"100 percent permanently and totally disabled." That's how 75-year-old Jack Cotter is classified by the Navy. The veteran served on submarines from 1965-1970 and over the years, he suffered multiple serious injuries. Once, another crew member opened a hatch and the pressure broke the vertebrae in his upper back. In a later accident, he fractured […]

Imagine a mild sedative before leaving home, a bandana sprayed with calming scents, a bunch of bacon snacks, and skipping the hour-long frenzy in the waiting room. From classical music wafting across the sign-in desk to licking peanut butter off the wall to act as a distraction from getting a shot, your dog’s typical freak-out […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®) hosted a U.S. Detection Dog Conference February 28 – March 1.  The purpose of this conference was to discuss the pressing need for a U.S.-based national breeding program for explosives detection dogs.  A majority of dogs procured by government agencies come from Eastern Europe, and the increasing global demand for […]

Jo Anne Fusco has been involved with the American Kennel Club for as long as she can remember. As an owner of AKC registered Golden Retrievers, Jo Anne became a Canine Good Citizenevaluator and began working with a therapy dog group. She was instrumental in starting the Doggy Daze program at St. Jude's Children Hospital, which helps to relieve […]

Copper, a Black and Tan Coonhound, is one of five, loyal companion dogs who won the 19th annual AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). The winners will be honored at the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin in Orlando, Florida, December 15-16, 2018.  What are the odds? A police officer who has […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®) Education Department is proud to introduce The Canine Corner, a free online newsletter packed with content and resources for teachers in grades K-12. “We are excited to offer even more resources to help teachers engage students in and out of the classroom,” said Ashley Jacot, Director of Education. “We are […]

2022 | 2019 | 2018 November 10, 2021 – AKC DDTF Webinar Series - Recap and Recording: Dogs that Work Need Diets that Work (Blog & click link to view recording)   August 31, 2021 - AKC DDTF Webinar Series - Webinar Highlights Essential Qualities at 3 – 6 Months for Future Detection Dogs (Blog & […]

2020 Conference - A View From Both Ends Of The Leash. The 2020 Conference will focus on canine training through presentations, demonstrations, and discussions concerning the handler, the canine, and their working relationship. Save the Date August 25th – August 27th Venue:    Sheraton Imperial Hotel Raleigh-Durham, 4700 Emperor Blvd, Durham, NC 27703 (*Room Block Information […]

2022 | 2019 | 2018 The third annual AKC US Detection Dog Conference was a success with a capacity attendance. Internationally known subject matter experts shared their knowledge on the best practices for breeding, training and deployment of Explosives Detection Canines. Conference presenters and attendees had many opportunities to discuss the domestic shortage of explosives […]

The AKC board of Directors formed the AKC Detection Dog Task Force in 2016 to explore and implement solutions to the shortage of American-bred explosives detection dogs. Currently, the demand for US-bred and born detection dogs far exceeds available supply, while reliance on foreign-bred sources introduces many risks. The US government currently purchases 80-90% of […]