Each year, five dogs are honored by the AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence. These dogs help change their communities for the better in many ways.

The AKC® Humane Fund is proud to announce the winners of the 24th annual AKC® Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). These awards celebrate five loyal, hard-working dogs that have significantly improved the lives of their owners and communities. The five winners were carefully chosen from a pool of over 600 impressive nominations. The […]

Hank, a 3-year-old German Shepherd Dog, has changed the life of 10-year-old Harrison Brimner, who is autistic, and the lives of his family. Hank is the recipient of the 2023 Award for Canine Excellence in the Service Dog category.

On Wednesday, November 8, one dozen animal bills impacting dogs and breeders are on the agenda for review by the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture (JENRA). The hybrid public hearing is scheduled to start at 1PM. The American Kennel Club Government Relations Department (AKC GR) has tracked most of these bills […]

On Thursday, September 14, California’s 2023 legislative session came to end. Below are two related bills supported by AKC that unanimously passed the Legislature and will enable Californians with pets to access emergency, domestic violence, and homeless shelters across the state. Both bills await action from Gov. Newsom by October 14. Please register your support […]

Lymphoma is a common cancer in people and dogs and affects the lymph nodes and lymphatic system, which is made up of organs, tissues, and vessels.

If your dog is suffering from ataxia, the most common symptom you might notice is a change in his gait, making him very unsteady.

Today, the Texas House of Representatives passed SB 876. The bill will now go to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk. The bill will require anyone that both owns 5 or more intact females and is engaged in the business of breeding those dogs for sale to secure a state license. It is vitally important that Governor […]

The Delaware House Health and Human Development Committee approved bills seeking to regulate barking dogs and granting immunity for animal cruelty reporting after a recent hearing.  Delaware residents are strongly encouraged to contact their State Representatives (see below for more information). House Bill 124 – Regulating Barking Dogs House Bill 124 would prohibit dogs from […]

This Wednesday, May 3, the Delaware House Health and Human Development Committee will be considering bills seeking to regulate barking dogs and granting immunity for animal cruelty reporting. Delaware residents are encouraged to contact the committee and express your concerns with House Bill 124 regulating barking dogs and express comments and concerns you may have […]

The 2023 Kentucky legislative session ended with positive results for dogs, working K9s, and dog owners. The American Kennel Club Government Relations team (AKC GR) thanks AKC club members, dog owners, sportsmen, and every individual who contacted lawmakers about legislation that affects the dogs we love.  Bills Opposed by AKC GR: HB 321 attempted to problematically […]

This week, Delaware legislative committees are considering bills regarding animal cruelty reporting and naming the rescue dog as the official state dog. In addition, while the hearing has not been rescheduled, legislators are still deliberating a bill that would regulate dog barking statewide.  Below are the latest updates, along with information on how to comment: […]

In the ring, Addict the Portuguese Podengo is the center of attention. The 36-pound dog displays both substance and splash while...

Wednesday, March 15, 2023, the Maine Committee on the Judiciary will accept public testimony on LD 888, to Allow Use of Courthouse Facility Dogs by Criminal Justice Agencies for Criminal Justice Purposes. The bill would (1) adopt definitions; (2) establish training requirements; and (3) authorize trained dogs to accompany a witness in courtroom appearances and […]

We pay homage to some of history's most indomitable female dogs. They went above and beyond (in one case, literally) in service to humankind. Strelka and Belka Years before Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman cosmonaut in space, two other females blazed a trail. On August 19, 1960, the two mixed-breed dogs were aboard the […]

It's a fact. Every dog pees. Most males lift their legs to do it, and many females squat to get the job done. A potty is a hormonal response for both sexes

Two dog-related bills of concern are scheduled to be considered by the Hawaii House Agriculture Committee on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. House Bill 849 seeks to limit consumer choice by requiring pet stores to sell dogs obtained only from animal control or a shelter/rescue. House Bill 1513 seeks to limit civil and criminal liability for […]

Today, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) formally announced future proposed changes to the federal Animal Welfare Act’s (AWA) rules and standards, including adding regulatory requirements to address species-specific environmental enrichment for all regulated animals, including dogs. Should you be regulated under the federal Animal Welfare Act?  […]

The AKC® Humane Fund is proud to announce the winners of the 23rd annual AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). These awards celebrate five loyal, hard-working dogs that have significantly improved the lives of their owners and communities. The five winners were carefully chosen from a pool of over 600 impressive nominations. The […]

Lotus is one of five 2022 AKC Awards for Canine Excellence recipients, winning the Service Dog category. This category recognizes task-trained service dogs that enrich the lives of owners with physical or mental disabilities. Including but not limited to guide dogs for the blind, seizure-alert dogs, hearing dogs, and balance dogs. It was only seven […]

After the airing of the popular special AKC Heroes: 2022 Awards for Canine Excellence on ESPN2, the AKC is excited to share the winners of this year’s AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). These annual awards celebrate loyal, hard-working dogs that have significantly improved the lives of their owners and/or communities. Five remarkable dogs […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®) is pleased to announce that it is honoring dogs that work for government agencies and keep our communities safe by awarding the title of Public Service Dog. To be awarded a title, a dog must have worked for a minimum of two years and received a minimum of two certifications […]

The Wichita Animal Services Advisory Board will meet this week on Wednesday, November 16 at 4:00pm to discuss a potential mandatory spay and neuter ordinance. The board will need to develop an ordinance and approve it before it will receive further consideration. Once the board approves an ordinance it may require approval from the Wichita […]

The AKC is proud to launch a new Public Service Dog Titling Program to honor and recognize police dogs that assist our men and women in law enforcement.  AKC now offers three titles to help identify the accomplishments of these outstanding dogs that excel in three areas - Detection, Patrol Work and Tracking.  All three […]

Is this a whelping emergency? Am I jumping the gun? Am I waiting too long? Are the puppies in danger? Is the dam in danger? What should I do? Does she need a C-section? There's not a breeder alive who hasn't agonized over these same questions during a whelping. But take a deep breath, calm […]

Dogs rely on their owners for everything from food and veterinary care to grooming and exercise. When you see a friend or family member falling short in caring for their dog in one or more of these areas, it's only natural to have concerns. If someone is dealing with depression, they might be neglecting their […]

If you want to offer a naturally enriching, calming, and enjoyable experience, your dog will enjoy a lot of sniffing on a walk.

The first-grade boy didn’t like reading—or even trying to read. He’d fallen behind during the pandemic and felt embarrassed in front of his classmates, so he’d just shut down and refuse to participate, looking at the ceiling or fiddling with a pencil. That changed last fall when a Labrador Retriever named Hudson started visiting classes […]

About 300 dog/handler search teams responded to 9/11, but only about 100 were prepared for the size of the disaster at Ground Zero. Since then, the need for search-and-rescue dogs and therapy dogs has only increased.

If you've spent any time on social media chances are you've come across the phrase "pet all the dogs" or "I just want to pet all the dogs." this memable...