By Bruce T. PaddockIt’s a well-worn cliché that dogs are “man’s best friend,” but surely there can be no greater act of friendship than to save a person’s life. Two different breeds, the Saint Bernard and Newfoundland, were developed to do just that. Rescuer of the Alps: The Saint Bernard There is only one pass […]

There are certain situations where it’s ok and actually preferred to have more fluff.For example:More fluff on your peanut butter and marshmallow sandwich? Yes! More fluff for your favorite pillow—Please!More fluff all over your black dress pants—No, thank you! Fortunately, regular bathing and grooming can keep even the most fluffy furballs at bay. Here are the top six […]

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 […]

Our pack is getting bigger and bigger! The American Kennel Club has given four additional breeds AKC recognition, bringing the total number of recognized breeds to 184.Allow us to introduce you to:Cirneco dell’EtnaThe Cirneco dell’Etna hails from Italy and joins the Hound group. The Cirneco is a hunter that works by scent, sight, and hearing. The breed has […]

Alan Kalter and Dr. Chris Lezotte were presented with the 2016 AKC Breeder of the Year award for their HappyLegs Bullmastiffs at the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin on Saturday, December 17, 2016. The annual award honors those breeders who have made an impact on their breed and dedicated their lives to improving […]

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. […]

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 […]

Those who watched the 2008 Westminster Dog Show will fondly remember Best in Show winner Uno prancing around the ring bellowing the trademark Beagle sound, “A-roo!” Each breed has its own distinctive bark (or in the case of the the African Barkless Dog, the Basenji, more of a yodel). To highlight each of those unique […]

All anyone has ever seen is a glimpse of these creatures, and there have been many different accounts, but there are two constants in all Bigfoot sightings. They are "as big as a man, and covered with hair from head to foot," one newspaper reported in 1884. Hmmmm. That could easily describe any number of […]

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 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 […]

By Flo Laicher, Putnam Kennel Club Delegate  By Flo Laicher, Putnam Kennel Club Delegate Wanting to serve the pets and pet owners in our community, members of the Putnam Kennel Club, Inc. (PKC) started a project to donate rescue mask kits to the fire departments in Putnam County, New York. This kit gives the fire […]

TEXT AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY RIA HÖRTER REPRINTED FROM THE CANINE CHRONICLE During war time, dogs have been used as messenger dogs, patrol dogs, guard dogs, mine dogs, Red Cross dogs or as draught dogs for the transportation of weapons, ammunition, food and medical supplies. No role at all Numerous dog books state that Greek and Roman […]

An event such as the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin offers an amazing opportunity to meet the many breeds competing in the ring. This year, the AKC Meet the Breeds individual booths represented more than 100 breeds. Like every breed, and, in fact, every dog, every booth is truly unique. Each breed club […]

Since dogs are an important part of our lives, dogs are also an important part of our literature. They accompany us on our adventures and protect us from our adversaries. Sometimes, dogs are the stars of the stories. Here's a list of the most beloved dogs in literature: 1. Lassie Lassie is by far the […]

On October 1, the AKC rolled out Scent Work, a new titling event open to all dogs. Before the AKC introduces a new sport, staff methodically evaluates, adapts, and develops the event. The process can take several months, sometimes years. Stephanie Kennerley is Sports and Events Projects coordinator. Her department creates and implements new AKC sports […]

Like many scientists before them, Dr. Laura M. Shannon and Dr. Adam R. Boyko of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine went searching for the origin and location of the modern dog. Along with a team of international scientists, they analyzed three kinds of DNA in the blood samples of nearly 5,000 dogs. The dogs […]

Every year in conjunction with the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin the general public is given the exciting opportunity to meet (and more importantly, play with!) over 100 different dog breeds at AKC Meet the Breeds. Attendees get the opportunity to learn about the different breeds and find out which dog might be […]

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 […]

The AKC will now offer two new entry-level agility classes. These classes, Agility Course Test (ACT) 1 & 2 will allow beginners an easier entry into the sport. The classes will have shorter courses with basic obstacles specifically designed for beginners. ACT 1 & 2 will serve as the graduation exercise for training classes and […]

COCKER SPANIEL “STRIKER” WINS BEST IN SHOW AT LARGEST EVER AKC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY ROYAL CANIN National Champion Beats Dogs from 50 States and 44 Countries   GCHP CH Silverhall Strike Force, an ASCOB Cocker Spaniel known as “Striker” triumphed over nearly 5,000 dogs to earn a $50,000 cash prize, a paw print pendant […]

Westminster Kennel Club & American Kennel Club Set to Take Over NYC With Meet & Compete - Cats Return to 2018 “Meet the Breeds” Event - The Westminster Kennel Club and American Kennel Club (AKC®) present Meet & Compete, featuring the 5th Annual Masters Agility Championship at Westminster and AKC Meet the Breeds®, brought to […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panel for the 2017 AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 16 and Sunday, December 17, 2017. The 2017 event will showcase the top national and international canine athletes […]

–Award Presented at AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin –   Alan Kalter and Dr. Chris Lezotte were presented with the 2016 AKC Breeder of the Year award for their HappyLegs Bullmastiffs at the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin on Saturday, December 17, 2016.  The annual award honors those breeders who have […]

National Champion Beats Dogs from 49 States and Hundreds of International Competitors   GCHB CH Cordmaker Mister Blue Sky, a Puli known as “Preston” triumphed over nearly 5,000 dogs to earn a $50,000 cash prize and the title of Best in Show at the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin, held this weekend in […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to recognize breeding programs from the Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups as 2016 AKC Breeder of the Year group honorees. “We are proud to honor some of the nation’s finest breeders with this award,” said Dennis Sprung, AKC President and CEO. “The dogs that […]

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 […]

– The Spanish Water Dog, Cirneco dell’Etna, Bergamasco, & Boerboel Gain Full AKC Recognition – New York, NY –The pack has expanded! The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) announced today that the Spanish Water Dog, Cirneco dell’Etna, Bergamasco, and Boerboel gained full AKC recognition. This brings AKC’s roster of recognized breeds to 184. "The AKC is […]

New York, NY – At the March 2014 meeting of the American Kennel Club® (AKC®) Board of Directors, Alan Kalter, Chairman, appointed Ronald H. Menaker to lead a Real Estate Committee.  The Committee will evaluate all options for AKC’s office or offices well before the New York and North Carolina office leases expire in 2019 […]