City dogs need exercise and stimulation, just like their suburban and country counterparts. Sports like rally, treibball, and dog parkour are creative and fun forms of urban fitness. Even mushing through Manhattan can be accomplished with the right equipment and attitude. For a fulfilling life, a dog must have a yard, green grass, and room […]

Storm, a Black and Tan Coonhound, and her owner-handler Laura Beth Waldrep placed in the top 100 at the Rally National Championships.

When you watch dogs compete in Flyball for the first time, it can be fun but confusing. We're here to break down the sport of Flyball.

“Oh my gosh, that little dog can jump 14 feet?" It's a question owner Angela Crawford is familiar with. After all, not many Cavalier King Charles Spaniels participate in Dock Diving, and 14 feet is an impressive distance to jump. But getting questions like this, and watching the excitement of the crowds at any Dock […]

Eighteen-year-old Dea Godlevsky has just recently aged out of junior showmanship, but she's made her mark on the sport with her achievements as a Junior Handler.

Start by showing your dog how to enter and exit. Use a small children’s pool to introduce your dog to the water. While on leash toss a special toy into the water. If she is still reluctant you can take a high-value treat and lure her in, placing the treat by her nose and praising […]

Haley Berman gave 'Tully' the All-American Dog a second chance, and together, they learned to excel at agility.

It happens fast, and he makes it look easy. "Hit it!" says Bea Page, and with a running start, Hogan the French Bulldog begins his sprint into parkour.

Photographs capture one second in time. And time is fleeting. It rushes forward without bias, emotion, or care. Perhaps that’s why photos mean so much to the dog fancy: They preserve the moment when a champion was at his best. Without them, such paragons would be lost to those who study the past before charting […]

Fourteen-year-old Ari Beaudoin of Boise Idaho is now an active agility competitor, but she actually first discovered dog sports through Flyball.

The AKC will now offer two new entry-level agility classes. These classes, Agility Course Test (ACT) 1 & 2 will allow beginners an easier entry into the sport. The classes will have shorter courses with basic obstacles specifically designed for beginners. ACT 1 & 2 will serve as the graduation exercise for training classes and […]

"Young people are the future of our sport. There is no future if we don’t get the youngsters involved in as many aspects as possible," says Sue Goldberg, member of Somerset Hills Kennel Club and mastermind behind the first AKC Juniors Ring Steward Apprentice Program. The idea came to Goldberg at a regular Somerset Hills […]

When Allison Wilt first picked up her dog, Finn, from a rescue organization three years ago, he was a bundle of nerves. "People kept passing him off because they described him as being 'a lot of dog,'" Wilt recalls. "He was very reactive to people and other dogs, at first. He didn’t know who his […]

Your child has told you they want to get involved in dog shows, now what? Here's how to get involved, even if you don't know where to start.

As Kayla Stanley was taking photos at her local dog club in 2018, she realized she wanted her own dogs to get in on the fun. But at the time she only had two older dogs and a Beagle who weren't interested in dog sports. Kayla told her husband they needed another dog just for […]

Small or large, with solidly built, wide bodies, and short coats, Bully breeds share some of the same characteristics. Meet the Bully breeds!

Before Baloo amassed an astonishing 648,000-plus followers on TikTok (and 196,000 followers and counting on Instagram), inspired countless people, and became a canine athlete, he was a rescue dog waiting for his perfect match. Bella Boone was the person he'd been looking for. Bringing Home Baloo Just a few months into Bella's freshman year at […]

Conformation shows and other dog sport events are exciting occasions for both dogs and handlers. But they can also be stressful. Emotions do run high, but it’s important that everyone involved in dog sports demonstrates good sportsmanship. Unsportsmanlike behavior is not only unpleasant, but it also compromises the integrity of the sport as a whole. It’s important for […]

We dog people can be an emotional bunch. We care very deeply about our dogs and every aspect of the sport: their breeding, their health, their assessment in the show ring, and their influence on future generations. We don’t sit idly by when criticism is aimed our way, but that's where dog show etiquette comes […]

Being a pro athlete on the Olympic world stage is no small feat, and can be very stressful. Luckily, 'Beacon' the Golden Retriever has been a huge support.

At dog sporting events, you'll likely see Border Collies, Poodles, and Golden Retrievers. When you see a little white dog in the ring, you might do a double take. Enter "Hayden" the Maltese and his owner Rubina Pak, who are proving that every dog can do dog sports. "There are not many Maltese competing in […]

Pug 'Louis' was the first Pug to get his AKC Rally Championship title. He recently competed at the first AKC RACH Invitational in Orlando, Florida.

I can hardly believe the first day of winter is almost upon us! Where did the warm summer sunshine go? Cold weather is just around the corner, and I must be honest: My dog loves winter and I do not. This means we must meet in the middle. Meeting in the middle will look different […]

Learning Objectives Students will analyze data from past dog shows to determine the probability of future dog show outcomes.   Grade Levels 6-8   Mathematics Common Core Standards CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.7.SP.C.5 Understand that the probability of a chance event is a number between 0 and 1 that expresses the likelihood of the event occurring. Larger numbers indicate […]

Competition/Titles Update We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles in Agility, Coursing Ability, Rally, Obedience and Tracking. This past quarter delivered an All-American Dog winning a division of the AKC National Agility Championship and the first ever Versatility Companion Dog Level 3 (VCD3)! AGILITY AKC National Agility […]

Teach Your Dog “Place!” This issue’s Training Tip is brought to us by Kelly Castle of Chuluota, FL. Her three dogs have competed, or will compete, in agility, rally, obedience, tricks, Barn Hunt, Scent Work, FastCAT, and Dock Diving.  Zuri (Shameless Poc-Ket Of Petunias CD BN RM RAE AX OAJ CAX FCAT3 SEN RATCH CGCA CGCU […]

Competition & Title Updates  We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles in Agility, Coursing Ability, Rally, Obedience, Scent Work, and Tracking. AGILITY Congratulations to the winners at the 2019 AKC Agility Invitational AKC Canine Partners congratulates the All-American Dogs and their owners who competed and won honors at the AKC […]

***NEW*** AKC now offers a quick and easy way to submit your Farm Dog Title Application! Submit your application now here. Your dog responds well to commands at home and in public, but how would he respond in a farm environment? There’s an easy way to find out: Sign him up for a Farm Dog Certified test. […]

The 11th AKC National Tracking Invitational was he ld at the gorgeous Branched Oak Recreation Area in Raymond, Nebraska. The American Kennel Club sincerely appreciates the hard work, and dedication to the sport of Tracking the Nebraska Kennel Club and Cornhusker Kennel Club of Lincoln, Nebraska members showed by hosting this National Tracking Invitational. EVENT RESULTS Saturday, October 11, 2025 Judges – […]

by Elissa Kirkegard Ch. Realta's Galileo CD TD SH MHU QAA CGC (IWSCA ALL AROUND RETRIEVER AND IWSCA WCX) Who says you can't teach old dogs new tricks? Nine year old veteran retriever and hunting dog, Gali, owned and handled by Elissa Kirkegard, took to the spaniel hunt test game with gusto. This is the […]