Originally bred to help hunters, retrievers were tasked with finding birds or other game and bringing them back undamaged. For this sort of job, the dog needed a “soft,” gentle mouth, where they would carefully carry the prey without damaging it. Also required were strength and agility to traverse a rugged landscape or work in […]

Bringing home a new puppy is incredibly exciting. Follow this checklist to make sure your puppy’s transition is a success.

Belgian Tervuren "Vixen" dashed past her pet sitter and bolted into the Tahoe Forest from her home in California, lost for three days.

Here are 10 things you probably didn't know about the Samoyed. This beautiful, smart, and wolf-like dog breed has a long and storied history.

Dog sports offer herding breeds a fun outlet to redirect their instincts, expend physical energy, challenge their intellect, and bond with their owner.

The moment a volunteer with a therapy dog walks into a room, you can instantly feel a change in mood. All eyes focus on them, as smiles spread across everyone’s faces. Therapy dogs are NOT service dogs. Service dogs are dogs who are specifically trained to perform a task or tasks to assist a person […]

Welcome to the AKC Trick Dog Program! AKC Trick Dog is one of AKC’s most popular training programs because trick training is fun for both dogs and their trainers. You can teach your dog tricks yourself, or you can go to a training class. Tricks are behaviors that are designed to entertain others. AKC Trick […]

The AKC Outstanding Sportsmanship Award Program was established in 2006 to provide each AKC Member Club with an embossed AKC medallion to award on a yearly basis as an ongoing effort to celebrate its volunteer club members. This award honors those individuals who deserve special recognition that have made a difference in the Sport of […]

In compliance with PCI regulations, the American Kennel Club (AKC) no longer accepts credit card information on paper forms. Please submit payment by check, money order, or complete your transaction securely online. Most AKC forms and applications can be downloaded from this page. For best results, select a form and save it to your computer, […]

For over a century, The American Kennel Club has been dedicated to responsible breeding practices and to responsible dog ownership. With this experience comes valuable research, articles, and advice for all breeders. President's Reading List – Suggested reading by AKC CEO, Dennis Sprung Vine, Louis L. Breeding, Whelping, and Natal Care of Dogs. New York: Arco, […]