The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is full of energy, loves people, and makes a great family pet. Here are some interesting facts about this lovable breed. 1. They are native to Ireland. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is one of four terrier breeds that are native to Ireland. According to legend, when the Spanish Armada […]

There’s probably only one time in his life when Reas finished last. That’s when he was the final puppy in a litter of five to go to his new home three years ago. That was obviously not his doing. Four other owners passed over him for various reasons. And now the muscular, 51-pound Whippet, owned […]

Apollo, the Greek god of sunlight, music, and poetry, was credited with a bright, shining countenance of great beauty. At the reins of his fiery chariot, Apollo drove across the sky, bringing the life-giv­ing warmth of the sun. Fittingly, the tall and handsome Great Dane is called “the Apollo of dogs,” with a gentle temperament […]

Season 6 - Winter 2024 [accordion] [accordion_panel title="Extended Ph.D."] Winter Season Finals – Extended Ph.D. – Teams & Dogs Congratulations to all teams & dogs that completed the Winter Season! Great job! Here are the top placers for Season 6: Top Teams Champion – Happy Dog Sports Team 1 – Texas Reserve Champion – New […]

More than 200 dogs and 40 different teams from across the country competed in the inaugural pilot program for the AKC Agility League. Over the course of 12 weeks, teams ran six different courses from their respective club. Captains submitted scores from qualified judges, and the rankings for both teams and individual dogs in each […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®), the world's largest purebred dog registry and governing body of dog sports, is pleased to announce the winners of the inaugural season of the AKC Agility League. The AKC Agility League has concluded its pilot season, which ran from May 30th to August 21st, and named the first League season […]

Fanciers of English Cockers cherish the unique combination of qualities essential to this sturdy, merry, small sporting dog. A relatively new breed in the specific sense — records of the “modern” Cocker Spaniel date from about 1850, and the breed was first registered with the Kennel Club (England) in 1873— the flushing spaniel as a […]

Your dog gazes at you with love and longing. Suddenly, you feel your arm or leg gently caressed by their paw. You may be wondering, why does my dog put his paw on me? Is it a sign of hand-holding canine style? Or, perhaps they want a treat, a few pats on the head, some […]

Meet four representatives of the Working Group, blue-collar dogs with strength and smarts, and understand why responsible breeding of working dogs is particularly important.

Sir Walter Scott referred to the Deerhound as “the most perfect creature of Heaven,” and breeders today likewise speak passion­ately of the breed. Those who know the breed appreciate its sterling attributes, in no small respect because of how those traits have withstood the test of time. Tracing Breed History The earliest clues to breed […]

In the 1700s, an ancient German breed, the Pinscher, contributed its genes to a new breed of small pinscher, which evolved into today’s Miniature Pinscher. Two centuries later, the Min Pin returned the favor and, with the assistance of a single brave and dedicated breeder named Werner Jung, saved the German Pinscher from extinction. The […]

The summer heat can be stifling for both dogs and humans. And when we lose power, it is not only stressful on our own bodies but on our dogs' as well. There are a few steps you can take to keep your dog (and you!) safe and cool in extreme heat. Most Dogs Aren't Built […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panels for the 2022 National Owner-Handled Series (NOHS) Finals and the AKC Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida in conjunction with the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin. The NOHS Finals will be held […]

Cancer is the leading cause of death in adult dogs. Approximately 6 million dogs will be newly diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States, with senior dogs at particular risk. It's a diagnosis nobody wants for their beloved pet, but thankfully there are powerful new tools to detect cancer in dogs earlier and […]

Paid Advertisement Does your dog love to run? Then you may want to consider getting them involved in Fast CAT, which has nothing to do with cats. Using dogs' natural inclination to run and chase, it's a sport that all dogs get a kick out of, from Greyhounds to Pekingese. What is Fast CAT? The […]

After taking a training class three years ago, now 16-year-old Skylar Sowiecki swiftly got involved with dog shows. Sowiecki resides in sunny Florida and owns German Shepherd Dogs—but can also be seen showing Borzois and occasionally Beaucerons and Greyhounds. Sowiecki and her two GSDs compete in a variety of sports including Conformation, Rally, Dock Diving, Fast […]

Similar to how dogs have been shown to help their owners feel better, therapy dogs are able to bring comfort and support to the public. Therapy dogs are typically social, yet calm dogs who after training and certification can alongside their handler visit people in schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and other settings. There are also […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®) is pleased to recognize its affiliated dog clubs which have been holding AKC events for over 100 years and are an essential part of the sport of dogs. Founded in 1884, AKC together with its affiliated organizations promote responsible dog ownership, conduct over 23,000 organized dog events per year, breed […]

The covert’s utmost bound Slyly she skirts; behind them cautious she creeps, And in that very track, so lately stain’d By all the steaming crowd, seems to pursue The foe she flies. -William Somerville, The Chace, 1735 William Somerville’s lyrical descrip­tion of a hare sneaking around behind a pursuing pack of hounds and tracking them […]

With over 200 recognized dog breeds, it can be difficult to learn about them all. You've probably seen plenty of Labrador Retrievers and French Bulldogs, two of the most popular dog breeds in the country, but there are many other breeds that go relatively unnoticed. If it weren’t for their enthusiasts, we might not even […]

It goes without saying that in your house, your dog is the most popular. But what do the statistics say? The American Kennel Club has used registration data to compile the list of 2021’s most popular breeds. As always, the Labrador Retriever tops the list — this time for the 31st year!  The Lab's temperament […]

Small dogs are some of the most popular dog breeds in the world. Not only do they take up less space, but they also usually have large, fun personalities. Many people like smaller dogs because small-breed supplies are generally less expensive, and small dogs live longer and can be ideal for apartment living. However, not […]

Wavy, curly, silky, short, double, dense, wooly, corded – dog coats are definitely not all the same. There’s a wide variation from breed to breed and among individual dogs. That’s why no single shampoo is ideal for every dog. Finding a shampoo that is tailored to your dog’s type of coat will enhance the grooming […]

If your dog spends their entire on-leash walk choking against their collar, you might be considering using a harness. Maybe your dog already wears a harness, but it's rubbing their skin or they don't like putting it on. Although there are many potential benefits to using a harness, it can do more harm than good […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panel for the 2022 AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 17 and Sunday, December 18, 2022. The 2022 event will showcase the top canine athletes and will also […]

Have you ever wondered what it means to be AKC-recognized? How does a dog become AKC-recognized? Learn about the entire breed recognition process.

The 2021 AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin on Dec. 18 and 19 hosted more than 5,000 dogs who all competed for the coveted title of Best in Show. The competition began with each dog competing for best in their breed. Best of Breed winners then advanced to compete in the group competitions to […]

Dog collar or harness? What's the best option for your dog? With the many options for each, it's important to weigh the pros and cons.

After three decades sharing my life with Bernese Mountain Dogs, I had developed clear expectations about the breed. Each energetic puppy would turn into a less energetic young adult, who would gradually become an adult couch potato who loved everyone. These biddable dogs would do their best for me in the obedience ring and gladly […]

Training a new puppy does not come with a one-size-fits-all approach — especially when dealing with a very large breed like the Great Dane. “Great Danes are considered working dogs and are intelligent dogs," says Russell Hartstein, CDBC, CPDT-KA, Fear-Free Certified trainer and Founder of Fun Paw Cares. “Still, all [dogs] are individuals." Hartstein points […]