the Irish Red & White Setter which was welcomed into the AKC […]

-- AKC Celebrates 125th Anniversary with a Look Back at First AKC Registered Breeds in History -- For the 18th consecutive year, the Labrador Retriever is the most popular purebred dog in America, according to 2008 registration statistics released today by the American Kennel Club® (AKC) But, while more than twice as many Labs were […]

While going through boxes of dog-related material one day, I came across some interesting facts about porcupines. I live in a small country town nestled in an area consisting of mostly woods, streams, stone walls, and rock formations, where an all-too-curious Red and White might possibly encounter this prickly creature. Since two of my Red […]

Always on the go and looking to keep a canine by your side? We have rounded up the most active dog breeds. They have no short supply of energy and are a perfect fit for an owner looking for a running buddy or an agility partner. Pembroke Welsh Corgi Pembroke Welsh Corgis are strong, athletic […]

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 […]

Swarms of setters, hordes of herders, oodles of Poodles— with the seemingly endless variety of dogs gaiting around AKC show rings, you might assume every breed in creation is represented. Actually, hundreds of breeds from around the world are outside the AKC orbit. Here are just a few:   ESTRELA MOUNTAIN DOG Birthplace: northern Portugal Job […]

Seeming to float around the dog show ring, with a silky, lustrous coat waving, some long-coated breeds may inspire envy in their human admirers: As a silver Afghan Hound glided past, a spectator turned to her companion and said, “I’d kill to have hair like that!” But even dogs who’ve never stepped foot in a […]

There is a general movement within the dog world that has breeders and their clubs looking for new ways to make breed improvements. This is occurring because of the growing arsenal of tools available to breeders and their clubs. Given these conditions, the opportunity for making improvements is well within the reach of most clubs […]

For Picks of The Litter, a regular book review series, Ranny Green critiques “Two Dogs and a Parrot: What Our Animal Friends Can Teach Us About Life" (Blue Bridge). This cranial jukebox of enriching stories reflects a tough realism throughout whether the subject is an Irish Setter, Golden Retriever, or a medium-sized parrot. The internationally […]

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 […]

There's a special event at the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin in Orlando, Fla. where the only competition may be for which dog breed you fall in love with first. AKC Meet the Breeds® gives dog lovers, adults and children, alike, a unique chance to meet and play with dogs of more than […]

What do Lindsey Dicken, Victor Rosado, Mackensie Murphy, Michelle Breen, Cat Opson, and Cheryl Purcell have in common with Michael Phelps? Well, while this U.S.A. team may not be breaking records in the 100-fly, they are winning gold medals . . . in grooming! On Oct. 1, the AKC-sponsored U.S.A. team participated in the World […]

Jewelry for Dog Lovers Some of the best gifts come in small packages. And who doesn't love jewelry? Our breed-specific charms, pendants, and pins will wow the dog lovers in your life; they're beautifully rendered, high quality, and show how thoughtful you are. You can browse our jewelry collection or see our top sellers below: […]

Each year, we are proud to recognize and celebrate the men and women who dedicate their lives to improving the health, temperament, and quality of purebred dogs. These breeders are the heart of our organizations and they deserve to be recognized for their incredible work. One breeder is chosen from each of the seven groups […]

Movement involves every part of a dog’s construction, and because no two breeds move exactly alike, the study of movement can be a life’s work. Expert breeders and anatomists have written shelves full of books on the subject, and gifted photographers and filmmakers have documented canine locomotion in minute detail. Here, then, are just a […]

Learning Objectives With support from the teacher, students will organize, represent, and interpret data. Students will ask and answer questions about the total number of data points and how many are in each category.   Grade Levels K-2   Common Core Standard CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.MD.C.4 Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories; ask and […]