My name is Maximillian Thompson. I’m currently seventeen years old and am from northeastern Minnesota. I started training for Rally, Agility, and Junior Showmanship back in late 2014, when I got my first dog, an energetic field Golden Retriever named Stella. She was one and a half at the time. Her family had given her […]

This program was formulated due to the overwhelming success of the Retriever Hunting Test program. In 1986 Director of Field Trials and Hunting Tests, A. Hamilton (Ham) Rowan, Manager of Performance Events, John Carroll, and AKC Field Representative, Bob Bartel developed the plans for the fledgling Pointing Breed Hunting Test program. The regulations were approved […]

When you and your dog reach the Elite Performer level, you'll need not only to perform high-level tricks, but also act out a story together. The same is true for the AKC Virtual Trick Dog Competition. So, is your dog ready to be the star of their own show? As a fiction author turned dog […]

At the 2022 National Agility Championship (NAC) in Ocala, Florida, hundreds of the nation's top canines compete with hopes of being named one of the best Agility dogs. Of the qualifying contenders, it's typical to see dozens of Border Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs. This year, there was even a Bulldog and a Borzoi! But a […]

Recently I helped a breeder friend compile a package of handouts to send to prospective owners. This was her first litter so she was new to the process. I was surprised to learn that her bitch’s breeder had not sent her anything comparable when she was shopping for a puppy. I used to think these […]

News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Alabama – House Bill 485, among other provisions, would have allowed a dog to be confiscated without court authorization if suspected of harassing, harming, or killing livestock. Minor amendments were adopted in committee, and AKC GR advocated for […]

On Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at 1pm the New Hampshire House Environment and Agriculture Committee is scheduled to hear testimony on SB 368, as amended.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) and the New Hampshire Dog Owners of the Granite State (NH DOGS) have significant concerns. New Hampshire residents are strongly encouraged to use the information […]

Lnh's Shot Of Fire FCAT ACT1 CGC TKE owned by Lindsey Hazlett of Mount Horeb, WI “Heisman is a 5-year-old rescue who has spent the last year learning complex tricks and routines for the AKC Trick Dog program,” Lindsey said. He earned his Elite Performer title in December 2021 after performing a routine called Heisman […]

Greetings everybody. A year ago, almost to the day, the American Kennel Club and our constituents had to face the grim reality of a lockdown due to an unprecedented pandemic. Incredibly, we are still grappling with this global disaster. COVID-19 has taken an unbearable toll on our Events, Clubs, Exhibitors, Handlers and Judges. But, there’s […]

Good morning or afternoon, whatever the case may be. Resilience. Flexibility. Communication. When we look back on the past year and a half – as we do now nearing the midway point of 2021 – these are the words that characterize our incredible organization. The end of the pandemic is at last in our sights, […]