Puppies are exciting. However, any experienced breeder will tell you they're also a lot of work. A responsible breeder prepares long in advance—to identify the purpose of the breeding; to carefully plan and research the breed, the standard, the health history, and available healthy males of good temperament; to form partnerships with their veterinarians and […]

While all dogs should have a basic soundness, their construction varies depending on breed and purpose. Understanding a dog's conformation requires looking at the canine from all angles. Even though there is nothing you can do to change your current dog's genetics, you can prevent injury and work on strengthening weak areas. Let's be honest: […]

What is lymphedema in dogs? Lymphedema refers to a disorder in which fluid accumulates in the space between cells, causing swelling.

Dogs bark. It's a fact of life that nearly all dog owners must accept. Barking is a self-rewarding behavior. But it is important for breeders and kennel owners to understand the different types of barking, and when it has turned into a problem behavior.  Canine Sounds & What They Mean A bark or vocalization is not just a bark or a vocalization.  A dog owner, breeder, or […]

When you see dogs with cloudy eyes, it may be a natural part of the aging process. But cloudy eyes in dogs can also be a symptom of eye problems.

Fast CAT 101: The AKC's Fastest Sport! Does your dog feel the need for speed? Do you have the fastest dog on the block? Maybe on the planet? Try Fast CAT!

Each AKC-recognized breed is assigned to one of seven groups. We're taking a closer look at the Working Group to see what these 32 breeds were bred to do.

Toothbrushing can be a pain when it comes to your dogs, but with these 12 simple steps, you can make this important grooming process easy for you both.

So, you've decided to rescue a dog. Now what? Between the internet, social media, and suggestions from friends, there is a bewildering sea of options out there. This guide will help you figure out if rescue is the right choice for you, how to know which dog rescue groups are reputable, and how to choose […]

What makes your dog's coat long, short, straight, curly, wiry or silky? Most coat types are determined by genes at just three genetic locations.

This Is a Paid Advertisement for The Farmer's Dog There’s a weight problem in America and it isn’t just affecting humans. The most recent statistics classify the majority of dogs in the U.S.—56%—as overweight or obese. While that makes obesity a major health crisis for dogs, it’s a problem that’s often overlooked, as many pet […]

Dogs require a degree of sacrifice, which owners happily make for the pleasure of having them in our lives. We invest in quality veterinary care and the best dog food we can afford. We buy lint rollers in bulk and learn to live with saliva streaks on our glass doors and windows. And we scooch […]

Over their lifetime, cancer affects one in three dogs. Understand this high risk and life threatening disease so you know the signs and treatments.

It's kind of fitting that a dog named "Snowhill’s Zygmund Marley" is a Polski Owczarek Nizinny (PON in the United States) who answers to a name like Ziggy. Chances are, this is a breed (Polish Lowland Sheepdog) many of you have never heard of. In 2019, the breed ranked 173 out of 193 in popularity. […]

Though we often don’t think about them in this way, dogs are really about people — those long-ago (or, sometimes, not so long-ago) figures who developed particular breeds for particular tasks. Some breeds — like the Doberman Pinscher, Teddy Roosevelt Terrier, and Cesky Terrier — owe their existence to just one visionary person. Other breeds were brought into being […]

Many dermatological conditions cause flaky, inflamed, itchy skin for our pups, but one of the most commonly diagnosed skin diseases is pyoderma in dogs.

It’s an unforgiving 30 degrees below zero on one of the coldest days the Rollins family can ever remember. Twenty-five acres of frozen white fields surround their home in Glenwood City, Wisconsin. In this weather, it makes perfect sense to stay indoors, but 5-year-old Nate Rollins has other ideas. Nate is bound and determined to […]

Learn the causes, signs, and treatment options for laryngeal paralysis in dogs, and how to help maximize your dog's quality of life.

Since diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy was identified in 2018, researchers have linked it to diets with peas, lentils and possibly potatoes.

Whiskey is typically an acquired taste. But at the largest-ever AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin on December 15 and 16, judges and spectators alike toasted a 3-year-old Whippet by that name who went all the way to Best in Show under judge Elliott B. Weiss. The First Whippet Winner Platinum Grand Champion Pinnacle […]

Alysha Riel, a veterinary technician in Minnesota, was working with a local veterinarian who recommended that she get her mixed-breed dog Olive into Flyball, a relay race event complete with jumps, a springloaded box, and a ball. One class was all it took to fall in love with the world of dog sports. Get to […]

The first time Za'Ria Thomas took Kahlua paddle boarding, Kahlua was petrified. The Miniature American Shepherd has a thin undercoat, so the chilly California water quickly makes her cold. Unlike her 15-month-old brother, Whiskey, a true water dog who loves jumping off paddleboards and swimming, 20-month-old Kahlua likes to stay on the board and out […]

Every sport has had its great ones. And the sport of dogs had Alva Rosenberg. Excruciatingly modest and correspondingly revered, Alva Rosenberg was, and arguably still is, the most respected judge in the history of dog shows in America, and perhaps the world. Even the British, who invented the conformation game and have no tendency to […]

Pododermatitis in dogs describes inflammation of the paws. We spoke with a veterinary dermatologist to understand the causes and treatment options.

National Champion Beats Dogs from 49 States and 21 Countries GCHP CH Pinnacle Tennessee Whiskey, a Whippet known as “Whiskey,” triumphed over more than 5,000 entries to earn a $50,000 cash prize and the title of Best in Show at the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin, held December 15-16, 2018 in Orlando, Fla. […]

National Champion Beats Out More Than 5,000 Dogs GCHG CH Lagniappe's From The Mountains To The Bayou, a Giant Schnauzer known as “Bayou” triumphed over more than 5,000 competitors to earn a $50,000 cash prize and the title of Best in Show at the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin, held December 18-19, 2021 […]

The top dogs in the nation were crowned from an overall entry of 132 dogs this past weekend at the AKC Rally Champion (RACH) Invitational. Competitions were held December 11-12, 2025, in conjunction with the 25th AKC® National Championship Presented by Royal Canin at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. The winners: AKC […]

Our Beginnings On September 17, 1884, a group of twelve dedicated sportsmen, responding to a "meeting call" from Messrs. J. M. Taylor and Elliot Smith, met in the rooms of the Philadelphia Kennel Club in that city. Each member of the group was a representative or "delegate" from a dog club that had, in the […]

Season 12 - Winter Season 2026 [accordion] [accordion_panel title="Extended Ph.D."] Top 3 Teams Champion – WestRover’s Speed Squad – Alabama Reserve Champion – Let’s Play TAG – North Carolina Third – Rock City Jumpers – Arkansas Individual Dog Placements 8-Inch Regular 1st – Driver, Papillon, WestRover’s Speed Squad 2nd – Gigi, Poodle, Free For All 3rd – Mabel, […]

Breeder of Merit FAQs [accordion] [accordion_panel title="Prepaid Registrations In Breeder Toolkit"] If you plan to use the prepaid option to register all of the puppies – Do not select the electronic (downloadable) litter kit when you register the litter. That will disable the prepaid option. You are able to send an individual Registration Application for […]