When Christian Stoinev was 10, he was gripped by a yearning that is common among boys of that age. “I wanted a pet, really bad,” he recalls. But Stoinev’s life was not like that of most little boys. He was a child of the circus, the youngest member of a big-top family that stretched back […]

The Italian Greyhound is many things, as well as a smaller cousin of the Greyhound. Learn more about this sleek, quick sighthound.

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.

The sassy Chihuahua packs a lot of personality into that tiny body. Learn more about the breed's history with these fun facts.

Bored dogs can get up to mischief, but there are plenty of ways to engage your pet. Here are some leading causes of boredom in dogs, as well as ways to deal with them.

AKC Meet the Breeds events are a fun and educational way to spend a day with the whole family, and maybe even figure out which dog breed is right for you! If you are attending an AKC Meet the Breeds event, or are thinking about attending an event in the future, you can find out […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®) is pleased to recognize its affiliated dog clubs which have been holding AKC events for over 100 years and are an essential part of the sport of dogs. Airedale Terrier Club of America Japanese Chin Club of America Airedale Terrier Club of New England Kennel Club of Buffalo American Chesapeake […]

Cute aggression is described as an overwhelming feeling of wanting to squeeze something adorable, like a puppy. Here's how to control it.

The AKC currently registers 205 dog breeds. The chart below lists all AKC recognized breeds and the year they first became registrable with the AKC.  (last updated 1/1/26) DATE – BREED 1878 – Pointer  1878 – Retriever (Chesapeake Bay)  1878 – Spaniel (Clumber)  1878 – Spaniel (Cocker)  1878 – Setter (English)  1878 – Setter (Gordon)  […]

A presidential name, a passion for rounding up rodents, and short legs powering a long, muscular body, the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is an American breed...

GCHP CH Ta Sen Westgate Jingle Juice, a Lhasa Apso known as “JJ” triumphed over more than 5,500 competitors to earn a $50,000 cash prize when they were awarded Best in Show at the 25th AKC® National Championship Presented by Royal Canin, held December 13-14, 2025 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. […]

The highest prize in the world of conformation dog shows is Best in Show at the AKC National Championship, presented by Royal Canin. Out of the 5,500 dogs that competed in the competition's 25th year, only one was crowed Best in Show. After an intense weekend of breed, group, and Best in Show competition on […]

The 20th annual AKC Agility Invitational, saw some of the most agile dogs in the country. See the winners in each division here.

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 […]

Meet 'Haldis,' a Norwegian Lundehund handled by Kristina Maze, who's competing at the 2025 AKC National Championship in Orlando, FL.

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 […]

Never mind the Mouse. In December, Orlando is all about the dog. Actually, make that plural: Dogs–thousands of them, from tiny Chihuahuas to ginormous Great Danes–stream into Florida to compete in the American Kennel Club's annual flagship event, the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin. But if you're never attended before, you might just […]

Long-coated Chihuahua "Bear" is among the oldest dogs - and only one of his breed - to compete in Rally for the 2025 AKC RACH Invitational.

I can hardly believe the first day of winter is almost upon us! Where did the warm summer sunshine go? Cold weather is just around the corner, and I must be honest: My dog loves winter and I do not. This means we must meet in the middle. Meeting in the middle will look different […]

Dog agility is an exciting celebration of canine athleticism and the dog-human bond. Learn if the sport is right for you and how to get started.

We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles and honors in Agility, Coursing Ability, Fast CAT, Rally, Obedience, Scent Work, Tracking, and Trick Dog! AGILITY Masters Agility Championship (MACH) MACH Racing On Arrows Edge MXB MJB MXF T2B2 owned by Nicole Shaffer of Colorado Springs, CO  In 2018, […]

The AKC® National Championship presented by Royal Canin has a grand total of 5,557 dogs that will compete for the title of America’s National Champion on December 13 and 14, 2025 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Additionally, 1,602 puppies and juniors will vie for Puppy/Junior of the Year in the AKC/Royal […]

Cooling mats and other similar products for dogs intend to provide relief and prevent heatstroke on hot days. Many rely on pressure-activated gel.

The American Kennel Club and the Federacion Canofila Mexicana unite in 2026 in Mexico City for landmark AKC-sanctioned dog show events.

The American Kennel Club (AKC®), a not-for-profit organization that is the world’s largest registry of purebred and mixed-breed dogs - and a leading voice for canine welfare and responsible ownership, is pleased to announce the FCM Universal Dog Show licensed by AKC with Federación Canófila Mexicana (FCM), the official Kennel Club of Mexico, to be […]

When it comes to choosing the right dog chews, the options seem just about endless. You may have heard that rawhide chews aren't good for dogs, or that they're filled with awful chemicals, or that they will get lodged in your dog's intestine. But is this really true information about rawhide? Are rawhide chews safe […]

We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles and honors in Agility, Coursing Ability, Fast CAT, Rally, Obedience, Scent Work, Tracking, and Trick Dog! AGILITY New AGCH (Agility Grand Champion) AGCH MACH4 Gorman's Athena MXB2 PDS MJS2 PJS MFG TQX T2B6 owned by Diane Fairfax Gorman of St. […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panel for the 25th AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14, 2025. The 2025 event will showcase the top canine athletes and will also […]

The American Kennel Club is opposed to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. In solidarity with Ukrainian people, judges from the Russian Federation will not be approved to judge at AKC sanctioned events. *UPDATE: Dogs born in Russia that have been exported to other countries, with registries recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and registered in […]

for more information about foreign registries or the foreign registration process, please visit https://www.akc.org/rules/special-registry-services/ ALG Algeria AMS American Samoa ADR Andorra ANT Antigua ARG Argentina ARB Aruba AUS Australia AST Austria AZE Azerbaijan AZR Azores BAH Bahamas BRN Bahrain BAN Bangladesh BAR Barbados BLR Belarus BEL Belgium BLZ Belize BER Bermuda BOL Bolivia BOS Bosnia BRA […]