The 2015 AKC Obedience Classic and the AKC Agility Invitational took place December 12-13, 2015 in conjunction with the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, demonstrating the highest level of training and teamwork between dog and handler. Obedience and agility competitions for junior handlers were held for the fifth year, and an AKC Rally® Junior competition was held […]

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 […]

The American Kennel Club has released registration statistics for 2025. Who will be crowned the most popular breed?

Lisa Mallory's Doberman, Kelly, does an exterior search for birch and anise oil.   We've all heard about the incredible power of a dog's nose. Search and rescue dogs locate victims trapped under feet of rubble; K-9s track down fleeing suspects; and detection dogs alert to the presence of explosives, drugs, or other materials. But […]

The American English Coonhound is one of six coonhound breeds devised for hunting racoons. Learn more with these American English Coonhound fun facts.

If you want to impress owners of American English Coonhounds, call their dogs "English dogs." Learn about American English Coonhound history.

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 […]

  After a one-year hiatus, the Detroit Kennel Club dog show returns to the Motor City this weekend with events Saturday and Sunday, June 20–21, at the Suburban Collection Showplace in the Detroit suburb of Novi, Michigan. This year’s show features a number of special attractions, including obedience and rally trials, demonstrations, AKC National Owner-Handled […]

The Group Winners are chosen to decide who will compete for Best in Show at the 2023 AKC National Championship. See the group winners here.

  Nicole Sieling and her All-American Dog, Lillie, took first place in their division at the 2013 AKC Juniors Agility Competition held in December in Orlando, FL, in conjunction with the AKC Agility Invitational.  Nicole adopted Lillie from a shelter as a puppy, and the two have discovered dog sports together. This was their third […]

  -- Kenneth A. Marden Elected; Dr. Patricia H. Haines and Patti L. Strand Re-Elected; Ronald H. Menaker and David C. Merriam Re-Elected as Chairman and Vice Chairman Respectively -- The Annual Meeting of the AKC Delegates took place on March 13, 2007. Kenneth A. Marden, Delegate from the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America, […]

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 […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panel for the 2022 AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 17 and Sunday, December 18, 2022. The 2022 event will showcase the top canine athletes and will also […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panel for the 2024 AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15, 2024. The 2024 event will showcase the top canine athletes and will also […]

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 […]

The American Kennel Club® Museum of the Dog is thrilled to announce its newest exhibit, “Outfoxed: Fox Terriers and Friends”, which will run January 24th through April 28th, 2024. The exhibition is sponsored in part by the American Fox Terrier Club. Of all the breeds represented in the collection of the AKC Museum of the […]

  - Annual Event Features Unique Opportunity for Dog Owners and Art Lovers - In celebration of dogs in art, the American Kennel Club® is once again hosting a charity brunch, Barkfest at Bonhams, on Sunday, February 11, 2007 from 10 a.m. to noon. Dog lovers, art aficionados and their canine companions are invited to […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panel for the 2019 AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15, 2019. The 2019 event will showcase the top national and international canine athletes […]

The AKC currently registers 205 dog breeds. The chart below lists all AKC recognized breeds and the year they first became registrable with the AKC.  (last updated 1/1/26) DATE – BREED 1878 – Pointer  1878 – Retriever (Chesapeake Bay)  1878 – Spaniel (Clumber)  1878 – Spaniel (Cocker)  1878 – Setter (English)  1878 – Setter (Gordon)  […]

Each of the AKC registered breeds are assigned to one of seven groups representing characteristics and functions the breeds were originally bred for. Current as of June 17, 2025 [accordion] [accordion_panel title="Herding Group"] HERDING GROUP The Herding Group, created in 1983, is the newest AKC classification; its members were formerly members of the Working Group. […]