A common question we hear from dog lovers is "Does the AKC like mixed breeds?" The AKC stands for the love of all things dog, including mixed breeds.

Every dog sport has a different vibe, so if it's your first one, you'll want to make sure to dress appropriately. Check out our guide on what to wear!

By Allan Reznik   By Allan Reznik (Reprinted with permission from Dogs in Review and author Allan Reznik, from the November 2014 issue of Dogs in Review magazine. People get into a new breed for all kinds of reasons: the need to downsize, a desire for less grooming, a thirst for greater challenges, even the search […]

Successful breeders know the strengths and weaknesses of each of their dogs. Pedigrees, when properly analyzed, can provide a roadmap of those positive and negative features. Computerized databases have made it easier to analyze pedigrees and to store and retrieve information, but breeders still must do their homework. Understanding a pedigree is more than simply […]

There is a general movement within the dog world that has breeders and their clubs looking for new ways to make breed improvements. This is occurring because of the growing arsenal of tools available to breeders and their clubs. Given these conditions, the opportunity for making improvements is well within the reach of most clubs […]

Finding an AKC Sport that Fits Your Mixed-Breed DogSince 2010, the AKC has awarded thousands of titles to mixed-breeds. Why shouldn’t your clever, athletic mix join the fun? And why shouldn’t you enjoy the dog-park bragging rights that come with putting an AKC title on your dog? Here’s an overview of the competitions. Obedience Dog-and-handler […]

  The American Kennel Club® (AKC) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2010 AKC® Lifetime Achievement Awards. The awards, engraved Tiffany and Co. sterling silver bowls, will be presented to the recipients on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at the AKC Delegates luncheon held in conjunction with the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in Long Beach, […]

  -- AKC® Champions Can Compete for Grand Champion Title at AKC Conformation Events -- The American Kennel Club® is pleased to announce that it will begin offering the Grand Champion title at AKC Conformation events. This new title will be available to AKC Champions of Record, giving the opportunity for Champion dog owners to […]

  The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the nominees for the annual Lifetime Achievement Awards.  Finalists are based on nominations by member clubs.  A winner from the three finalists in each category—Conformation, Companion Events, and Performance—will be voted on by member clubs, with voting ending on September 13, 2010.  There will be […]

  The American Kennel Club® (AKC) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2011 AKC® Lifetime Achievement Awards: Walter F. Goodman (Conformation), James J. Ham (Companion Events) and Jo Ann Frier-Murza (Performance). The three recipients will receive engraved silver Revere bowls on Tuesday, December 7, 2010 at the AKC Delegates luncheon held in conjunction […]

In celebration of dogs with good manners at home and in the community, beginning January 1, 2013, passing the AKC®’s Canine Good Citizen® test can be recognized as an official American Kennel Club® title for all dogs. Since the program began in 1989, the CGC® has been considered an “award.” Dogs that passed the 10-step […]

New York, NY – Highlights from the February 7-8, 2013 meeting of the AKC Board of Directors are as follows.   Full details on these actions, as well as other actions taken, are included in the minutes for the meeting, which will be posted on the AKC website.   The American Hairless Terrier, the Norrbottenspets, […]

New York, NY – A Q&A between AKC Chairman of the Board Alan Kalter and Dog News’ Matthew H. Stander originally appeared in the April 11, 2014 issue of Dog News. The contents of the interview about the future direction of the AKC are reprinted here with permission of the publisher.   What steps do […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2015 Lifetime Achievement awards. This year’s recipients have greatly advanced the sport of purebred dogs through their dedication to breeding, exhibiting, judging, teaching and club involvement. The three winners were selected from votes cast by AKC member clubs. They will be honored […]

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 […]

-- New Programs and Services Introduced in 2010 -- As we wind down the year, I am pleased to highlight programs and initiatives we have introduced in 2010. In April, the first agility, obedience and rally trials open to mixed-breed dogs in the AKC Canine Partners program were held. So far, 853 AKC-licensed clubs have […]

- Highlights of 2011 - It was a pleasure to be with many of you in Florida this weekend as we enjoyed the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, AKC Agility Invitational, AKC National Obedience Invitational and the surrounding festivities. We hope you enjoyed the incredible series of events that unfolded over the weekend. We are all aware […]

-- Advancing Our Sport-- New York, NY – This year we celebrate the 129th anniversary of the American Kennel Club. Today, as it has been throughout those years, our beliefs and traditions continue to guide us in our sport, while innovation continues to advance us. We began the year with the spirit of relentless positive action […]

-- Progress to a Better Future -- New York, NY – Coming originally from the Bronx and being an ardent baseball fan, I always admired New York Yankees Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra. He is not only famous for being a gifted player, but also for his gifted ability for a memorable turn of phrase […]

-- A Summer of Positive Action for AKC -- New York, NY – It is back to school time across America and students are being asked that time-tested question – “What did you do over the summer?” For my wife and I, it’s a rather easy question to sum up in just five words – “We […]

  Welcome to the AKC . We have put together definitions for dog words that you may not be familiar with. If you have additional questions regarding the glossary, please contact our Special Services Department. A Abdomen The belly or under surface between the chest and the hindquarters. Acetabulum The concave lateral portion of the […]

  Memorandum To: All Employees The AKC expects all employees to support its mission, policies and programs and to conduct themselves in the performance of their job duties, in an ethical manner. In addition, every AKC employee has certain responsibilities in regards to access and disclosure of confidential information. The protection of confidential business information […]

AKC Parent Club Performance Events Breed specific performance events administered by Parent Clubs that test the skills need to maintain and enhance the breed's historical function.   Belgian Sheepdog Drafting - Belgian Sheepdogs are able to earn drafting titles in Bernese Mountain Dog events - effective June 1, 2012   PBGV Hunt Test effective March 1, […]

How to Earn the Title: Qualifications   To earn an AKC Therapy Dog™ title, you and your dog must meet the following criteria: Certified/registered by an AKC recognized therapy dog organization. Perform the required number of visits for the title for which you are applying. For your convenience in helping you track your visits, you […]

“A dream does not become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work.” -- Colin Powell There are many reasons to put in the time and resources necessary to earn recognition of your dog’s abilities: You might do it to show off his superior abilities; or you might do it for the personal […]

Originally ran in the "Dogsport 101" column of AKC Family Dog Dog sports aren't only for purebreds. Since 2010, the AKC has awarded thousands of titles to mixed-breeds. Why shouldn’t your clever, athletic mix join the fun? And why shouldn’t you enjoy the bragging rights that come with putting an AKC title on your dog? […]

Hailey Has Plenty of Tricks Up Her Paws Baseballs, basketballs, skateboards and Frisbees – most parents invest in plenty of these items for their kids. And in Karen Profenna’s case, that includes her four-legged family member. Hailey – a little black-and-white fireball – can swing a bat, dunk a basketball, ride a skateboard and soar […]

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). […]

Katie and her owner Debra White of Palatine, IL, have achieved the advanced level AKC Obedience title of Utility Dog (UD) as well as AKC Rally Excellent and AKC Agility titles! Debra met Katie at an adoption fair and the then 6-month-old puppy moved in with her the next day. The herding dog mix had […]

The AKC recognizes three titles earned by dogs in competitions sanctioned by the North American Flyball Association (NAFA). Owners of flyball-titled dogs may apply to the AKC and request that their flyball title be added to their AKC permanent record. Flyball is one of the few team sports for dogs, and the sport is for […]