Regular exercise and keeping your dog in good physical condition is important for all canines, and essential if you are thinking about participating in any dog sports together. Human athletes prepare their bodies before hitting the court or field, and it's the same for canine athletes. Well-conditioned dogs are less likely to be injured than […]

If your child is interested in dog shows, they don't need to wait until they're an adult to compete. Get involved with Junior Showmanship and special attractions!

Many dog breeds were first developed to hunt vermin. Learn more about the sport of Barn Hunt and how it could be perfect for you dog.

Every year in December (or January for a few years) since 2001, dog owners from around the world come together for the American Kennel Club National Championship presented by Royal Canin. This year, the event takes place in Orlando, Fla., with a nearly week-long series of events culminating in the Best in Show finale. Starting December […]

In each of the seven groups, one dog from one breed is chosen to represent their group going into Best in Show at the 147th Westminster Kennel Club Show.

A memorable trip to Germany gave Cynthia Heyman an opportunity to visit family, tour the Rhine River, and meet her dream dog, aptly named "Dreamer."

Moderator Laura Reeves points to an audience member ready to ask a question at a Del Monte Kennel Club Friday Night Forum in Carmel, Calif., last month. Panelists are, from left, Pat Trotter, Dorothy Macdonald, and Kimberly Meredith-Cavanna. Photo by Cook Dog Show Photography.   Bridging the gap is defined as connecting two things — […]

The success of any American Kennel Club sport is built on teamwork, trust, and tenacity between handler and dog. But sometimes accessing nationwide competitions can be a challenge, especially if you live hundreds of miles away from a national championship and can’t quite hop on a flight. This rings true for Agility competitors at the […]

The 2024 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, which took place in Queens, New York, on May 11-14, has picked its Group Winners to move on to Best in Show.

You may not have heard of the Carolina Dog, but that doesn't mean you can count them out of dog sports like Fast CAT. Bones, a Carolina Dog, is participating in AKC Fastest Dogs USA on his second birthday, showing just how fast he is.

Connor Wooton is an 18-year-old from Bel Air, Maryland. Wooton became an active dog sports competitor as a junior handler and has just aged out of...

The French Bulldog, one of the most popular dog breeds around, and the Boston Terrier, state dog of Massachusetts, are both adorable companions. Sharing fabulous ears and distinct faces, these small and compact members of the Non-Sporting Group both adapt well to an urban environment. But if you see them walking down the sidewalk, can […]

Eleven-year-old Audrey Boyer goes by another name: Whippet Girl. For people that know her, this isn't surprising. Not only does she have three Whippets (Disco, Yoshi, and Major) but they are her passion. She competes with her dogs in Conformation, Rally, Obedience, and Dock Diving. Her Facebook page, Whippet Girl, is dedicated to helping educate […]

Kristin Platzer and her Shih Tzu, 'Lucy,' defied expectations with their final, heartwarming routine at the 2023 national AKC Trick Dog Competition.

Dog agility is an exciting celebration of canine athleticism and the dog-human bond. Learn if the sport is right for you and how to get started.

With closures and stay-at-home orders emerging every day, it’s a tricky time to be breeding or raising puppies. But in 2020 the options for online learning are endless so take advantage of the time to sharpen your skills. While not everyone enjoys distance learning, it’s a necessary part of life for most of us right […]

You might have a dog you've dreamed of showing in a conformation event, but how do you know when they're ready to compete for the first time? In This Article Try a Beginner Conformation Course Consider Handling Classes Training in Public Spaces Enter a 4-6 Month Beginner Puppy Competition Practice Through Match Shows Assessing Your […]

How do you support a blind dog or pet who's lost their vision? Here are key ways to help your dog adjust while keeping them active.

Scent work takes a skill that all dogs are great at, sniffing and turns it into a challenging and competitive sport! AKC Scent Work mimics the jobs that detection dogs do to locate hidden scents and communicate the location to their handler. Dogs have a keen sense of smell estimated to be 10,000 to 100,000 […]

If you have a large or giant breed dog, they can get involved in Trick Dog! Here's how to get started with your big pup and teach them tricks.

When you think "water dog," you may not think "Whippet." But Sounders is here to show you that anyone can be a diving dog, and he's good at it.

Sophia Feid Junior Handler Feature Sassafras Patterdale Thirteen-year-old Sophia Feid of Apex, NC, is proof that you don't have to have a show dog of...

Carla Campbell competes in a variety of dog sports with her guide dog, a German Shepherd Dog named "Hope," including obedience and dock diving.

It was an exciting first night of the 2016 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show presented by Purina® Pro Plan® on Monday, Feb. 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York, as winners of the Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding groups were named. CH Belisarius Jp My Sassy Girl, aka "Lucy," a 3-year old Borzoi won the […]

There are few sights more beautiful than watching a dog do the work it was bred to do, like Border Collies herding sheep.

The highest prize in the world of conformation dog shows is Best in Show at the AKC National Championship, presented by Royal Canin. Out of the 5,500 dogs that competed in the competition's 25th year, only one was crowed Best in Show. After an intense weekend of breed, group, and Best in Show competition on […]

Learning Objectives Students will close read and analyze “A Dog’s Tale” by Mark Twain. *Note: This is a multi-day lesson.   Grade Levels 9-12   Common Core English Language Arts Standards CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.2 Determine two or more themes or central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how […]

Virtual monthly webinar learning experiences created by breeders for breeders. Join renowned experts in these educational opportunities for breeders! 2026 Schedule Wednesday, September 30, 2026 6:00 – 7:30 pm (EST) “Prepaid Registration Made Easy with AKC Breeder Toolkit” Presented by the AKC BRET Team Discover a smarter way to register your puppies and see why […]

Thank you to Luke, Lexi, Rachel, Savanna and Rebecca for sharing their experiences. Have your own story? Submit it to juniors@akc.org. [accordion]   [accordion_panel title="Luke Edmonson"] Yesterday Luke and Apple competed in the MN State 4-H Dog Show. Here they are at the end of their day. The got Reserve Champion in Foundation Obedience grades […]

Active, friendly, outgoing – the Labrador Retriever, or Lab for short, perfectly encompasses the state of Ohio’s slogan – ‘The Heart of it All.’ It’s no wonder that earlier this month, Ohio State Representative Jeffrey S. Rezabek introduced House Bill 539 to recognize the Lab as the state dog. The versatile Lab is often trained […]