In celebration of St. Patrick's Day on Monday, March 17th, 2003 the American Kennel Club celebrates seven purebred dogs of Irish heritage. Additional information including the full breed standards, links to Parent Club web sites and video clips of each breed, is available on this site.   The Glen of Imaal Terrier - "There is […]

Help is needed immediately to defeat legislation that has been introduced in Maryland to severely restrict debarking of dogs. The bill (H355) is currently awaiting a vote by the House Committee on Environmental Matters. Debarking of dogs is a commonly misunderstood practice. When performed by a veterinarian, debarking is an acceptable medical procedure that is […]

  The Board of Directors is considering some changes to the procedures and policies for approval of judges. It requests your comments on them. Your written comments should be addressed to: Mr. James P. Crowley Executive Secretary American Kennel Club 260 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10016. All comments must be received by Mr. […]

Basic obedience training is the foundation upon which all canine activities are based, whether it be competition in conformation, conquering the obstacles on the agility course, sniffing out a suspect in law enforcement work or a service dog guiding a visually impaired person safely across the street. In 1933, when AKC Obedience competition began, the […]

  The American Kennel Club (AKC) and the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation (AKC/CHF) have agreed to relocate the seven-year-old AKC Canine Health Foundation to Raleigh, North Carolina with the Foundation offices to be located in the American Kennel Club building. "This is a major step forward and the American Kennel Club is pleased […]

Immediate help from New Jersey dog owners is needed to defeat legislation that would severely restrict ownership of "pit bulls" and possibly Rottweilers. A2906 was introduced in October 2002 and fanciers immediately rallied to educate lawmakers about the ineffectiveness of breed-specific legislation. An identical Senate bill, S2381, was introduced in late February. We must act […]

Basic obedience training is the foundation upon which all canine activities are based, whether it be competition in conformation, conquering the obstacles on the agility course, sniffing out a suspect in law enforcement work or a service dog guiding a visually impaired person safely across the street. In 1933, when AKC Obedience competition began, the […]

AKC Family Dog, a new consumer lifestyle magazine with a focus on the purebred pet dog, makes its debut with the Spring 2003 issue. This premier issue of the new quarterly magazine from The American Kennel Club is a special "Puppies Edition," focusing on topics that help new or prospective dog owners welcome their young […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC) is disappointed to learn that a television ad to promote the Westminster Kennel Club dog show depicting a Doberman Pinscher's mouth and teeth along with the words "nasty dog" is continuing to be seen on various television stations. This spot reflects negatively on the Doberman Pinscher and perpetuates an unfair […]

  The recipients of the AKC 2003 Lifetime Achievement Awards were announced at the December 10 Delegates meeting in Orlando, FL. The Lifetime Achievement Awards honor those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of purebred dogs on a national level. The recipients were selected by votes cast by AKC member clubs for […]