Brielle Duprat was two-and-a-half when her grandmother Karen took her to her first dog show. She remembers watching all of the different breeds, and the grooming prior to competition. Then, at four years old, her aunt Lori had Brielle show her Havanese, Maggie, in the Pee Wee Juniors class. "That started my handling career," says […]

Donna and Douglas LaBarge always dreamed of traveling the U.S. with their Conformation dog, Branson the Belgian Tervuren After Douglas' sudden death, Donna and Branson went on the road trip in his honor The breeder/owner/handler and her dog traveled more than 107,000 miles to U.S. landmarks and dog shows Shortly before Douglas LaBarge retired in […]

On Friday, Feb. 1, at 5 p.m., I received a call that would change my life. "Hello, Ms. Stephenson?  This is Officer Penny with the Burleson County Animal Control.  We have your dog." We all cringe at the sound of those words. But this one was something else. “Officer Penny, where is Burleson County Animal […]

The first step in navigating any culture is learning its etiquette: Never blow your nose at the dinner table in Japan, avoid public displays of affection in Sweden, and expect to encounter close talkers in Spain. A vibrant subculture in its own right, the dog-show world also has unspoken rules of conduct that might not […]

When the Borzoi is characterized in books or on breed webpages, you see glowing adjectives such as affectionate, loyal, aristocratic, and graceful. Lifeline or liberator are terms not included in the profile toolbox. But for Joy Sargis, of Encinitas, Calif., these more aptly capture the heart and soul of what her own Borzois have meant […]

It's kind of fitting that a dog named "Snowhill’s Zygmund Marley" is a Polski Owczarek Nizinny (PON in the United States) who answers to a name like Ziggy. Chances are, this is a breed (Polish Lowland Sheepdog) many of you have never heard of. In 2019, the breed ranked 173 out of 193 in popularity. […]

Sisters Lian Chase and Jade Chase from Peyton, Colorado, are powerful competitors in the show ring—and they're still teenagers. Lian, who is 18, got involved with showing dogs through 4-H when she was 9 years old, and began with AKC shows when she was 11. Younger sister Jade, 15, also began showing dogs through 4-H […]

Cassidy Hayes first stepped into the ring as a toddler—and this year she'll be competing at Westminster for the second time. While she still might be considered young, this 16-year-old from Indiana is already deeply committed both to the sports of purebred dogs and to making dog shows welcoming for newcomers. Family Fun "My parents […]

Patti Stanley and 18-pound Lucy, her Miniature Poodle-Miniature Schnauzer mix, were the leaders in the Run for Music 5K in Lakewood Ranch, Fla., and were a tantalizing quarter mile from the finish line when Lucy stopped in her tracks and licked Stanley's leg. “She pulled me to the side of the road and refused to […]

Silver GCh. Pleasant Hill Magnum of Samara, HC, aka "Magnum." Credit: In Focus by Miguel The Canaan Dog, also known as Kelev K’naani, descends from the Middle Eastern “pariah dog,” feral canines that date back to pre-Biblical times existing in the Land of Canaan, where they first originated. The Israelis first used the dogs for guarding and tending […]

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 […]

The top Agility dogs in the nation gathered in Tulsa, Oklahoma March 26-28 for the 2021 AKC National Agility Championship. The 1,100+ dogs all competed in hopes of being crowned National Agility Champions. “After the cancellation of last year’s championship, it was even more exciting to see all the competitors come out this year and […]

The top Agility dogs in the nation were crowned from an overall combined entry of more than 1,100 dogs this past weekend at the AKC National Agility Championship. Competitions were held March 26-28, 2021 at the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex and Central Park Hall at Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “After the cancellation of last […]

Good luck to the 98 All American Dogs competing in the AKC 2021 National Agility Championship that will take place this week at the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex at Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma! The event takes place Friday through Sunday, March 26 – 28. The competition will be televised at 8 pm EST […]

Aurora, a seven-year-old white, gray, and black mottled Border Collie, kept complete focus, jumping, spinning, and sitting on command in perfect unison with her handler. Aurora was competing in the Rally National Championship in Orlando, Florida, for the fourth time. She's placed in the top 10 of every national event she's competed in. To compete […]

National Champion Beats Out More Than 4,000 Dogs GCHP CH Pinnacle Kentucky Bourbon, a Whippet known as “Bourbon” triumphed over more than 4,000 competitors to earn a $50,000 cash prize and the title of Best in Show at the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin, held December 12-13, 2020 in Orlando, FL. “Bourbon,” owned […]

Thousands of dogs, representing the best in their sports, competed at the 20th AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin and related AKC events. The competitions took place Dec. 11 – 13 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. More than 4,000 dogs competed in the conformation dog show. The overall show totals, […]

The 2020 AKC Agility Invitational took place December 12-13, 2020 in Orlando, FL in conjunction with the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin, demonstrating the highest level of training and teamwork between dog and handler. The top five dogs in each breed received an invitation to compete in this prestigious event. Agility competition for […]

Dogs of all sizes, breeds, and ages jumped, weaved, and ran at the 2020 AKC Agility Invitational. The 2020 AKC Agility Invitational took place December 12-13, 2020 in Orlando, FL in conjunction with the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin, demonstrating the highest level of training and teamwork between dog and handler. The top […]

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. Moreof you continue to enjoy success taking advantage of AKC’s Virtual Titling programs too! AGILITY AGCH (Agility Grand Champion) AGCH MACH4 Sassy RAE2 MXB2 PDS MJC PJS MFG TQX T2B6 CGC owned by […]

The Road to Orlando The AKC Canine Partners program salutes the All American Dogs who have qualified as the tops in their sports. They will compete in agility, obedience, rally, and, for the first time, Fast CAT, from Dec. 11 – 13, in Orlando, FL, in conjunction with the AKC/Royal Canin National Championship. Orlando’s Orange County […]

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

Marsha showed her first obedience dog in 1979 — a Scottish Terrier who went on to earn her Utility title. It didn't take long for her to get hooked on the sport, and she soon started training Shetland Sheepdogs (one of which went on to earn an OTCH.) In 1993, Marsha was showing a Shetland Sheepdog but […]

Congratulations to these All American Dogs competing in the 2020 AKC Rally National Championship to be held December 11 in Orlando, FL. The RNC will consist of six classes; each Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Excellent and Master entry will show twice, in two different rings, in the class entered. Each Rally Championship entry will show a […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to recognize breeding programs from the Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups as 2020 AKC Breeder of the Year group honorees. “We are proud to honor these esteemed breeders,” said Dennis Sprung, AKC President and CEO. “Each of them has made important contributions to the […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panel for the 2020 AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 12 and Sunday, December 13, 2020. The 2020 event will showcase the top canine athletes and will also […]

Dr. Renee Lara is that rare gem – a veterinarian who understands dog breeders. And that’s because she is one herself. Owning her own veterinary clinic in Bryan, Texas, since 1990, where she offers a full array of reproductive services, Lara is Platinum Breeder of Merit with her Ehrenvogel German Shorthaired Pointers. She purchased her […]

Sarah Brown is only nineteen years old but in a relatively short time she and her Nederlandse Kooikerhondje dog Charlie (BISS CH Foothills Charlie Brown CGC TKP “Charlie") have already accomplished a lot. Nederlandse Kooikerhondje might have a hard name to pronounce, but these animated orange and white dogs are easily recognizable in the Sporting […]

Meet Kendall Betz: She Learned That Training Can Build a Dog’s Confidence Name: Kendall Betz Age: 16 Hometown: Richmond, VA Grade: 11th Family: Parents, Brian and Elizabeth, sister Libbie Kendall caught the dog-training bug when she and a friend attended a training camp at the Richmond, VA, SPCA. They learned about canine behavior and how to teach basic tricks. At the end of the session, there […]

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. Many of you have had great success taking advantage of AKC’s Virtual Titling programs too!   Agility Master Agility Championships (MACH)  Multiple Master Agility Champions Congratulations to these dogs who have earned more MACHs: AGCH […]