AKC Pointing Breed Gun Dog Championship Day 1  |  Day 2  |  Day 3  |  Day 4  |  Day 5  |  Day 6  |  Day 7  |  Day 8 Day 9  |  Day 10  |  Day 11  |  Final Day  |  In Conclusion Photo Coverage   Historically the sport of field trialing has its roots in southern quail hunting. The first pointing breed field trials in American were held near Memphis TN in 1874. The area is […]

Non Retrieving Stake -- By Bonnie Hidalgo Photo Coverage Retrieving Stake -- By Tom Maneely Photo Coverage   Day 1 -- Non Retrieving Stake This prestigious all breed Championship kicked off on Tuesday morning, May 6. The site is the Red Rocks BLM field trial area outside of Reno, NV. It is a big, beautiful […]

last updated 1/9/2026 How do I join the AKC National Junior Organization? Everyone who has a Junior Showmanship number is automatically entered in the AKC National Junior Organization. How do I get a Junior Showmanship number? E-mail: juniors@akc.org or download form. What is a Junior Showmanship number and do I need to have one to […]

By: Zach Simpson Zach Simpson is a16-year-old from Wadsworth, IL, who knows exactly what he wants for his future. An All Honors or Advanced Placement student, this Junior is heavily involved in competitive shooting as well as his Hunting Test activities with his Vizsla, Otis, who Zach trained and handled to his Master Hunter title. […]

The most popular dog breeds of the 1880s were led by sporting and gundog breeds, with the English Setter holding the top spot.

One of the most exciting events in the dog world is the annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show presented by Purina® Pro Plan®. Handlers and their dogs come from around the nation to demonstrate their poise and skill. While all eyes are usually on the dogs, there is one important individual who ultimately decides the […]

Many AKC-recognized dog breeds were originally bred as hunting dogs. Many of these dogs are retrievers, pointers, or spaniels. These dogs have the skills, instinct, and energy to be our companions in the field, and they have been doing so for hundreds of years. Now, when hunting opportunities are limited, many of these breeds compete in […]

If you build it, they will come ...—well, it’s not quite exactly the dialogue in the movie Field of Dreams (“If you build it, he will come”), but there are parallels. In 1991, two men had the dream to build a place in Grand Junction, Tennessee, to house a National Bird Dog Museum, Field Trial […]

Raising a paw and pointing is a canine instinct. Hunting dogs purpose-bred for generations used the tactic to help owners hunt, find, and capture game.

The Westminster Kennel Club recently announced that Mr. Thomas H. Bradley III is scheduled to judge Best in Show at the club’s 141st dog show Feb. 13–14, 2017. A lifetime participant in the dog sport, Mr. Bradley competed in his first dog show as a teenager in 1955, showing his German Shorthaired Pointer at the […]

Accepted into AKC in 1885, the Saint Bernard swiftly rose to the position of the most popular dog of the 1890s. To this day, it is the only giant breed to secure the country’s top position as well as the only number-one breed to never appear in the top ten again. In later decades, two […]

The annual AKC Breeder of the Year award honors those breeders who have made an impact on their breed and dedicated their lives to improving the health, temperament and quality of purebred dogs. This year, Helyne E. Medeiros was presented with the 2017 AKC Breeder of the Year award for her Seasyde Pointers at the […]

As the American Kennel Club’s 200th fully recognized breed, the Bracco Italiano became the Sporting Group's latest member in 2022. Its AKC recognition was a huge milestone for the organization’s mission in the preservation of purebred dogs. After all, it's been a long time since America's oldest dog registry recognized its first breed, the Pointer, […]

The Collie, on a continual climb since its number-seven position in the 1880s, became the number-one breed of the first decade of the new century. The breed ranked in the top ten breeds for seven decades of the 20th century. The number-two breed of the decade, the Boston Terrier, became the first small companion dog […]

When Kevin Holmes went looking for a service dog that would double as a competition teammate two years ago, he had specific idea in mind. His answer? "Natalie" the German Wirehaired Pointer.

Vizslas have a long history as the most prized possession of aristocrats in Hungary. Here are seven things you may not know about these regal canines.

If you’re in the St. Louis area and you love dogs and art, make your way to the AKC Museum of the Dog. A special treat awaits you in the Sally Johnson Spillane Special Exhibit Gallery: “The Canine Art of Maud Earl.” The exhibition of paintings and prints by the master includes her enigmatic, life-size […]

From the Miniature Schnauzer to the Scottish Terrier, explore six dog breeds with distinctive facial hair and signature expressions.

Some dog breeds are great with locating big or small game, some can flush it for you, and others retrieve it. Learn which hunting breed may be best for you.

She radiates joy, but it’s her fighting spirit that defines the heart of a 13-week-old German Wirehaired Pointer that is about to embark on a coast-to-coast flight to a new home. Appropriately, Joy is her name. And, adds her breeder, Laura Reeves, of Grants Pass, Ore., “This is the case of the right dog at […]

German Shorthaired Pointers (GSP) are full of energy, need lots of exercise, and "can be extremely challenging from six months to three years old," according to the AKC breed description. The good news: they're also highly receptive to training and picking up early obedience commands. And that's why learning to train your GSP will be […]

Originally hunting dogs, German Shorthaired Pointers have been an AKC-recognized breed since 1930. In the succeeding decades, the GSP has become known for its energy, athleticism, and noble countenance, as well as its distinctive coat. Just as you would with any pet, research a German Shorthaired Pointer’s needs and characteristics before bringing home a pup. […]

Looking for a canine workout partner? Learn which dog breeds excel at running, hiking, swimming, and other activities, and find the right match for your active lifestyle.

Alexis Chism and German Wirehaired Pointer "Greta" won National Owner-Handled Series Best in Show at 2025 AKC National Championship.

Theodore Joshua Moore competes in dog sports with his German Shorthaired Pointers and is a two-time winner of the AKC Junior Versatility Scholarship.

For Picks of The Litter, a regular book review series, Ranny Green critiques “K9-5: New York Dogs at Work" featuring photographs by Michelle Rose (Pointed Leaf Press). No matter what their working environment, New Yorkers love their dogs and prefer to have them alongside. Whether they’re stress reducers or inspirational cohorts, the four-legged characters you […]

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 […]

Breeder of Merit FAQs [accordion] [accordion_panel title="Prepaid Registrations In Breeder Toolkit"] If you plan to use the prepaid option to register all of the puppies – Do not select the electronic (downloadable) litter kit when you register the litter. That will disable the prepaid option. You are able to send an individual Registration Application for […]

October 2023 Breeding and training dogs for detection dog programs can be an intimidating feat.  Add the stress of having someone else evaluate those same dogs…well, it can be downright overwhelming! Recently, a group of Patriotic Puppy Program participants attended a hands-on seminar at K2 Solutions in Jackson Springs, NC to learn how K2 evaluates […]

Like many serious dog fanciers of today, most of us were introduced to dogs by someone else.  Someone with some knowledge of different breeds, or training, or care.  Through the years an interest in dogs often turns into a passion that consumes our thoughts and our dreams.  We may become breeders, amateur or professional trainers, […]