What’s New from AKC Government Relations  We hope you and your families are staying safe and healthy during these unprecedented times. We know you are washing your hands, wearing your mask, and keeping a safe distance from others, but we have heard many people worry about whether their beloved dogs could catch or spread the […]

From the Lone Ranger to Zorro, we know good guys can wear masks. But just try convincing your dog of that. As controlling the spread of the coronavirus becomes a paramount concern, the federal government has recommended – and some states have mandated – wearing face masks in public. While we humans have acclimated to […]

Editor's Note: Beginning June 1, 2020, dogs under the age of four months may not receive a title for AKC Trick Dog or Canine Good Citizen in order to emphasize AKC STAR Puppy and socialization. Once puppies reach four months old, they are free to participate in Trick Dog! What's a dog to do while waiting […]

The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) provides educational resources and tools for dog breeders as part of its mission to advance the health of all dogs. To help responsible breeders utilize the latest canine health information in their breeding and rearing plans and share that information with their puppy buyers, CHF provides infectious disease facts […]

As states begin to open and the demand to test and screen for COVID-19 grows, researchers are enlisting all the help they can get — including dogs. Led by Cynthia M. Otto, director of the Working Dog Center at UPenn’s School of Veterinary Medicine, eight Labrador Retrievers are being trained to sniff out the coronavirus. Training […]

At just nine years old Tatum Duvall was catapulted into dog sports when her mom, Tanya Duvall, broke her leg. She began showing Vizslas as a Junior Handler and quickly fell in love with the sport. “When my mom got hurt, I didn't expect to love dogs so much and showing so much," said Tatum. […]

Did you know that there are amazing dog memorials located across the country? Whether they’re war heroes or stars of their local community, canines have inspired permanent monuments that dog lovers can visit. While we can't travel at the moment due to COVID-19, there are many dog memorials you can learn about from your living […]

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cathy Robbins and her five-year-old therapy dog, Finn, would visit multiple patients at Riddle Hospital in Pennsylvania a few days a week. They would share moments together comforting patients and their families — like the coma patient who physically shifted at Finn's touch, or the patient who briefly woke from […]

Gilligan isn't your average dog. Just take a look at her long list of titles: Fishbay’s Merchant of Venice CD BN RE AX AXJ OF RATN DN CGCA TKA WWDX CWDX MAC-3 SROM. The versatile Portuguese Water Dog has earned an array of accolades, including winning multiple agility, Rally, and obedience classes at national specialties. Perhaps most impressive […]

The AKC Paw of CourageSM is an award given to show appreciation for the work that dogs do in the service of humankind. This award recognizes dogs who serve their communities, making great impacts in the lives of their human counterparts. Paw of Courage awards can be presented to Police K-9s, Military Working Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Service Dogs, […]