We welcome all breeds, including All-American Dogs, to enroll in the AKC PupPals Program. Our goal is to have each breed represented. This allows us to fulfill special requests from children seeking a specific breed. It also allows us to introduce these wonderful, and sometimes rare, breeds to children. We are especially in need of […]

Education is paramount to the AKC’s mission. Through education, we preserve history, stay relevant to the needs of today’s dog owners and fanciers, and invest in the future health and well-being of dogs, dog sports, and the human-canine relationship. The AKC recognizes and appreciates the enormous contributions that Parent and All-Breed Clubs give to the […]

Effective January 1, 2010 Miscellaneous breeds became eligible to compete for the Certificate of Merit.  Congratulations to the first recipients of this new title. Russell Terrier, Frayed Knot Spike, was the first of the eligible breeds to earn a Certificate of Merit in May 2010. SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The breeds listed below were top point holders […]

(updated 6/1/26 ) 5/11/2026 From the May Board Meeting - one new breed was added to the Foundation Stock Service Program – Lucas Terrier. 4/13/2026 From the April Board Meeting - three new breeds was added to the Foundation Stock Service Program – Silken Windhound, Saarloos Wolfhond, Old Danish Pointer. 1/12/26 The Peruvian Inca Orchid […]

At AKC shows, dogs are organized into 7 groups: Hound, Working, Sporting, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding. Learn about what makes each group unique.

There are many types of nose work for dogs, from scent work to various sports like tracking, earthdog, search and rescue, or barn hunt.

Each year, we are proud to recognize and celebrate the men and women who dedicate their lives to improving the health, temperament, and quality of purebred dogs. These breeders are the heart of our organizations and they deserve to be recognized for their incredible work. One breeder is chosen from each of the seven groups […]

June 2026 The Board VOTED to approve a request of the Delegate Companion Events Committee to amend the Obedience Regulations, removing the words “must run” from the current statement and replacing them with “Fast,” meaning that the handler and dog must move forward at a noticeably accelerated speed. These changes are effective June 1, 2026. […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to recognize breeding programs from the Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups as 2017 AKC Breeder of the Year group honorees. “The breeders honored with this award are truly committed to excellence, consistency, breed standard and type,” said Dennis Sprung, AKC President and CEO.  “They […]

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 […]