ASK AKC  Dear AKC: My question regards breeding. I have a young male Beagle, about a year and a half, and I'd like to breed him with another beagle. I am told by my veterinarian, who has bred beagles extensively in the past that it is next to impossible for a breeder to accept my dog […]

Doberman Pinscher Club of America National is a time when the Doberman family unites to celebrate our breed. Here are some highlights of our 2014 event. It was a whirlwind week of shows, parties, meetings, seminars, and shopping for everything Doberman. Here are some of the highlights. The event area was ready for the “showdown in the heartland.” Decorating […]

If you’ve landed on this page, you probably already know that the lovable Beagle is an irresistible pet. But these merry little hounds with the shoe-button eyes and melodious bark weren’t bred to be just the perfect companion hound. Here, five dog experts, past and present, explain the original working function of the breed and how […]

  Finishing touches are being applied to Monroe County Fairgrounds; Monroe, Michigan for the annual dog show, hosted this July holiday weekend by Ann Arbor Kennel Club. From Friday July 3rd through Sunday 5th more than two thousand dogs will compete in Conformation, Rally, Obedience and Barn Hunt. For the first time ever, Dock Diving […]

For purposes of imposing a consistent format at dog shows, the AKC family of breeds is divided into seven groups. The hounds, terriers, and toy dogs each have their own group. The herding dogs that move livestock are grouped together, and so are the big working dogs that pull, protect, patrol, and do other heavy work. Likewise, sporting dogs, […]

New York, NY – The American Kennel Club (AKC®) is pleased to announce the appointments of Mari-Beth O’Neill to Vice President of Sports Services and Keith Frazier to Vice President of Optimization and Support Services. “Through their years of dedication and demonstrated leadership they have helped us make strides in the sport and support services […]

As a dog trainer and an instructor for puppy socialization classes, I can’t help but notice that almost all of the purebred puppies I see (and many popular purposely-bred mixes) are not from good local breeders but were purchased through the Internet. It’s actually quite astonishing: On a whim, anyone can Google a breed, click […]

By: Mike Bothwell  A Cocker Spaniel Club of Georgia member shares his experience in taking part in the club's hunt test in December.   The air is crisp and the sky is a rich blue with stars on one horizon and the sun trying to rise on the other. Trees and hedgerows line fields that […]

With the Westminster Kennel Club dog show recently on TV, it inevitably stirs debate about purebred dogs. These days, a vocal segment of the population detests purebred dogs and their breeders. Whether this is a class issue, a generational issue, politics, or something else, it's hard to say, but it goes far beyond the facts […]

The Maine Golden Retriever Club has announced its selection of Claire Caro of Elizabeth, Colorado as the club’s 2016 Honorary Member.  Ms. Caro currently serves as Secretary of the Golden Retriever Club of America (GRCA).  She is a Life Member of GRCA and formerly served as the organization’s Treasurer for many years. “As GRCA’s New […]

For 54-year-old Army veteran Rob Shaw life is a rollercoaster of psychological turbulence triggered by PTSD, severe depression, and anxiety disorder. In other words, there is plenty of bite behind the bark. For the past three years, a dose of Pepper has been the best prescription medicine in his attempt to overcome the challenges, all […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC) is proud to announce the winners of the 2017 AKC® Lifetime Achievement Awards: Patricia W. Laurans (Conformation), Elizabeth (Tibby) Chase (Companion Events) and Jim Campbell (Performance). The Awards, created by AKC President Dennis Sprung, are presented in recognition of exceptional participation and achievement within the dog fancy. The finalists and […]

  Many people get involved in the dog world because they grew up around conformation, or competed in Juniors, or a family member or friend convinced them to try it out. But ultimately, it doesn't matter how you get involved, everyone is welcome and it's never too late to start. We had the opportunity to […]

Fidelio means faithful in Italian. In English, it’s Fido. And, oh, how appropriate that tag has proven to be for this 6½-year-old, 75-pound Bergamasco show dog. No flash and flair here. More substance and survival. Remember sportscaster Al Michaels’ terrific call in the waning moments of the U.S. hockey team’s epic win over the Soviet […]

Leo Roar gives his best friend some loving. Their love affair is mutual and seemingly nonstop. Tiny road warrior Mara Rose attended her second American Kennel Club National Championship last month in Orlando, Fla. But there was a big difference and an entirely new perspective for her this time around. In 2015, she was still […]

With a registered name like DC Jewels Peridot & Pearls MLC SAR-W, the dog you'd expect to see might be a prissy homebody that lavishes attention on people and strolls about in elegant attire. Not this little blonde dynamo, believed to be the first of her breed to earn an AKC search and rescue (SAR) […]

The short-legged but muscular Cesky Terrier is relatively rare in the United States, with less than 600 dogs to be found in the country. These fairly small terriers are sensitive and full of energy, but are not quite as excitable as some other terrier breeds. Cesky is pronounced "chess-key" after the breed’s country of origin, […]

“Love me, because I’m beautiful,” Floppybear seems to be telling breed judge Judy Daniel at the 2015 Conejo Kennel Club Dog Show in City of Industry, Calif.  He’s a show dog—and he knows it! When Floppybear struts his stuff with swagger and verve—the wow factor kicks in! At last month’s Kennel Club of Beverly Hills […]

Twenty-four exceptional students from 16 states have been awarded the AKC Junior Scholarship for 2017. The scholarships are offered to high school, college and graduate school students, and range from $500 - $2,000. “These young men and women are dedicated not only to the sport of purebred dogs, but to their academics as well,” said […]

AKC President and CEO Dennis B. Sprung presented the Award to United States Capitol Police Chief Matthew R. Verderosa, Assistant Chief Steven A. Sund, Deputy Chief Fred P. Rogers and Technician Shawn Haynes, who were accompanied by Will, a black Labrador Retriever. “I am honored to present this award,” said Sprung. “It is a token […]

  The American Kennel Club (AKC®), the world’s largest purebred dog registry and advocate for all dogs, continues its commitment to students pursuing veterinary studies with the announcement of the 2017 AKC Veterinary Outreach Scholarship recipients. This scholarship is designed to support individuals with a background in AKC events and programs, who seek to promote […]

  The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes Breeders of Merit for their dedication to breeding purebred dogs with the appearance, temperament, and abilities that are true to their breed standard and for their commitment to health screening and 100 percent puppy registration. The AKC celebrates their success in and passion for canine sports. They are […]

  Each month, the American Kennel Club (AKC) profiles breeders to hear how they got started and learn about their breeding program and experience with AKC Marketplace. We recently spoke with Karen Hanson of Labyrinth Brittanys in Maidens, Va. Karen began breeding Brittanys when she was a teenager, and today she is an AKC Breeder […]

This is the first of a series of features on 2017's AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence Winners. She's only 2 years old, and Amber is already an American Kennel Club (AKC) Bronze Grand Champion on paper but more important, an inspiration and a lifeline for her 54-year-old owner, Sonja Benavidez, of Geneseo, Ill. […]

Bonnet started as Horton's Novice A dog. The pair competed successfully all the way to a UDX title. The Norwegian Elkhound survived a stroke and was "truly a hero," showing her owner "what was important in life that I did not already know" he says. While he doesn’t have an iconic Superman "S" on his […]

Ever wonder how handlers get into conformation? Well, many of them start out in Junior Showmanship. And it turns out the kids have a lot to say! We chatted with 12 youngsters ranging from the ages of seven to 16 years at the annual Seattle Kennel Club (SKC) Dog Show at Centurylink Field on March […]

As all dog breeders know, you’re only as good as your latest generation. After all, those promising newbies are the ones on which you build your future. The sport of dogs is governed by the same principle: Newcomers in all venues — from conformation to obedience to agility, not to mention breeding — are vitally […]

Native New Yorkers tell it like it is, and Elliott B. Weiss — the Best in Show judge at this year’s AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin — is no exception. “I was a teenager, and I grew up without a dog,” he explains about how he got involved in the sport of purebred […]

From the time he was three weeks old, curled up with his littermates in a Minnesota breeder’s whelping box, Nathan made quite the impression on Janis Dibert, who had recently lost her husband Dennis. A Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever owner for 17 years, Dibert says, “Usually puppies are matched to you based on the information you […]

Sit down and stay awhile. That porch-rocker philosophy used to be prevalent at dog shows, which for the first half of the 20th Century were all-day affairs for exhibitors. Back then, shows were benched, meaning that dogs were required to stay on elevated wooden benches so they could be viewed by the public. Captive audiences […]