Imagine a picture plucked from a postcard: snowflakes drifting over a country road, Victorian carolers spreading good cheer, and Berners. Everywhere.

Linda Brady has been involved in dog training since 1978 but nothing quite prepared her for what she dealt with in early December. A resident of Oxford, Michigan (population 3,586), she was alerted shortly after the shootings at the town high school on November 30. “You always think something like this is never going to […]

Do all dogs need a winter coat? If so, what are the best winter coats for dogs? We break down our favorites for dogs of all sizes and breeds.

We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles in Agility, Coursing Ability, Rally, Obedience, Scent Work, Tracking, and Trick Dog. Many dogs are also having success in AKC’s Virtual Titling programs! AGILITY AGCH (Agility Grand Champion) AGCH MACH2 Rosie La Bella MXC PDS MJC PJS MFG TQX T2B5 […]

In its ongoing pursuit to recognize outstanding members of the fancy, The American Kennel Club Lifetime Achievement Awards were created and first awarded in 1999 to honor our very best. The purpose of the awards is to celebrate those individuals whose many years of dedication have led to significant contributions to our sport on a […]

Toothbrushing can be a pain when it comes to your dogs, but with these 12 simple steps, you can make this important grooming process easy for you both.

Maple and her owner Susan Stejskal have won the 2025 Award for Canine Excellence in the Search and Rescue - Human Remains Detection category.

The American Kennel Club is the world's largest registry of purebred dogs, and uses these statistics to rank the most popular breeds — and the rarest breeds. The numbers are in: these are the rarest dog breeds according to AKC registration statistics. In 2025, 202 total breeds were counted in the registration statistics. In 2026, […]

Season 12 - Winter Season 2026 [accordion] [accordion_panel title="Extended Ph.D."] Top 3 Teams Champion – WestRover’s Speed Squad – Alabama Reserve Champion – Let’s Play TAG – North Carolina Third – Rock City Jumpers – Arkansas Individual Dog Placements 8-Inch Regular 1st – Driver, Papillon, WestRover’s Speed Squad 2nd – Gigi, Poodle, Free For All 3rd – Mabel, […]

Test for what is recommended for your breed. Order AKC DNA + Health Kit The AKC DNA Program recommends that breeders perform DNA tests that are relevant to their breed. The AKC DNA + Health Kit includes over 328 markers for health and traits, and every dog receives results for all tests. However, not all […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) and Royal Canin are pleased to announce the judging panel for the 2016 National Championship to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 17 and Sunday, December 18, 2016. The 2016 event will showcase the top national and international dogs and will also […]

Nominees in Conformation Michael Canalizo Michael Canalizo has spent many years in the Dog Show World as a Breeder/Owner, Professional Handler, turned Judge. His first exposure to his primary breed: the Afghan Hound came in 1961 as a member of “the typical Hobby Breeder family” with their purchase of “Babu Bamn of Grandeur”. He showed […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) and Royal Canin are pleased to announce the judging panel for the 2016 National Championship to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 17 and Sunday, December 18, 2016. The 2016 event will showcase the top national and international dogs and will also […]

  Welcome to the AKC . We have put together definitions for dog words that you may not be familiar with. If you have additional questions regarding the glossary, please contact our Special Services Department. A Abdomen The belly or under surface between the chest and the hindquarters. Acetabulum The concave lateral portion of the […]

When you see dogs with cloudy eyes, it may be a natural part of the aging process. But cloudy eyes in dogs can also be a symptom of eye problems.

Based on American Kennel Club registration statistics, we rank the most popular dog breeds in America each year. The French Bulldog takes the No. 1 spot!

Competition/Titles Update We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles in Agility, Coursing Ability, Rally, Obedience and Tracking, including the second and third dogs to earn the new AKC Agility Grand Championship! AGILITY Agility Grand Champion (AGCH) – Two more All-Americans have earned this prestigious new title! AGCH […]

In its endless pursuit to recognize outstanding members of the fancy, The American Kennel Club Lifetime Achievement Awards were created and first awarded in 1999 to honor our best. The purpose of the awards is to celebrate those individuals whose many years of dedication have led to significant contributions to our Sport on a national […]

COCKER SPANIEL “STRIKER” WINS BEST IN SHOW AT LARGEST EVER AKC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY ROYAL CANIN National Champion Beats Dogs from 50 States and 44 Countries   GCHP CH Silverhall Strike Force, an ASCOB Cocker Spaniel known as “Striker” triumphed over nearly 5,000 dogs to earn a $50,000 cash prize, a paw print pendant […]

We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles and honors in Agility, Coursing Ability, Fast CAT, Rally, Obedience, Scent Work, Tracking, and Trick Dog! AGILITY New AGCH (Agility Grand Champion) AGCH MACH4 Gorman's Athena MXB2 PDS MJS2 PJS MFG TQX T2B6 owned by Diane Fairfax Gorman of St. […]

There was a time not long ago that nearly every advertisement featuring a child with a dog seemed to include a Lab or a Golden Retriever, consistently among the most popular dog breeds in America. Today, there’s a bit more variety in the breeds being photographed with children for commercial advertising. Perhaps the public perception […]

GCHP CH Ta Sen Westgate Jingle Juice, a Lhasa Apso known as “JJ” triumphed over more than 5,500 competitors to earn a $50,000 cash prize when they were awarded Best in Show at the 25th AKC® National Championship Presented by Royal Canin, held December 13-14, 2025 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. […]

Registration Now Open: 2026 AKC National Detection Dog Conference | August 4–6, 2026, Durham, NC Every day, detection dogs protect our airports, critical infrastructure, and communities. Behind every deployment is a network of professionals working to strengthen America’s detection dog programs. Join us for Unleashing Potential: Building America’s Canine Defense, One Puppy at a Time […]

2022 | 2019 | 2018 The second AKC US Detection Dog Conference was a success with a capacity attendance. Internationally known subject matter experts delivered thought provoking presentations that covered the breeding, training and deployment of Explosives Detection Canines as well as discussions on the domestic shortage of these amazing dogs. Thank you to the […]

Competition & Title Updates  We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles in Agility, Coursing Ability, Rally, Obedience, Scent Work, and Tracking, including another Champion Tracker! Agility AGCH Congratulations to this dog for earning the Agility Grand Champion title: AGCH MACH3 Tuckman Of San Francisco MXC PDS MJB2 […]

The AKC works with non-AKC service and sports organizations to recognize the titles that AKC-registered dogs earn in their programs. This includes the AKC Therapy Dog program and the AKC Search & Rescue program. AKC also recognizes titles of the Barn Hunt Association (BHA); North American Diving Dogs (NADD); the North American Flyball Association (NAFA); […]

Scheduling Conformation Events General Questions Points Schedule Formulation Specialties Held With All-Breed and Group Shows Classes and Entries Submitting Results Awards and Titles Judges and Judging Junior Showmanship Sweepstakes Trophies, Prizes, and Ribbons Club Membership Upload Tool Scheduling Conformation Events AKC recommended Best Practices to hire and assign judges, leading to an efficient schedule. General […]

March 21 2018: Raleigh, North Carolina Title: 5 Days - Toy Breeds - Seminars & Hands-on Workshops Breed: Toy Breeds Presenter: N/A Sponsoring Club: NC Triangle Area Judges Education Group, Co-sponsored by the participating Tarheel Cluster dog clubs Contact Name: Celeste M. Gonzalez - Email: nctriangleareajudgesedgroup@yahoo.com Phone: (336) 259-0061 Fax: N/A Website: N/A Held in conjunction with the […]

We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles in Agility, Coursing Ability, Rally, Obedience, Scent Work, Tracking and Trick Dog. Big congrats to the first All-American to earn the Scent Work Masters title and the seventh All-American to earn the Obedience Trial Championship! AGILITY Master Agility Championships (MACH)  Multiple Master Agility […]

Click below to see titles and abbreviations for: Prefix Titles Suffix Titles Parent Club Titles Working Dog Titles Other Recognized Titles Other Title Lists: Titles Sorted by Sport Titles Sorted in Alphabetic Order   Prefix Titles Title Title Name AFC An Amateur Field Trial Champion title can be earned in either Beagle Field Trials, Pointing […]