This speedy game hunter and loving companion has delighted Italian Greyhound owners for more than 2000 years. Learn more about Italian Greyhound history.

The AKC FIT DOG program began in 2022 and is designed to encourage dogs and people to be more active with their dogs to support their health and fitness.

Saint Bernard 'Shayna' may not be the most agile dog, but she is competing in both the AKC Obedience Classic and the AKC Agility Invitational.

Natalia Backos, a 14-year-old from Greensburg, Pennsylvania, has never known a time when she didn't spend her weekends at dog shows. A proud third-generation breeder/owner/handler, Backos is following in the footsteps of her grandmother and mother, alongside her sister. Her dogs include her Parson Russell Terriers BISS GCH Panther Creek Stone Cold Sober "Boozer" and […]

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 […]

For Valerie Schuter, doing a good deed for a dog turned into her downsizing Pinschers. The 30-year Doberman Pinscher breeder and rescue volunteer helped another breeder and ended up transitioning to the smaller German Pinschers—notably Bentley—GCH Diamond Bay A Chevelle Bentley Tribute. This conformation Grand Champion has a passion for people and racked up 13 […]

Remember “The Golden Girls” — that TV sitcom staple decades ago? Well, today’s version is fun-loving, too, but has gone to the dogs. And boy do they know their breed, Golden Retrievers. Nancy Lewine and Jenny Cochran are the brains and workhorses behind GoldenSoul Dogs, of Harleysville, Pennsylvania, and American Kennel Club Breeders of Merit. […]

Rory is a well-versed Collie with 12 titles in dog sports On his dam's side, Rory's litter represents 13 generations of Kaye's Chelsea Collies Give Rory, a sable and white Collie, the chance to compete in a dog sport, and he struts his athletic stuff with fluff and finesse. The 13th generation of AKC Champion […]

Leaping over a broad jump, hopping through a hoop, and digging furiously underground to find rats. Add in a sniff-out session, some snappy switchbacks around poles, and a 100-yard dash in tizzy time and it looks like a dog in supersonic shenanigans. If this sounds like a flashy, popular breed who always stands in the […]

What’s better than owning a top-winning show dog? Simple: Breeding one. In theory, anyone can purchase a canine competitor: All you need is a checking account with enough zeroes in it. But it’s far more challenging to produce quality purebred dogs that are consistently sound, well tempered and typey — that is to say, that […]

To raise strong, healthy puppies, you need a strong, healthy brood bitch. As a breeder, you choose your potential brood bitch carefully, probably earning conformation and/or performance titles with her and making sure she has all the health and genetic testing recommended for the breed. Extensive research goes into choosing a worthy sire that has […]

Each month, the American Kennel Club (AKC) profiles breeders to hear how they got started and learn about their breeding program and experience with AKC Marketplace. We recently spoke with Cathy Lewandowski of SoftMaple Curly-Coated Retrievers in Croghan, N.Y. Lewandowski is an AKC Breeder of Merit who has produced versatile, top-winning dogs. Lewandowski's love for […]

Bonnet started as Horton's Novice A dog. The pair competed successfully all the way to a UDX title. The Norwegian Elkhound survived a stroke and was "truly a hero," showing her owner "what was important in life that I did not already know" he says. While he doesn’t have an iconic Superman "S" on his […]

Meet Dallas-based disc dog team Daniel Suda and Beauceron "Fat Tuesday," who will compete at the 2025 AKC UpDog Invitational for Freestyle.

Blur had an impressive pedigree before his accident. Now, even with three legs, he's still making waves in sports like Fast CAT and lure coursing.

In 2000, the movie 'Best in Show' was released, the fictitious Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show. And one character was based on handler Michael Canalizo.

Kristin Platzer and her Shih Tzu, 'Lucy,' defied expectations with their final, heartwarming routine at the 2023 national AKC Trick Dog Competition.

In its endless pursuit to recognize outstanding members of the fancy, The American Kennel Club Lifetime Achievement Awards were created and first awarded in 1999 to honor our best. The purpose of the awards is to celebrate those individuals whose many years of dedication have led to significant contributions to our sport on a national […]

We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles in Agility, Coursing Ability, Rally, Obedience, Tracking and Trick Dog, including the first and second All-American Dogs to become AKC Rally® Champions and two new AKC Champion Trackers! And many All-American Dogs had big success at the 2019 AKC National […]

2022 | 2019 | 2018 The second AKC US Detection Dog Conference was a success with a capacity attendance. Internationally known subject matter experts delivered thought provoking presentations that covered the breeding, training and deployment of Explosives Detection Canines as well as discussions on the domestic shortage of these amazing dogs. Thank you to the […]

(updated 10/21/25 ) 10/13/25 The Barbado da Terceira Club USA will serve as the AKC Parent Club to represent the Barbado da Terceira. 8/11/2025 FSS Guidelines were amended to include the below.  For complete details visit FSS Home Page Minimum of 20 unique dogs earning Certificate of Merit (CM) titles, Obedience, Rally, Agility, Tracking, Scent Work […]

  The American Kennel Club created the Foundation Stock Service® (FSS®) to answer the needs of today's rare breed fanciers. The Foundation Stock Service® is an optional record-keeping service for all purebred breeds not currently registrable with the American Kennel Club. Originally the Foundation Stock Service (FSS) program was used to bring in breeds such […]

AKD 1.29 1980-2012 [bulk dates] 14 linear ft in 16 boxes (7 doc boxes, 6 record cartons, 2 photo boxes, 1 oversize) and mixed media storage Processed by Brynn White, 2016 Click here to the view complete inventory and/or to search all AKC archival collections Click here for a printable PDF of the collection guide […]

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 recognize breeding programs from the Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups as 2018 AKC Breeder of the Year group honorees. “The individuals that make up these breeding programs have dedicated their lives to the advancement of their respective breeds, producing dogs that are true […]

In an ongoing campaign to recognize the hard work and commitment of breeders dedicated to improving the health, temperament and quality of purebred dogs, the American Kennel Club® announced today the seven group recipients of the 2013 AKC® Breeder of the Year Award.    “The AKC Breeder of the Year Award celebrates several of AKC’s […]

"AKC Breeder of the Year" to be Announced at AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in Orlando, Fla.   The American Kennel Club® announced today the seven group recipients of the 2012 AKC® Breeder of the Year Award.  The award honors breeders who have dedicated their lives to improving the health, temperament and quality of purebred dogs.   […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) announced today the launch of the Breeder of Merit program, a new initiative designed to recognize AKC’s core breeders. "The Breeder of Merit program allows the American Kennel Club to celebrate our dedicated, passionate breeders who truly are the backbone of the sport and the foundation of our organization," said […]

--AKC Adds New Titles in Conformation, Companion and Performance Events -- New York, NY– Since the start of the year, each event type – conformation, companion and performance – now offers its exhibitors a brand new AKC title. The conformation and performance titles will appeal to the long-time exhibitor while the companion title will help […]

The Spotlight shines on a representative of a rare breed excelling in League. Mai Tai is a Kromfohrlander – a medium-sized breed that originated in Germany. The breed, which comes in wire and smooth coats, is in the AKC Foundation Stock Service (FSS) moving towards full breed recognition. Mai Tai is an accomplished agility dog, […]