The American Kennel Club (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panel for AKC Virtual Top Dog Challenge III. This virtual conformation event is open to all AKC-recognized breeds and Miscellaneous class breeds. Best in Show and Best Puppy Michael Canalizo   Regular and Puppy Groups SPORTING Mr. Douglas A Johnson HOUND Mr. Eugene Blake […]

The spotlight shines on a rare breed that was developed in America – the Chinook. Junie represents this working breed in League this season, running on an Elementary team in Alaska where she puts her sled dog genes to good use, as well as running agility. The Chinook is the state dog of New Hampshire; […]

  [accordion] [accordion_panel title="In the Zone - June 2026"] AKC Agility League Spotlight: Meet Agility Mother & Son Malamutes Meet the Season 12 Elementary Team Champions! AKC Agility League Course Design Team AKC Agility League Fall Season Dates Announced [/accordion_panel] [accordion] [accordion_panel title="In the Zone - May 2026"] AKC Agility League Spotlight: Meet a Cane […]

    2023 AKC Fast CAT Invitational Best of Breed Winners Results as of 12/15/23 3:11PM ***All official and final results will be posted following the conclusion of the event*** Breed Call Name Owner Final Time Airedale Terrier Oliver Lauren Combs 7.754 Alaskan Klee Kai Isla Cheryl Simpson 8.746 Alaskan Malamute McKinley Nadaga Poist 8.645 […]

    Breed Rank Retrievers (Labrador) 1 German Shepherd Dogs 2 Retrievers (Golden) 3 French Bulldogs 4 Bulldogs 5 Poodles 6 Beagles 7 Rottweilers 8 Pointers (German Shorthaired) 9 Pembroke Welsh Corgis 10 Dachshunds 11 Yorkshire Terriers 12 Australian Shepherds 13 Boxers 14 Siberian Huskies 15 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels 16 Great Danes 17 Miniature […]

The following are the group designations that AKC breeds have been assigned. There are currently 205 breeds and 9 breeds with 21 varieties.  The varieties are by size, color or group.   The varieties are marked by **(Revised 3/10/26) [accordion] [accordion_panel title="Sporting Group – 33 breeds"] Sporting Group Naturally active and alert, Sporting dogs make likeable, […]

More Dogs Needed for Project to Improve Canine Lifespan The Dog Aging Project is a national effort to improve dogs’ health and longevity. Meet two owners and their mixed-breeds who participate in the project and learn how you can help. A road trip gave Colleen Sweeney a lot more than souvenirs and photographs of pretty […]

Order AKC DNA + Health Kit Activate AKC DNA Kit DNA Resource Center All AKC DNA + Health Kits include: The AKC DNA Profile of 201 markers for genetic identity and parentage verification purposes 328 genetic variants for health and traits, including coat color Results are delivered by our trusted service provider (Neogen) with the […]

He’s almost 1½ years old but you should see his social calendar already. And managing it resembles a command central operation. Dubs is a 75-pound Alaskan Malamute who just happens to be the University of Washington’s mascot and a conformation show dog in the Pacific Northwest. The university explains why it chose an Alaskan Malamute […]

Meet four representatives of the Working Group, blue-collar dogs with strength and smarts, and understand why responsible breeding of working dogs is particularly important.

She's a Grand Champion in the show ring, but Florin's more impressive title is Super Mom. The gregarious 4-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog, owned by Layal Bouaoun, of St. Louis County, Missouri, is equally comfortable on the streets of Manhattan, as she demonstrated recently while competing in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, or on her […]

With winter comes the cold. But some dogs don't hate the cold; in fact, several breeds absolutely love it! (Note: Just because these dogs were bred to withstand cold temperatures does not mean it is safe to leave them outdoors for long on cold days. They, too, can get frostbite and hypothermia.) Here are seven […]

No velvet pillows, hair ribbons, or French pedicures for these big bruisers. These are the no-nonsense, punch-the-clock-and-get-it-done dogs of the AKC Working Group, the Ford pickups of the canine kingdom. Many factors go into breeding dogs that work hard for their feed. Let’s consider a few, and then watch some well-bred workers in action. Physical […]

They participate in exciting adventures — from racing in the Iditarod to transporting explorers in the Arctic — so sled dogs hold a special place in our hearts and imaginations. It isn’t every dog breed that can run for miles across the tundra, surviving bitter-cold conditions, blizzards, and the rigors of long-distance racing, while also […]

Tails probably come in as many varieties as dogs do. While these 10 breeds are great in many ways, their curly tails certainly help with the cute factor.

College football season is once again upon us, and that means it's time to get your jerseys out and start planning your tailgate parties. College football is already great, but one thing that makes it even better? Live dog mascots on the sidelines. Even if you're not a football fan, you'll be sure to find […]

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away … A young aspiring filmmaker owned a dog. She was just a pet, but this big, fuzzy friend would turn out to be one of the most influential animals, ever. As the filmmaker, George Lucas, tells it, here’s what happened. “I had an Alaskan Malamute […]

As you sit around your tree enjoying the presents delivered overnight, we can't help but think Santa's reindeer have it kind of easy. Fine, so one night a week, they lead Santa's sleigh around the globe, but these breeds of sled dogs reliably pull their weight all year round in some parts of the world. […]

Hiking is an ideal outdoor activity enjoyed by all types of people and dogs, but some breeds are better suited to hiking and life on the trail than others.

Active, friendly, outgoing – the Labrador Retriever, or Lab for short, perfectly encompasses the state of Ohio’s slogan – ‘The Heart of it All.’ It’s no wonder that earlier this month, Ohio State Representative Jeffrey S. Rezabek introduced House Bill 539 to recognize the Lab as the state dog. The versatile Lab is often trained […]