If you have ever seen the fast sport of Flyball, you probably spotted many Border Collies and Australian Shepherds streaking down the lanes. But all dogs can play in this team relay race. Just ask Olive, a French Bulldog mix, who recently earned the prestigious ONYX award from the North American Flyball Association (NAFA) for […]

AKC is published bi-monthly. It is not available on any newsstand. Subscribe now and be on the mailing list for the very next issue! One year (6 issues) of AKC is only $9.95. SUBSCRIBE NOW! See a sneak peak of the September/October 2017 issue: The Puppy Issue When Bulldogs Fly They have a surprising repertoire […]

AKE 20.3 1889-1908 1.75 linear ft (in 2 flat boxes.) Processed by Brynn White, 2016   Click here for a printable PDF of the collection finding aid   The collection includes clippings of the 204 pen drawings by promiment dog painter and show judge Gustav Muss-Arnolt published between 1889 and 1908 in the American Kennel Club […]

Ginger was a shelter puppy, on the red-list alert for euthanasia, before Laurene adopted her. Ginger, now 4 years old, and Laurene love to hike, run, and train for obedience. In only three years of competing, Ginger has earned the AKC Canine Good Citizen award, AKC Rally Excellent (RE) title, and gone through the highest […]

Canine Care Tip Brought to You by the AKC GoodDog! Helpline Team School will be out soon and summer vacation is coming up! Planning to bring Fido on your family road trip? A little planning ahead will make your trip smoother. Here are a few tips to keep your dog cool and comfortable! Before your trip: […]

Stella was found as a puppy in a warehouse, and I adopted her at 4 months of age from a rescue group that advertised her as a Border Collie-terrier mix.  Stella didn’t act like a terrier and kept growing, and growing. A DNA test indicated that she is 25% Great Pyrenees, 25% Old English Sheepdog, 25% […]

  A few short weeks ago, it felt like you had all the time in the world with your new litter, but now it’s nearly time for your puppies to go home with their forever families. The 6-to-8-week period is especially critical for meeting as many people as possible and experiencing as many stimuli as […]

-- 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 […]

ASK AKC  Dear AKC: Our family is searching for the right breed of dog for our family. We have two sons at home, 12 and 13 years old, and are looking for a small family pet of 35 lb. or less in weight fully grown. Any advice you can give would be appreciated. -- Looking […]

Careful Breeding I am writing the column this time not as an individual who is experienced in the world of purebred dogs but as a layperson who lost a beloved pet. I recently lost my Doberman Pinscher, Amber, who was a family member to us. She lived with a Bulldog, two cats, and later two grandchildren […]

Ask AKC  All dog owners need expert advice from time to time to meet the challenges of caring for their canines. The American Kennel Club aims to provide you and your purebred dog with the help you asked for. Dear AKC: I have a new Bulldog I rescued from a shelter about two months ago. […]

There is nothing better than welcoming a new puppy to your family.  Today, we live vicariously through these 10 people and their new puppy's bright-eyed adorableness.     A photo posted by Chester (@chester_the_oes) on Mar 16, 2016 at 10:32am PDT     A photo posted by Sunshine The Golden Pup (@sunshinethegoldenpup) on Mar 15, […]

Owning a French Bulldog doesn't necessarily require that you become fluent in French, but Frenchies tend to insist that you become dedicated to ensuring their care and comfort.Here are 10 things every French Bulldog owner quickly learns about the breed: 1. Frenchies can transform their 25-pound body into a 200-pound dead weight at any time while on a […]

It’s one of the great dog-themed anthems of rock ’n’ roll, but up until the last minute “Hey Bulldog” was supposed to be about a frog. It was early February 1968, as the Beatles were preparing for their fateful trip to India to meditate with the Maharishi. Pressed for time, and with a commitment for […]

Big dogs equal big love and loyalty. Here are the large dog breeds that earn their place at the top of the size chart. Most people will know the Great Dane but what about the lovely Leonberger? When considering getting a dog, size is a factor, but only one of them. The dog’s personality, activity […]

Dogs that can be considered of medium size can be found in most of the AKC’s seven groups. Whether it’s the energetic Shetland Sheepdog, the sporty spaniels, or the laid back Bulldog, there is a range of temperament and appearance within this size category. When considering getting a dog, size is a factor, but only […]

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 […]

Long before smushface" and "wigglebutt" became the ubiquitous dog monikers, these seven breeds were given nicknames crafted specifically for them.  the Clown Prince of Dogs At various times devotees of at least a dozen different breeds have claimed this title for their dogs. But to our knowledge only one group of fanciers has incorporated canine clowning […]

AKC GoodDog! Helpline trainer Hilarie Erb provides tips for starting a jogging program with your dog. It is important to do this safely and provide the proper training before you take off running! If you are a runner and think that your dog would be the ideal running partner, you may be right. However, there […]

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 […]

The Labrador Retriever has done it again. The intelligent, family friendly breed held onto the number one spot on the most popular list for the 24th consecutive year, continuing the longest reign as the nation’s top dog in American Kennel Club history. For the full list of breed rankings, click here. While the Lab holds strong, […]

July 14 is Bastille Day, when France and Francophiles the world over commemorate the start of the French Revolution in 1789. The AKC joins the celebration in just the way you’d expect—with dogs. Here’s a roundup of some AKC breeds developed in France, plus a few that are French by tradition if not by birth. […]

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 […]

“Please show me the bite.” When determining if a dog exemplifies his breed standard, this portion of the judging exam can be as vital as the down-and-back. And in some breeds, dental structure is among their most defining characteristics. Many standards are explicit in their bite description, down to an exact number of teeth. Other […]

The French Bulldog is the most popular dog breed in New York City for 2015, according to AKC registration data. While the family-friendly Labrador Retriever is the most popular breed in the United States, the adaptable French Bulldog holds the No. 1 spot in the nation's largest city.  However, the Frenchie isn't top dog in every […]

Although the Labrador Retriever is the most popular dog in the United States, the Lab isn't top dog in a few of the 25 most populous cities, according to AKC registration data. For example, the playful and adaptable French Bulldog is No. 1 in New York City and San Francisco, while the active and intelligent Poodle is […]

For many at-risk youth in New York City, violence and crime is an inescapable fact of life. But Audrey Hendler is hoping to change that, with the help of about 25 four-legged teaching assistants. In 2010, Hendler launched A Fair Shake for Youth, a program that brings therapy dogs into middle schools in under-served communities […]

January is National Train Your Dog Month and there's no better way to celebrate the bond between you and your canine companion than by introducing some fun into your daily routine. Tricks training is a great way to do that. National Train Your Dog Month was established six years ago by the Association of Professional […]

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 […]

This Bulldog puppy is less than two-months-old, but he's already got himself a very important job. The pup's name is Handsome Dan XVIII and he is the new mascot for Yale University. Handsome Dan already has a twitter account, where he shared this absolutely adorable picture of himself.   So excited to be a part […]