Drafting and carting are sports that are open to all breeds of dogs, including mixed-breeds, by several national breed clubs. Pulling carts to help transport items was a task that many dogs were – and still are – trained to do to help around farms. Dogs like to pull – and this gives them an acceptable […]

Rosemary Strasser of Omaha, NE, was not looking for a new dog, but a friend with Midwest Rescue Network kept telling her she had just the dog for her. “For two weeks she kept saying, ‘You have to come meet him; he’s just your type of dog,’ “, Rosemary said. “We fostered him, and I […]

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 […]

If your dog is constantly on the prowl for squirrels, moles and any other critters that appear in your backyard, then they should be a natural for the fun sport of Barn Hunt.   As of April 1, 2013, the American Kennel Club recognizes titles earned at events sanctioned by the Barn Hunt Association (BHA). […]

Another Sport for All Dogs: Drafting and Carting Drafting and carting are sports that are open to all breeds of dogs, including mixed-breeds, by several national breed clubs. Pulling carts to help transport items was a task that many dogs were – and still are – trained to do to help around farms. Dogs like to […]

Vera’s first owner left her to die in a box beside a busy road. A family discovered the puppy and rescued her until their landlord discovered the new addition. Vera had to go. The family found her a home with a teacher who had a soft heart for homeless dogs. But ultimately, the teacher had […]

RACH Morgan Of Morris CD PCD BN RM2 RAE2 CA BCAT CGCA CGCU TKA FITS owned by Katie Horzmann of Opelika, AL Morgan was adopted at 2 years of age, by Katie, from the Cherokee County, GA Animal Shelter in November of 2020. Katie’s initial plan was that Morgan would be a scruffy couch companion […]

Karen Powell of Frankfort, KY, has three rescued mixed-breed dogs that compete very successfully in AKC Agility, AKC Rally, and Barn Hunt: Stella CD RAE7 AXP AJP NFP RATN Biggie RAE2 MXP MJP XFP RATN Cody RAE MXP3 MXPB MJP4 MJPB OFP T2BP RATO She started taking classes with her dogs in 2006 because of […]

Have a puppy at home who you hope will grow up to be a canine athlete? Here's how to safely get them started across different sports.

There's no doubt dog sports are beneficial, but scientists think they may delay cognitive aging in dogs. Participants are needed for a new survey study.

Dog agility is incredibly fun and has so many benefits, but how do you get involved in the sport? This guide will have you participating in no time.

Fast CAT 101: The AKC's Fastest Sport! Does your dog feel the need for speed? Do you have the fastest dog on the block? Maybe on the planet? Try Fast CAT!

Diversity amongst dogs and people makes our dog sports community stronger. Meet some of the LGBTQ+ dog spot handlers and what they do.

The dog community is a big place, but so is the LGBTQ+ community! Make an effort to be kind to others, and stand up for others when you can.

Melinda was about to step into the ring at her first-ever Agility trial on a September day when two-year-old Silver Miniature Poodle Tate alerted for an oncoming aura migraine that would cause Melinda to lose vision temporarily. Agility trials are nerve-wracking, high-stress environments. It takes hours and hours of training to prepare for a trial […]

Virtual titling opportunities have made dog sports significantly more accessible to everyone, especially those who are geographically isolated or are living with disabilities. They're also great for people whose dogs have behavioral issues like reactivity or anxiety that might struggle in a traditional show environment. But while the virtual competition is a good way to […]

During the week, Billie might be taste-testing goodies at Three Dog Bakery in Kansas, but on the weekends, she's excelling in dog sports.

  Dogs experience the world differently than humans do. With a sense of smell that is between 10,000 and 100,000 times as acute as ours, they get the majority of their information about their environment from smell, rather than sight as we humans do. But in our busy human world, we don’t often let dogs […]

Shelters have many dogs with sad stories. But Roger was the one of the most heartbreaking cases Vicki Brown had ever seen.

Kori Bevis and her Golden Retriever, 'Baker,' have had an incredible obedience career together as a team. Upon Baker's retirement, they made history.

Loyal, intelligent, and courageous, Rottweilers gives off an air of nobility and self-confidence.  In fact, they've attracted people for millennia.

Assessing quality of life and end of life decisions is difficult for any dog owner, and can be even more challenging for owners of canine athletes.

There are nearly 4,000 miles between Maija Doggett's home in Anchorage, Alaska, and the world's biggest Flyball tournament in Indianapolis, Indiana. The CanAm Flyball Classic, run by the North American Flyball Association, is the largest gathering for Flyball — a relay race for dogs. More than 100 teams of four dogs each come to compete […]

If you think you're the only one who sees a litter of puppies and falls in love with the one with the most heart, guess again. Janie Haworth, the AKC 2019 Breeder of the Year for Spaniel Field Events, selects her future field trial stars for precisely the same reason. Her goal focuses on producing […]

Sherin Denny-Jenkins was out on a walk in Berlin in 2007 when she spotted someone coming her way with a dog. “All I could think was ‘Wow, that’s a beautiful dog!’ It was pretty and goofy at the same time,” she says. “I began talking to its owner and that was my introduction to the […]

New York, NY – The American Kennel Club wishes to acknowledge those individuals that have excelled at breeding dogs that have proven to be outstanding in AKC sports. The commitment to preserve, protect and improve a breed represents the very essence of the AKC. The AKC Breeder of the Year by Sport Award is given […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®), a not-for-profit organization that is the world’s largest registry of purebred dogs, and a leading voice for canine welfare and responsible ownership, is proud to announce the AKC Breeder of the Year by Sport honorees. Consistent with its mission of promoting the breeding of purebred dogs for type and function, […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®) wishes to acknowledge those individuals who have excelled at breeding dogs that have proven to be outstanding in AKC sports. The commitment to preserve, protect and improve a breed represents the very essence of the AKC.   The AKC Breeder of the Year by Sport Award is given to those who […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®), the world’s largest purebred dog registry and governing body of dog sports, is thrilled to announce two exciting canine competitions coming to ESPN2 this Christmas Day starting at 2:30pm ET. The programming will kick off with the AKC Agility Invitational presented by YuMOVE® and will be followed by the AKC […]