Curiosity didn’t just kill the cat. It did in the duck, too. Over the centuries, bird hunters have come up with creative ways to close in on their quacking prey, in part by breeding specific dogs to help in that endeavor. Centuries ago, hunters in the Netherlands came up with perhaps the most outside-the-box idea for […]

The history of dogs might be very different without the people of Phoenicia. These seafaring traders sailed the Mediterranean from what is today Lebanon 2,500 years ago, During their trip, they did business in luxury items. As they went, it's assumed that the Phoenicians disseminated Egyptian hounds throughout the ancient world. The prevailing theory suggests […]

The mahogany huntress leapt from one bale to the next in pursuit of her prey. Straw and dust swirled in the air as Beatrice, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, canvassed the barn with handler Ikuko Jones following briskly behind. Jones sidestepped the hay bales as she watched intently for her dog’s “tell”: a swift, heavy swat of […]

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen came into prominence in the United States nearly 20 years ago. Although there had been a few PBGVs in the country as early as 1971, it was a puppy named Alexander that started the PBGV frenzy in 1983. Since then, the reaction to this scruffy little hound has gone from […]

Fall brings its own rhythm and sounds. After the long days of summer, it is almost a relief to enjoy the gap between summer and winter. The soft rustle of leaves gliding on chilly winds, the muted sounds of birds still hanging around before undertaking their migrations, and the tinkling sounds of bells all tell […]

With their wagging tails and friendly temperament, the Cocker Spaniel has long been one of the most popular dog breeds. Learn more about this merry breed.

Though we often don’t think about them in this way, dogs are really about people — those long-ago (or, sometimes, not so long-ago) figures who developed particular breeds for particular tasks. Some breeds — like the Doberman Pinscher, Teddy Roosevelt Terrier, and Cesky Terrier — owe their existence to just one visionary person. Other breeds were brought into being […]

Having trouble deciding on a name for your hunting dog? You've come to the right place. The following list of hunting dog names should give you some inspiration. Let's start with some names inspired by hunting itself: Chase/Chaser - A great fit for tracking dogs. Scout - Also great for trackers. If you have two dogs, and you're a fan of […]

The Boykin Spaniel is a hunting breed who excels at both flushing and retrieving game. Boykins are well suited to participate in AKC hunt tests and spaniel field trials. However, owners who are new to fieldwork might find hunt tests or field trials intimidating. A good venue for beginners is the Working Ability Certification Program […]

If you celebrate Easter, you probably fondly remember going on Easter egg hunts as a child. Learning how to get your dog involved in the tradition allows you to never outgrow the fun. Here is a helpful guide to setting up a safe and fun Easter egg hunt for your dog.   Plastic Easter eggs can […]

Wednesday, September 11, 2019 Yesterday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) issued new finalized station-specific hunting and sport fishing regulations.  According to its summary, the FWS will open seven National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) to hunting and fishing, expand hunting and sport fishing at 70 other NWRs, add pertinent station-specific regulations for other NWRs that […]

AKC and California fanciers scored a major victory when AB342, which would have prohibited hunting with dogs or training for that purpose, was soundly rejected in committee by a vote of 19-0. The bill was granted reconsideration as a courtesy to the author, meaning it could possibly come before the Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee […]

AKC and California dog owners are outraged by legislation that prohibits hunting with dogs or training for that purpose. This bill (AB342) was intended to restrict the hunting of fur-bearing animals with dogs but is extremely poorly worded. As written, AB342 makes it illegal for any dog to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or […]

Over the past few weeks, the Standing Committees of the Maryland Legislature have been busy holding hearings on numerous bills in preparation for floor action by the full House and Senate. Here are some updates on bills of interest to Maryland dog owners.  Scroll down for the latest information and how you can take action […]

March 25, 2019 Arkansas Senate Bill 11 seeks to protect traditional hunting methods in the state, including the right to hunt with the assistance of a dog. Arkansas dog owners, trainers, breeders, and sportsmen are urged to immediately contact members of the Senate Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee and respectfully ask them to support […]

Wednesday, February 27, 2019 The Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on Senate Bill 723 on Thursday, February 28, at 8:30 a.m. As introduced, SB 723 will prohibit events or contests involving birds and other wildlife, which would have affected field trials and hunt testing involving dogs. The hearing on Thursday […]

Recently, New York Governor Kathy Hochu signed a bill making certain hunting competitions illegal.  This new law contains important provisions requested by the AKC to protect training and performance events. Summary: As stated in a previous alert, Senate Bill 4099 and its companion Assembly Bill 2917 make it unlawful and establish a civil penalty for […]

The New York Assembly could soon consider a bill that makes certain hunting competitions illegal.  As written, however, Assembly Bill 5746 contains important amendments requested by the AKC to protect training and performance events. Summary: Assembly Bill 5746 is similar to bills introduced in previous sessions that would make it unlawful to organize, sponsor, or […]

May 21, 2019 The AKC continues to closely monitor Assembly Bill 722 and Senate Bill 3830, which seek to limit hunting in the state. On Friday, these bills were amended to exempt certain field trials including field trials in dog training areas, so long as no game are killed. However, the bills would still prevent […]

The California State Legislature has voted to suspend its 2020 session from March 20 until April 13 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Because the situation remains fluid, those dates may change. As such, California Senate Bill 1041, legislation that bans hunting deer with dogs, was originally scheduled to be heard in the Senate Committee on […]

The Maryland House Environment and Transportation Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on Friday, January 15, 2021, on House Bill 293, and the Maryland Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on Thursday, January 21, 2021, on Senate Bill 200.  These identical bills seek to prohibit contests where […]

June 5, 2019 Tomorrow (Thursday, June 6), the New York Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee will be considering amendments to Assembly Bill 722, which as introduced would have limited hunting and hunt trials in the state. You made a difference!  Thanks to the efforts of all who called and emailed the committee, the amendment being considered […]

MACH BRADLEY'S BRANDY RN MXG MJS MXP2 MXPB MJP2 OF XFP T2B2 RATM CGCA owned by Kevin & Alison Bradley of Fayetteville, AR Kevin and Alison adopted Brandy from Fayetteville Animal Services on Nov. 22, 2008. They discovered an intelligent, energetic young dog and got her involved in training. Soon, Brandy was competing in agility […]

Emmy is 11 years old, and was adopted from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, UT, in 2008.  At the time, she was an insecure dog who knew very little about being a dog and generally seemed to lack any sense of purpose.  Eventually, she followed another dog in the family into agility classes. It […]

RATCHX Rex Von McKinney Rausch BCAT CGC owned by Jeanette Rausch of Mount Juliet, TN Eight-year-old Rex was once a stud dog at a kennel that was shut down by the authorities.  “I stumbled across his photo online and fell in love with him so I reached out to the organization to arrange meeting him […]

RATCHX Rex Von McKinney Rausch BCAT CGC owned by Jeanette Rausch of Mount Juliet, TN Eight-year-old Rex was once a stud dog at a kennel that was shut down by the authorities. “I stumbled across his photo online and fell in love with him so I reached out to the organization to arrange meeting him […]

A newly created 2-day Advanced AKC Judge's Seminar for the Retriever Hunting Test will be held May 31-June 1 in Glasgow, Delaware. The first day will consist of classroom instruction with emphasis on areas such as Pre-test Responsibilities, Test Planning & Setup, Day of the Test, and Evaluating & Scoring. Day two will be held […]

  The American Kennel Club® has announced that the 2006 AKC® World Coonhound Nite Hunt and Bench Show Championships will be held September 25 through 30 at the Kosciusko County 4-H Fairgrounds in Warsaw, Ind. The Sportsmen and Farmers Conservation Club of Silver Lake, Ind. will serve as the host for this prestigious event. The […]

by Senior Field Rep Tom Meyer January 1st, 2012 marked the entry of the Flat-Coat Retriever into the Spaniel Hunting Test program. The Spaniel Hunting test program is a demonstration of a breed's usefulness in finding, flushing and retrieving upland game. This is one of the functions for which the Flat-Coats were bred. This is […]

Here are some guidelines for conducting the test: When submitting a hunt test video it must be continuous and without interruption or editing. Try not to retest in any phase, other than if it is clear the dog was not tracking a thrown towel during Chase Retrieve or Hidden Grass. If you find yourself trying […]