Originally published in the AKC Gazette Almost all the spaniels and setters were developed in the British Isles—but of the AKC pointing breeds, only the Pointer has its roots in England. The rest come from all over Europe. European breeds are less specialized than those of the British Isles. None of the retrievers—developed as the […]

The Spinone Italiano has always been near and dear to Italy, but only made a splash in the United States recently. If you haven't yet had a chance to get to know the breed, here are six interesting facts about the Spinone: 1. They Are Among the World's Oldest Hunting Dogs Until recently, the Spinone […]

Your dog unquestionably trusts you—unless you’re something of a Cruella de Vil of 101 Dalmatians infamy.  Your dog unquestionably trusts you—unless you’re something of a Cruella de Vil of 101 Dalmatians infamy. You’ve earned that trust. You’ve provided a safe home, taught him how to behave around other dogs and people, and most importantly, always fill […]

They grab some Z's on recliners, hog the bed, and circle the kitchen counters hoping for a handout. There's no question the seven, eight, or even ten German Shorthaired Pointers who routinely hang inside Dave and and Lee Walker's home in Forsyth, Georgia, live the good life. These liver-and-white dogs, along with other GSPs the […]

Raising a paw and pointing is a canine instinct. Hunting dogs purpose-bred for generations used the tactic to help owners hunt, find, and capture game.

The top five breeds of the 1880s were all working gundog breeds. While this is the only decade that the English Setter reigned as the number-one breed, it remained in the top ten for four decades, though it hasn’t appeared there in the top ten since the 1910s. Irish Setters, the number-two breed of the […]

One of the most exciting events in the dog world is the annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show presented by Purina® Pro Plan®. Handlers and their dogs come from around the nation to demonstrate their poise and skill. While all eyes are usually on the dogs, there is one important individual who ultimately decides the […]

Many AKC-recognized dog breeds were originally bred as hunting dogs. Many of these dogs are retrievers, pointers, or spaniels. These dogs have the skills, instinct, and energy to be our companions in the field, and they have been doing so for hundreds of years. Now, when hunting opportunities are limited, many of these breeds compete in […]

If you build it, they will come ...—well, it’s not quite exactly the dialogue in the movie Field of Dreams (“If you build it, he will come”), but there are parallels. In 1991, two men had the dream to build a place in Grand Junction, Tennessee, to house a National Bird Dog Museum, Field Trial […]

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 […]

AKC Gun Dog Championships  American Pointer Club, Inc. German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America, Inc. English Setter Association of America, Inc. Vizsla Club of America Inc. American Brittany Club, Inc. Irish Setter Club of America, Inc. Gordon Setter Club of America, Inc. Weimaraner Club of America

  2017 AKC Gun Dog Championship & AKC Gun Dog Walking Championship Camp Robinson - Conway, AR 2016 - (click on link and scroll down for placements) Ames Plantation - Grand Junction, TN 2015 - (click on link and scroll down for placements) Sportsman's Association Field Trial Grounds - Grovespring, MO 2014 Location: Red Rock […]

All dogs six months of age or older from the following breeds are eligible to participate in Pointing Breed Hunting Tests: AKC Recognized and FSS Breeds Blue Picardy Spaniel Bracco Italiano Braque du Bourbonnais Braque Francais Pyrenean Braque Saint-Germain Brittanys Drentsche Patrijshond English Setters French Spaniel German Longhaired Pointer German Shorthaired Pointers German Wirehaired Pointers […]

Field Trials in recorded history began in Britain in 1866. America's first recorded field trial was held in 1874 near Memphis, Tenn. It was an event that started a trend that grows ever stronger. The winner of that first U.S. Field Trial was a solid black native Setter by the name of Knight, who was […]

All dogs six months of age or older from the following breeds are eligible to participate in Pointing Breed Field Trials: AKC Recognized Breeds Bracco Italiano (6/29/22) Brittanys Pointers English Setters German Shorthaired Pointers German Wirehaired Pointers Gordon Setters Irish Red & White Setters Irish Setters Spinone Italiano Vizslas Weimaraners Wirehaired Pointing Griffons Wirehaired Vizsla […]

Print a PDF of this document This document has been created for you by the American Kennel Club to help you understand the point schedule and how Championship points are counted. Learn more about conformation, here. The American Kennel Club requires a dog to obtain a total of 15 points with two major wins (a […]

Starting last year at the Eastern German Shorthaired Pointer Club's Hunt Test, Kaitlyn has scored a "leg" at almost every Hunt Test, finishing Sage's JH title in Delaware this past January. With guidance from her father, Carl Walsh, and also Mal Decker, Eastern Director of the German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America, Kaitlyn has impressed […]

North Dakota Pointing Dog Club's 2019 Spring Trial The Future of Pointing Breed Field Trials Junior Finds Time For All Her Passions Horse Barn Built at Pyramid State Park-Field Trialers and Illinois DNR Partnership Paving the Way for a New Generation by Gary Sadler Just An Old Trophy by Doug Ljungren and Dan Hoke Youth […]

Field Trial Grounds being Developed in Alabama by Department of Conservation and Natural Resources First Dog to Earn MHA — ‘Battue‘ Growing Up With Field Dogs Get Started Growing Up In A GSP Family Kaitlyn Walsh -- A Young Handler for the Hunt Test Crowd "Miles" -First Junior Hunter Advanced Title Portuguese Pointer: First to […]

All dogs six months of age or older from the following breeds are eligible to participate in Retriever Hunting Tests: AKC Recognized and FSS Breeds Airedale Terriers American Water Spaniels Barbet Boykin Spaniels Chesapeake Retrievers Curly-Coated Retrievers Drentsche Patrijshond (Drent) English Springer Spaniels Flat-Coated Retrievers German Shorthaired Pointer German Wirehaired Pointer Golden Retrievers Irish Water […]

History Made With Same Dog Winning Both Stakes For the first time in the history of the event, one dog, the German Shorthaired Pointer FC Slicks Cuttin Wild, won both the Retrieving Championship and the Non-Retrieving Championship stakes in the 17th annual American Kennel Club® Pointing Breed Gun Dog Championship, sponsored by Purina and Tri-Tronics. […]

The American Kennel Club® is pleased to announce the winners of the AKC® Pointing Breed Gun Dog Championships, sponsored by Purina and Tri-Tronics. The event was held April 28 - May 6 at the Red Rock Field Trial grounds north of Reno, Nev. This was the 15th running of this event, which has become the […]

Pointer FC Old School Attitude prevailed at the recent American Kennel Club® Pointing Breed Gun Dog Championship, defeating the largest number of AKC Pointing Breed Field Champions ever assembled for a single event. “Bella,” handled by Greg Dixon of Wisconsin and owned by Justin Martin from Minnesota, was crowned at the historic Ames Plantation near […]

Helyne E. Medeiros Named 2017 AKC Breeder Of The Year -Award Presented at AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin- Helyne E. Medeiros was presented with the 2017 AKC Breeder of the Year award for her Seasyde Pointers at the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin on Saturday, December 16, 2017.  The annual award […]

- German Shorthaired Pointer Continues its Ascent Up the List - The Labrador Retriever once again breaks records! The American Kennel Club (AKC®) announced at a press conference today at the AKC Museum of the Dog that the loveable Lab remains the number one most popular breed in the United States. Additionally, AKC registration continues […]

The American Kennel Club® is pleased to announce the hiring of Doug Ljungren, Director of Performance Events. Ljungren will join the staff in Raleigh, NC effective March 1, 2007. He and his wife, fancier Judy Cheshire, will relocate from Washington State. Ljungren has extensive background in both the sport of purebred dogs and in business […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®), a not-for-profit organization, the world’s largest purebred dog registry and leading advocate for dogs, is pleased to announce the recipients of the Junior Scholarships awarded to those who compete in Performance Events. "The 2025 AKC Performance Events Junior Scholarship winners have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence—both in their academic […]

As of February 9, 2007, the AKC Board of Directors approved the eligibility of Foundation Stock breeds that meet certain criteria to compete in AKC Performance Events; this will be effective January 1, 2008. Eligible breeds can compete in select Performance events. To become eligible the breeds must have the following: 1.  dogs with three […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®) honored recipients of the AKC® Lifetime Achievement Awards at the annual Delegates Meeting Luncheon, in conjunction with the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin in Orlando, Florida. The winners received an engraved silver Revere bowl. A larger Tiffany and Co. bowl, engraved with the names of all recipients past […]

The following breeders have met the requirements for the Breed and Levels recorded at the time of the application. The American Kennel Club is pleased to recognize these breeders for their contribution to the sport and maintaining the tenets of the Breeder of Merit program. (current as of  3/12/26, last updated 3/13/26) [accordion] [accordion_panel title="Platinum"] […]