In its endless pursuit to recognize outstanding members of the fancy, The American Kennel Club Lifetime Achievement Awards were established in 1998 to honor our Fancy’s 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 level. […]

  From Washington's Foxhounds to Bush's "Barney," presidential purebred pups are as traditional as baseball and apple pie. Twenty-two U.S. presidents have owned purebred dogs and most shared the White House with them. While some dogs had jobs - "Millie" authored a book, "Him" and "Her" modeled for Life magazine, and "Laddie Boy" oversaw high-level […]

  The American Kennel Club (AKC) is pleased to welcome the ten students who have been chosen to participate in the AKC Internship Program. The program--open to college students with a background and interest in purebred dogs--is designed to further their professional development as well as help the AKC identify potential employees with experience in […]

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day on Wednesday, March 17th, the American Kennel Club celebrates seven purebred dogs of Irish heritage that are AKC registrable or are in the AKC miscellaneous class. Additional information, including the full breed standards, links to Parent Club web sites and video clips of each breed, is available a this […]

AKC Sets Criteria for Rare Breeds to Compete in Companion Events 18 FSS Breeds Eligible for Competition as of January 1 The American Kennel Club announced that Foundation Stock Service (FSS) breeds meeting certain criteria are eligible to compete in AKC all-breed Companion Events including Obedience, Agility and Tracking, effective January 1, 2004. Inclusion in […]

1942-2003 AKC Executive Field Representative Carol Hollands, who bred generations of Best in Show Pekingese, died of an apparent heart attack at her home in Enfield, Connecticut, on September 10. She was 61 years old. Hollands, daughter of breeder-handler Horace Hollands, grew up in the sport of dogs and was mentored by the likes of […]

In celebration of St. Patrick's Day on Monday, March 17th, 2003 the American Kennel Club celebrates seven purebred dogs of Irish heritage. Additional information including the full breed standards, links to Parent Club web sites and video clips of each breed, is available on this site.   The Glen of Imaal Terrier - "There is […]

  The recipients of the AKC 2003 Lifetime Achievement Awards were announced at the December 10 Delegates meeting in Orlando, FL. The Lifetime Achievement Awards honor those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of purebred dogs on a national level. The recipients were selected by votes cast by AKC member clubs for […]

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 Cathy Lewandowski of SoftMaple Curly-Coated Retrievers in Croghan, N.Y. Lewandowski is an AKC Breeder of Merit who has produced versatile, top-winning dogs. Lewandowski's love for […]

Has your English Setter been getting a few too many treats lately? If so, maybe he’s gained a couple of pounds. Like humans, our canine friends benefit from a periodic assessment of their weight. Most English Setters love to eat. They will eat anything, anywhere, anytime, even if they just had a meal. Food pushed […]

Most dog owners would probably tell you that a cold, wet nose on their canine companion signals a healthy pup. Likewise, many believe a dog is sick when his nose is dry — but is this true? Before we get into that debate, we first need to understand why dogs have wet noses. The answer […]

Showing dogs is a fun sport where the thrill of competition is combined with the joy of seeing beautiful dogs. Dog shows, or conformation events, originated as a way for breeders to evaluate their breeding stock. While the purpose remains, dog shows are a great opportunity to socialize with people in your breed and develop […]

Photo Coverage Day 1 -- April 1, 2014 The first day of the Championship began under mainly cloudy skies and a very chilly 20 degrees. There was a strong north wind. As the day progressed the temperatures rose into the 50's, the skies cleared, and the winds diminished making for pleasant conditions. Humidity was very […]

Here at the AKC we have an amazing art collection that we would like all of you to see. We couldn't think of a better way to show it than with our favorite art loving French Bulldog, Miss Pickle, from @PickleBeholding. This is Pickle, a five-year-old local of Brooklyn, New York. She loves art and sharing […]

The first thing you should know about 2½-year-old Floyd is that he’s relentless... and a lifesaver. Last autumn, after his owner Leon Green, 57, and his family returned home to Kirkland, Wash., outside of Seattle, from a two-week vacation in Maui, Hawaii, Floyd, a Berger Picard, began burying his nose in Green’s armpits and groin […]

No matter how attractive the dog, if he does not exude the correct breed type he must not be rewarded. Breed type is what our sport is about. A judge must first and foremost learn and understand the key elements that constitute the essence of type for each breed that he judges. A judge must […]

Middleburg, Virginia—Paintings from the American Kennel Club collection will be part of the National Sporting Library & Museum’s “Side-by-Side with Gun and Dog” exhibition, celebrating three centuries of the unique partnership of hunter and gundog. The ambitious show contains American, British, and French "fur-and-feather" art on loan from the collections of the Adirondack Museum, Detroit […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panel for the 2018 AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 15 and Sunday, December 16, 2018. The 2018 event will showcase the top national and international canine athletes and will also […]

Every year in December (or January for a few years) since 2001, dog owners from around the world come together for the American Kennel Club National Championship presented by Royal Canin. This year, the event takes place in Orlando, Fla., with a nearly week-long series of events culminating in the Best in Show finale. Starting December […]

The display will include eleven works of art from the AKC collection, including seven paintings and two bronzes of previous “top dogs,” a 1906 trophy and an 1879 certificate awarded at the WKC’s third show. The exhibit will be available for viewing Booth # 3 at Pier 94 (55th Street and the West Side Highway), […]