On Friday, March 9, 2018, the Connecticut General Assembly’s Environment Committee is scheduled to consider several dog-related bills.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) encourages all concerned Connecticut residents to contact the committee members and respectfully share their views. House Bill 5355 – This bill seeks to amend several statutes regarding how a dog may be kept […]

The Virginia House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Subcommittee will be considering a number of bills on Monday, January 29, that would impact dog owners, AKC events, and certain out-of-state dog sales. Those who reside or participate in events in Virginia are strongly encouraged to contact the committee prior to the hearing, and if possible […]

Monday, February 29, 2016 On Thursday, March 3, 2016, committees of the New Jersey Legislature will consider several dog-related bills.  New Jersey residents are strongly encouraged to take action on the bills, as noted below. Senate Economic Growth Committee The New Jersey Senate Economic Growth Committee is scheduled to consider three bills dealing with dogs […]

Preschool curriculum often includes a lesson about different types of homes. Like people, dogs need shelter too! As a part of a lesson on homes or on taking care of pets, use this STEM inspired activity to encourage your children to create a home for dogs. Responsible dog owners use crates in their homes to […]

The statistics are staggering; every nine seconds, another woman in the United States is beaten, according to the Partnership Against Domestic Violence. While violence against women often takes place behind closed doors and isn't always visible to others, that doesn't mean it's not happening. Chances are, if there are children involved, they, too, are facing […]

For most active breeders-exhibitors, it's hard to find enough hours in the day. Between juggling work, family, and the many responsibilities associated with raising show dogs, downtime is a luxury. The Christmas/Hanukkah/New Year's break thankfully allows us to pause and reflect on the year that has passed, and where we want to set our sights […]

UC-II® – a breakthrough way of supporting joint health by targeting the immune system. What Is Osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is a painful, progressive condition that gradually breaks down the cartilage surrounding your dog’s joints. There are several causes of osteoarthritis. Some dogs have congenital abnormalities, such as hip dysplasia, that predispose them […]

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 […]

A 79-year-old New York woman is crediting her Yorkshire Terrier, Labella, with saving her life. When Dottie Fisher was napping last week, Labella, a hearing-alert dog, jumped on her and incessantly nudged her. Although Labella will let Fisher know when a doorbell is ringing or calling on the phone, she's rarely so insistent. And true to […]

>Robby's Law, and instead gave the dogs out to civilians, including three Pentagon employees. Henderson and Solis, the Post reported, picked up the 12 dogs from K2 Solutions and then turned them over to Meredith for caretaking until they could be sold to the Panamanian government. But paperwork from K2 dictated that the dogs were […]

Last week was a hard one for police K9s and their handlers. Two canine cops were killed by gunfire, including Jethro, who worked with police in Canton, Ohio, and was shot on Saturday, January 9, while apprehending a burglary suspect. He later died from his injuries. Two days later, K9 Krijger, a four-year-old Belgian Malinois […]

The War DogIt was May of 1966, and Ron Aiello was on his first patrol as a new Marine, leading an inspection of two villages in Vietnam. His military working dog, Stormy, walked ahead of him with the other Marines following at a distance. As they reached a clearing, Stormy suddenly stopped. Aiello bent down […]

Photo: Y Nakanishi/Flickr With its warm climate, urban metropolis, and close proximity to outdoor adventures, Los Angeles is definitely a dog-friendly city. Here are seven fun things to do with your dog in L.A., whether you live there permanently, or you're just visiting with your best friend.   1. Take A Hike There are hundreds of […]

There is a general movement within the dog world that has breeders and their clubs looking for new ways to make breed improvements. This is occurring because of the growing arsenal of tools available to breeders and their clubs. Given these conditions, the opportunity for making improvements is well within the reach of most clubs […]

Below is just a basic overview. For more, visit the Government Relations page. Here are the steps on the road to making a community dog park a reality. Start with a core group of committed dog park activists Talk with other individuals who are concerned about the lack of off-leash spaces. This group may form […]

By Betty-Anne Stenmark "Reprinted with permission from Dogs in Review and author Betty-Anne Stenmark, from the May 2015 issue of Dogs in Review magazine." Fifteen years ago I applied for a volunteer coordinator position at an animal shelter. Before my interview, I asked myself, "What do you know about being a volunteer coordinator?” Finally it dawned on me; I […]

by Sandra MurrayReprinted from: Essential Elements, ShowSight Magazine   Reprinted from: Essential Elements, ShowSight Magazine As a youngster she had won her breed’s National Sweepstakes. Not long after that win, she finished her championship with three 5 point majors, all at large regional specialties. During her specials career she earned multiple Group placements and Best […]

The 2015 Obedience and AKC Rally National Champions were crowned this weekend at the American Kennel Club's National Obedience Championship and the AKC Rally National Championship, held at Purina Farms just outside of St. Louis, Missouri. The Championships drew more than 500 of the most highly trained dogs in the nation. Pamela Manaton, AKC Director […]

“My dog comes to me when we’re at home, but at the park, it’s like I’m not even there!” Could you say this about your dog? A reliable recall, or “come when called,” might be the most important thing to teach your dog. It can also be hard to teach, usually because we unwittingly sabotage […]

This training tip offers great advice on teaching and building desire to play the “touch” game – a great way to get your dog’s attention even in distracting situations. It is brought to us by Shannon Jones, AKC Rally Judge. She also teaches basic obedience, competitive obedience and rally obedience at two training centers in […]

These training tips offer great advice for anyone who is competing or thinking about competing in dog sports. They are brought to us by Alison Smith, co-owner and head trainer at Personal Paws Inc. in Toronto, Canada. She holds a master’s degree in Public Relations and Marketing but left the corporate world three years ago […]

This training tip is brought to us by Brian Burton, a co-founder of Instinct Dog Behavior & Training LLC in New York City. He’s currently a master’s candidate in Animal Behavior at Hunter College (CUNY) and is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Brian’s rescue mixed-breed dog, Sammy, is […]

Rocket is ready for Thanksgiving with his stuffed turkey toy, holiday bandana and pumpkin perch. The Border Collie-Australian Shepherd mix will likely get a few hand-outs at the Thanksgiving meal prepared by his mom, Janet Hatfield of Boise, ID, but he will run those calories right off. Rocket is an accomplished agility competitor who loves […]

Finding Tank was the most unexpected event. My husband, Pete, and I recently lost our beloved German Shepherd Dog, Wolf, to old age.  He was the dog that brought us together as a search team and then a married couple.  His passing left a huge hole in our lives and our pack. I hadn’t even […]

By Aryn Hervel This training tip is brought to you by Aryn Hervel of Novato, CA. Aryn owns and runs Leaps & Hounds Dog Training, a behavior consulting and pet dog training business.  Aryn and her All-American Dog, MACH4 Crush, are one of the top AKC Agility teams in the AKC Canine Partners program, having […]

-- Celebrating the Work and Dedication of America's Search and Rescue Dogs -- With the recent earthquakes in Haiti, much attention has been brought to the search and rescue dogs working to free trapped citizens from the rubble. With certain capabilities far surpassing those of a human, these dogs have saved innumerable lives - and […]

-- Barkfest at Bonhams Benefits AKC Humane Fund -- If you are planning to visit New York City for next month's Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show don't miss an opportunity to discover fascinating canine artifacts and fine canine art as well as support the good works of the AKC Humane Fund by viewing one of […]

The American Kennel Club faces enormous challenges in reversing the continuing decline in registrations. Today, we are losing market share at an alarming rate, especially in the retail sector. We are being challenged competitively and financially. The declining registrations and associated core revenues, if allowed to continue, will fundamentally change our organization going forward. Make […]

The AKC Board, staff and the fancy often talk of the importance of public relations and advertising in fostering a positive public image of the AKC and the sport. We have made great strides in both of those areas in recent years and our message is often delivered via both editorial and advertising content in […]

2004 was a very productive and successful year for the AKC and we remain enthusiastic about our prospects for the future.Financially, we have had an outstanding year. We have made a remarkable bounce-back in our registrations, attaining an increase that has brought us back to the level of 2002. Our investments are at an all-time […]