ASK AKC Dear AKC: My wife and I are having a disagreement about whether to let our new Boston Terrier puppy sleep on the bed with us at night. Is this a good practice or will it create problems for us or the dog down the road? -- Let Sleeping Dogs Lie Dear Sleeping Dogs: […]

The world of dog shows, or conformation, has a unique set of language and terminology. Learn what some of the words you hear at dog shows actually mean.

Kathleen Walker and "Spike," a Portuguese Podengo Pequeno, will compete in the 2025 AKC Obedience Classic in Florida.

The teams are going head to head! The first-ever AKC Agility Team Challenge has crowned its winner, after a thrilling bracket competition. Learn more about the event, part of AKC Celebrates USA 250, which took place at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on June 7. The Agility Teams Each team was put together at random to […]

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is known for the unique "ridge" on its back, but why is it there? How does their fur get this way?

Many owners are familiar with the sight of their dogs chasing their tails. Most of the time, it's an easy way for a dog to entertain itself and burn energy. However, there are times when tail-chasing can indicate an underlying health condition. So, how can you tell the difference between a harmless activity and a […]

They jump, they weave, they sit, and they stay. We're talking about the winners of the AKC Obedience Classic and AKC Agility Invitational at the 2017 AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin, of course. Competition took place December 16-17, 2017 in Orlando, Fla. and it was an incredible sight to see. These competitions demonstrate […]

The Foundation Stock Service (FSS®) program was developed in 1995 to assist the needs of rare breeds fanciers. Mari-Beth O’Neill, Vice President of Sport Services, and Christine Weisse, Senior Subject Matter Expert, assist these breeds through the process of becoming a fully recognized AKC breed. There are three major steps of the FSS® program: Acceptance […]

Puppyhood is a lot like human childhood. There are phases and stages, and some youngsters seem to mature faster than others. We can set some parameters for puppies. For instance, as a rule, smaller dogs tend to mature more quickly than larger breeds. Small breeds reach their adult size at about 12 months old, while […]

The range of sizes among dog breeds is greater than that of any other animal. For example, a 150-pound Newfoundland is 50 times the size of a three-pound Pomeranian. And as you might expect, large breed puppies and small breed puppies have very different nutritional needs. There are general rules for feeding any puppy, but […]

Most dog owners have experienced those frustrating moments when, despite all the training and practice, their dog simply doesn't listen to them. As you and your puppy get to know each other, it's important to remember that listening is a two-way-street: he's learning what you expect just as you're learning to tune into his signals. […]

AKC Gazette, “Times Past”— Here’s an excerpt from our coverage of the 2011 Bonhams New York annual dog-art auction. It’s rare to see identifiable show dogs represented in the annual dog-art sale at Bonhams, so the painting Giralda’s Lola, with puppies instantly caught my eye. Lola is one of 200 dog portraits the British watercolorist […]

Thousands of dog-lovers made their way to the Javits Center Jan. 25 and 26 for the 11th annual AKC Meet the Breeds®, an unforgettable weekend full of canine fun and education. Adults and children alike went from petting Afghan Hounds to Yorkshire Terriers, learning about purebred dogs and responsible pet ownership along the way. So […]

Ask AKC   Dear AKC: My dog is a wonderful Jack Russell Terrier/Chihuahua mix. My question has to do with taking him to go out. He will only go to the bathroom where other dogs have gone. My husband and I moved into a townhouse where no one has lived before. As a result, he will […]

  By Jessica Acito, AKC Government Relations   The Delaware House of Representatives has unanimously approved a bill to make the Golden Retriever Delaware’s state dog. Eleven states currently have official state dog breeds, often recognizing those that are indigenous to a state. Pending approval by the Delaware Senate, the Golden Retriever will join the […]

High prey drive in dogs can make going for walks challenging. Here's how to channel your dog's prey drive to make exercise exciting and fun.

Watch the 2018 AKC National Tracking Invitational highlights on December 8 & 9 on AKC.TV, with showings at noon, 3, 6, and 9 p.m. ET. Chances are, the only time you notice your dog’s nose is when she uses it to deliver a poke — a cold, clammy reminder that a walk is needed or […]

Approximately 4 million dogs go missing in the United States each year, and anyone who's lost a pet will tell you it’s a terrifying feeling. While no one wants to believe this can happen to them, on National Lost Dog Awareness Day (April 23), we're reminded of the precautionary steps you can take in case […]

By: Debra Lampert Rudman and Arliss Paddock   “It becomes one of those events about which people ask, ‘Did you go? Were you there?’ M&E has it all – atmosphere, ambiance, ladies and gents in their finery, and the world’s best dogs all together at the same time in a glorious outdoor setting. Everybody in the […]

Hypoadrenocorticism, more commonly known as Addison's disease, is a disease has serious consequences for dogs. Fortunately, with proper treatment, dogs diagnosed with Addison's disease are expected to have normal lifespans. Addison's disease occurs when the adrenal glands fail to produce the hormones that they are in charge of in the body. The most important hormones […]

The 20th annual AKC Agility Invitational, saw some of the most agile dogs in the country. See the winners in each division here.

Jane Kamp Forsyth—breeder, handler, all-breed judge, AKC Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and towering figure on the international dog-show scene—died on July 3. She was 86 years old. “The entire American Kennel Club mourns the loss of Jane Forsyth, and we send our condolences to Bob and Sioux,” AKC President/CEO Dennis Sprung says. “Janie was an inspiration […]

Dogs, like humans, do not tolerate significant variation of body temperature. On average, a dog's normal body temperature is 101.5 degrees F. Small dogs may have a slightly lower temperatures and large dogs slightly higher. Because of this inability to handle wide swings in their body temperatures, dogs have wonderful internal mechanisms that keep their […]

It's not surprising to see herding breeds like the Border Collie (295 of them to be exact) and Shetland Sheepdog (176 of those) running for the top spot at the 2022 AKC National Agility Championship. But there are some uncommon breeds making an appearance that are also worth watching at this year's event — like […]

The grief that comes with losing a beloved pet can be all-consuming. In fact, the pain can actually manifest with physical symptoms that mimic a heart attack. A 2017 article in The New England Journal of Medicine detailed the case of a Texas woman who reported symptoms of a heart attack. But at the hospital, […]

While not especially common, the state dog is a symbol used by at least 13 states across the U.S.A, with several others pending legislation. Some state dogs, like the Boykin Spaniel in South Carolina, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever in Maryland, and the Boston Terrier in Massachusetts, reflect homegrown originals first developed in that state. Others, […]

No matter how much time you spend searching for the right stud dog for your gorgeous bitch, no matter how much money you spend on stud fees, shipping expenses, vet bills, and so on, it’s all for nothing if you can’t pick out the best pup from the litter. Years ago I thought I’d solve […]

We pay homage to some of history's most indomitable female dogs. They went above and beyond (in one case, literally) in service to humankind. Strelka and Belka Years before Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman cosmonaut in space, two other females blazed a trail. On August 19, 1960, the two mixed-breed dogs were aboard the […]

The AKC classifies the Bichon Frise’s bark level as “barks when necessary,” but the way things went last night at the 142nd Annual Westminster Kennel Club Show, there was plenty to bark about. Flynn, the winner for the Non-Sporting Group earned the coveted title of Best in Show at the 2018 competition, which came to a head Tuesday […]

By Jessica Acito, AKC Government Relations The Delaware House of Representatives has unanimously approved a bill to make the Golden Retriever Delaware’s state dog.  Eleven states currently have official state dog breeds, often recognizing those that are indigenous to a state. Pending approval by the Delaware Senate, the Golden Retriever will join the ranks of […]