Getting involved in AKC Virtual Sports and Titling opportunities is an easy and exciting way to get started in dog sports! Whether you and your dog are looking to get active in AKC Agility, earn a training title in home manners, or plot a crowd pleasing AKC Trick Dog routine, the opportunities to get started virtually are endless. Virtual programs act as a great steppingstone to further in-person AKC Sports and Events, and participation allows […]

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 […]

Thanks to Avery and Mara for sharing their experience in Junior Showmanship. We wish to feature as many juniors as possible, so please send your stories to juniors@akc.org. Avery Miller Hello, my name is Avery Miller and I am 12 years old. I started in the competition dog world with Barn Hunt about 5 years […]

Thank you to Izzy, Blair, and Jack for sharing their experiences. Have your own story? Submit it to juniors@akc.org. [accordion]   [accordion_panel title="Izabelle Burg"] When I was 10 and Shiloh was 3 months old, she came to live with us. Mom said we needed to bond, so I slept with Shiloh so I had to […]

When it comes to dealing with challenges, you can put the Los Angeles Responsible Pit Bull Owners’ (LARPBO) spirit and spunk right at the top of the list. In late summer, the non-profit organization began reaching into its deep toolbox to enhance local attitudes toward a breed battling a longtime stigma of bark, bite, and […]

A hunting dog that doesn't compromise a bit of cuteness, the Beagle is a happy-go-lucky, loyal breed. They are known to be friendly, curious, and irresistibly adorable thanks to their floppy ears, unique coats, and pouty faces. The Beagle makes for the perfect picture of a traditional hound dog and has been a favorite breed […]

Cane Corso puppies melt hearts with their floppy ears, wrinkly bodies, and sweet, squishy faces. But don't let all that cuteness fool you. Your Corso pup will quickly grow up into a very large and powerful dog, over 100 pounds of strong-willed attitude backed by solid muscle. While this breed can be an extremely loyal […]

Sela Cooper, a 16-year-old from Tennessee, has accomplished big things with her Vizsla, Jersey (Mesa's Little Jersey BN RI NAJ BCAT ACT1 ACT1J DJ DN DDS DDBE CGCA TKE VHMA). Cooper got started competing in dog sports in 2019 with Fast CAT and she and Jersey were instantly hooked. The two now also compete in […]

At 15 years old, Minnesotan Ella Lambert has already developed a strong passion for AKC sports. She and her dogs are active competitors in Tricks, Rally, Disc, Dock Diving, and her favorite, Agility, which she calls her "heart sport." Lambert is also a Certified Trick Dog Instructor (CTDI) who helps junior handlers and adults get […]

German Shepherd Dogs are marked by their smarts, confidence, and unshakable bravery. While the breed is all of those powerful things, they are also graceful, gentle souls who can be a great match for the right family. Like with any pet though, it's important to fully understand a breed's specific needs and personality before bringing […]

There's something irresistible about toy breeds. They pack so much personality into a small package. And that's especially true for the Toy Fox Terrier and the Miniature Pinscher. Whether it's the TFT's alert intelligence or the Min Pin's fun-loving fearlessness, these two dogs have a lot to offer. But do you know how to tell […]

This is not just another shaggy-dog story. Also known as the Polski Owczarek Nizinny, or PON for those of us who are Slavicly-challenged, the hearty Polish Lowland Sheepdog joined the Herding Group and became AKC-recognized in 2001. On the cuteness scale alone, it was no surprise that this dog stirred up a lot of enthusiasm […]

One of the standout moments of Westminster 2021 was when 16-year-old Lily Bennett won Best Junior Handler and threw her arms around her Wirehaired Pointing Griffon "GCHG Whiskeytown Stonehenge Riding Shotgun" A photo of that hug—as Bennett realized she had won amidst fierce competition—touched viewers around the world. An active competitor, Bennett also has several […]

"There between the graves, a beautiful red fern had sprung up from the rich mountain soil. It was fully two feet tall and its long red leaves had reached out in rainbow arches curved over the graves of my dogs. ... I had heard the old legend about the red fern. How a little boy […]

A reader posed this question to us, so we dug into the American Kennel Club archives to give the answer: At least two dogs were aboard the Mayflower during the 66-day voyage from England to the New World. Thanks to journals kept by the Pilgrims, we know much about their early tribulations. But the historical […]

The results of a retrospective study recently published in Canine Genetics and Epidemiology provides additional evidence of a link between sterilization status and certain health risks.  Correlation of Neuter Status and Expression of Heritable Disorders, by Belanger, et al., concludes that several conditions showed an increased risk associated with neutering.  The authors emphasize that, “the […]

​The suspect lay on his belly under a moonless midnight sky. He had just shot and wounded a drug dealer over a bag of marijuana and fled into the dense woods behind a parking lot. He had long ago stopped taking his medicine for manic depression diagnosed in prison, where he did time for burglary, […]

What’s better than owning a top-winning show dog? Simple: Breeding one. In theory, anyone can purchase a canine competitor: All you need is a checking account with enough zeroes in it. But it’s far more challenging to produce quality purebred dogs that are consistently sound, well tempered and typey — that is to say, that […]

Dog show ribbons and event titles are major accomplishments that dog owners and breeders proudly acknowledge when talking about their kennels. But for one breeder with many title-decorated dogs, there’s something else that keeps her in the game. “The single biggest achievement that just makes me happier than happy... is the people who have my […]

This week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law Senate Bill 5, which will regulate tethering in the state by providing guidelines for how a dog may be tethered. The bill goes into effect on January 18, 2022. Senate Bill 5 is similar to Senate Bill 474 which was passed and sent to the governor […]

This week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law Senate Bill 5, which will regulate tethering in the state by providing guidelines for how a dog may be tethered. The bill goes into effect on January 18, 2022. Senate Bill 5 is similar to Senate Bill 474 which was passed and sent to the governor […]

On Tuesday, November 30, the Berlin Town Council will receive public input at a 7pm hearing regarding changes being proposed for its animal ordinance.  The town’s ordinance committee presented a draft to the Town Council on October 19, that would amend the rules on leash and restraint requirements for dogs, by amending the definitions for […]

This week, the Texas House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 5, a bill that regulates tethering, by a vote of 106-22. The bill was then referred to conference committee between the House and Senate where both chambers agreed on amendments. The bill will now be sent to the governor. The American Kennel Club has not […]

On Tuesday, the Texas House State Affairs Committee passed Senate Bill 5 by a vote of 7-1, with 5 absent committee members. Senate Bill 5 is similar to Senate Bill 474 which was passed and sent to the governor during the Texas regular 2021 legislative session, but the governor ultimately vetoed the bill. This legislation […]

Texas continues its third special session of the year, and now four bills relating to tethering are pending in the House State Affairs Committee: Senate Bill 5 and its companion House Bills 34, 70, and 104 are very similar to Senate Bill 474, which was passed but then vetoed by the governor during the state’s […]

On Monday, the Texas Senate Criminal Justice Committee passed Senate Bill 5, which seeks to regulate tethering in the state. Senate Bill 5 is very similar to Senate Bill 474, which was passed but then vetoed by the governor.  It provides guidelines for how a dog may be tethered, and includes many exemptions for training, […]

News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. California – AB 468 would further clarify the difference between trained service dogs and emotional support animals, and particularly emphasizes that emotional support animals should not be granted the same privileges and access. The bill was signed by […]

Here are some highlights of state and federal regulatory issues AKC GR recently addressed.  Visit AKC’s Regulatory Resource Center for more information on these and other significant regulatory issues addressed by AKC Government Relations. Federal – CDC Temporary Ban on Dog Imports: In June, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a temporary suspension of the importation […]

The American Water Spaniel, native to the lake country of the upper Midwest, is an upbeat, outdoorsy athlete who loves to hunt and swim. They are known to be happy, eager, and charming, though aloof with strangers and a bit stubborn.

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is a vivacious small French hunting hound known for a happy demeanor and durable constitution. Bred to work in a pack, PBGVs enjoy company and do well with other dogs and kids.