Sheryl Bradbury breeds Grand Bassets Griffon Vendéen (GBGV) and Lancashire Heelers, a breed in the AKC Foundation Stock Service (FSS). "My Lancashire Heeler kennel, Mashury, is devoted first to health, temperament, and conformation and to breeding dogs that can work hard, play hard, and love their shepherd." “I imported my first GBGV in 2012 from […]

Learn how to calculate dog years into human years with this helpful chart, and find out how researchers came up with the numbers.

Over the years, a number of authors have projected the annual cost of raising a dog. In many cases, even with food, supplies and veterinary care considered, the estimated costs have seemed low. Two veterinary students from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine have recently updated the statistics related to costs involved in […]

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 […]

An icon of overcoming adversity, Helen Keller had a lifelong love of dogs and owned many. She's credited with bringing the first Akita to America in 1937.

Agility is one of the fastest-growing dog sports in the country. It’s challenging, great fun for dog and handler, and thrilling for spectators. For the dog-human team, agility requires athleticism, concentration, training, and, most of all, teamwork. The handler directs the dog through a predetermined pattern of obstacles, including jumps, tunnels, and weave poles, while […]

When you first meet a Rhodesian Ridgeback, the striking ridge of hair along the back and the imposing stature are immediately obvious. This is a strong, dignified, muscular breed, and a member of the Hound Group. Here are 10 Rhodesian Ridgeback facts to know. The Rhodesian Ridgeback Is a Product of Several Breeds This South […]

Cynthia S. writes, "My adult Great Dane has been exhibiting a few behavior problems. She's chewing things around the house that are not edible, but only does it when we are gone. She's great at playing outside unleashed until it's time to come in, then she takes off running and I have to chase her […]

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

Did you know that in most of the animal kingdom, larger animals outlive smaller ones? For dogs, however, the opposite is true. Smaller dogs, like Chihuahuas, often outlive larger breeds, like Great Danes, by a number of years. As dog owners, we hate watching our dogs go through the often difficult aging process; we want […]

Once again, the Labrador Retriever took Denver’s top spot in the 2016 ranking of the most popular AKC-recognized dog breeds in the U.S. The Labrador Retriever was also recognized as the #1 pup in Boston, Atlanta, and Houston. Although there were no changes in the Mile High City’s top five, there were some fluctuations in […]

Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), also known as bloat, is a disease dreaded by dog owners and veterinary professionals. In this emergency condition, the stomach fills with gas and rotates on its axis, leading to cardiovascular shock and abnormal function of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, kidney, and clotting systems. Known risk factors for bloat include breed, […]

Dogs – thousands of them, from Chihuahuas to ginormous Great Danes – met in Orlando, Florida compete in the American Kennel Club’s annual flagship event, formally called the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin. No matter where you're located, you can stream the show from the comfort of your living room. The 2021 AKC National Championship […]

In February 2021, Tibetan Mastiff breeders Dan Nechemias and his wife Lois Claus received the phone call that no breeder wants to hear. Waffle, a male puppy they sold to a new breeder in San Antonio, Texas three years ago, was one of several Tibetan Mastiffs seized in an animal neglect situation. The dog had […]

In August 2021, researchers from Tufts University published a study that indicated that peas may be a leading dog food ingredient contributing to a rise in diet-associated canine heart disease (DCM) in dogs. In the study, researchers compared traditional dog foods with those dog food diets that the FDA has associated with this canine heart […]

The best service dogs have traits that make them indispensable to their owners by helping them in ways that restore their independence.

In December 2021, a Giant Schnauzer named Bayou made breed history by being the first to win the AKC National Championship. But even in the ring, Bayou’s instincts came through. The dog's handler, Alfonso Escobedo, took note of the dog's behavior. The giant canine kept his eyes on the same location in the ring, to […]

Nominees in Conformation Michael Canalizo Michael Canalizo has spent many years in the Dog Show World as a Breeder/Owner, Professional Handler, turned Judge. His first exposure to his primary breed: the Afghan Hound came in 1961 as a member of “the typical Hobby Breeder family” with their purchase of “Babu Bamn of Grandeur”. He showed […]

Learning Objectives With support from the teacher, students will organize, represent, and interpret data. Students will ask and answer questions about the total number of data points and how many are in each category.   Grade Levels K-2   Common Core Standard CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.MD.C.4 Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories; ask and […]

“We both enjoy doing this because we like seeing how the residents light up when Max enters the facility,” Burn said.  “It provides joy to all involved in the encounters.” Steve rescued Max from the Arlington (TX) Animal Services Center in December 2009. He is a mixed breed and, according to a DNA test, he […]

Medendorps HooDoo By Barribeau CD RAE2 NA OAJ NF CAA FMX owned by Billie Medendorp of Decatur, AL Daisy was an emaciated stray found wandering in a busy street before she was rescued and then adopted by the Medendorp family.   “Daisy only weighed 13 pounds, had mange and was full of parasites,” Billie said. “With good […]

Active, friendly, outgoing – the Labrador Retriever, or Lab for short, perfectly encompasses the state of Ohio’s slogan – ‘The Heart of it All.’ It’s no wonder that earlier this month, Ohio State Representative Jeffrey S. Rezabek introduced House Bill 539 to recognize the Lab as the state dog. The versatile Lab is often trained […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC) honored New Jersey Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney with the AKC Legislator of the Year award in recognition of his strong advocacy for responsible dog ownership. Sheila Goffe, AKC Vice President, Government Relations; Jeffrey Ball, President of the New Jersey Federation of Dog Clubs; and representatives of area AKC dog […]

With devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy still gripping the Northeast, the American Kennel Club Humane Fund reminds clubs that the AKC Humane Fund is here to help them in their outreach to dogs and owners in their local affected areas with the “Sandy Fund.” Created in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the “Sandy Fund” was […]

The American Kennel Club® announced today that Director of Judging Operations, Peter Gaeta will retire on March 2, 2009. Gaeta joined AKC in 1999 as an Executive Field Representative in the Fort Worth-Dallas area. In July 2005 he was promoted to Director of Judging Operations and began working in the Raleigh AKC Operations Center. "Peter’s […]

  New York, NY – Highlights from the July 2009 meeting of the AKC® Board of Directors are as follows: The Board retired the kennel name "Danelagh" (Nancy-Carol Draper) for Great Danes. Effective January 1, 2010, all FSS enrolled dogs with three-generation pedigrees will be eligible to compete in all AKC Companion Events. The Lure […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panel for the 2017 AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 16 and Sunday, December 17, 2017. The 2017 event will showcase the top national and international canine athletes […]

  The American Kennel Club® announced recently that the Lexington Kennel Club (LKC) has been named a recipient of the AKC® Community Achievement Award for its generous support of many local dog organizations via donations of time, money and supplies. The LKC received one of three awards for the first quarter of 2008- Delaware County […]

Yesterday, the New Hampshire House Environment and Agriculture Committee took testimony on three dog bills and delayed testimony for two weeks on HB 1389.  AKC’s prior alert and details on bills scheduled for this hearing can be reviewed here. Updates from the Committee hearing:  American Kennel Club Government Relations (AKC GR) testified with the New […]

New Jersey Assembly Bill 2338 is scheduled for a vote by the full New Jersey Assembly tomorrow, March 16, 2017. This measure defines as a 'pet dealer' every person in New Jersey who breeds and sells/transfers more than 10 dogs and/or cats.