No velvet pillows, hair ribbons, or French pedicures for these big bruisers. These are the no-nonsense, punch-the-clock-and-get-it-done dogs of the AKC Working Group, the Ford pickups of the canine kingdom. Many factors go into breeding dogs that work hard for their feed. Let’s consider a few, and then watch some well-bred workers in action. Physical […]

  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 […]

Some people live by the motto "bigger is better," and it extends to their dogs too. There are many large dog breeds, each with different care and training needs. Exercise Most large dog breeds were bred for a purpose or function. Some breeds were meant to be hunters, others guard dogs. Dogs with great endurance […]

There are certain situations where it’s ok and actually preferred to have more fluff.For example:More fluff on your peanut butter and marshmallow sandwich? Yes! More fluff for your favorite pillow—Please!More fluff all over your black dress pants—No, thank you! Fortunately, regular bathing and grooming can keep even the most fluffy furballs at bay. Here are the top six […]

Tomatoes, the Turnpike, big hair and Washington Crossing the Delaware. New Jersey is associated many things, both good and bad.  The state has an official insect (the honeybee), folk dance (the square dance), and even a state dinosaur (the Hadrosaurus Foulkii) but when it comes to man’s best friend and feline, New Jersey comes up […]

Award Presented at AKC/Eukanuba National Championship Claudia Orlandi, Ph.D. of Essex Junction, Vermont was honored with the 2009 AKC Breeder of the Year Award for her Topsfield Basset Hounds at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship on Sunday, December 13, 2009.  The annual award honors those breeders who have dedicated their lives to improving the health, temperament […]

Persians and Bassets and Beagles! Oh My! New York, NY- In honor of Meet the Breeds™ presented by PetPartners, Inc., the American Kennel Club® (AKC) and Cat Fanciers' Association® (CFA) will release packs of  pet impersonators – people donning life-like dog and cat masks – on to New York City streets on Wednesday, October 14th. […]

  – "AKC Breeder of the Year" to be Announced at AKC/Eukanuba National Championship – The American Kennel Club® announced today the seven group recipients of the 2009 AKC® Breeder of the Year Award.  The award honors breeders who have dedicated their lives to improving the health, temperament and quality of purebred dogs. "The AKC […]

  The American Kennel Club's Companion Animal Recovery (AKC/CAR) announced today the appointment of Tom Sharp to the newly created position of Vice President and Chief Executive Officer. In addition, Laura Bullock, who has worked as an Internal Auditor with the AKC, has been named Director of Operations, reporting to Sharp. In this role Bullock […]

  Award Presented at AKC/Eukanuba National Championship Barbara Miller of Glen Head, NY was honored with the 2007 AKC Breeder of the Year Award at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship on Saturday, December 1, 2007. The annual award honors those breeders who have dedicated their lives to improving the health, temperament and quality of purebred dogs. […]

  - "AKC Breeder of the Year" to be Announced at AKC/Eukanuba National Championship - Today the American Kennel Club® announced the seven group recipients of the 2007 AKC® Breeder of the Year Award. The award honors breeders who have dedicated their lives to improving the health, temperament and quality of purebred dogs. "It is […]

Choosing your boy dog's name is important, as it's a name you and your new puppy will be living with for a long time, so it deserves some thought. A good boy dog name can actually enhance your dog's responsiveness and improve communication between you over a lifetime. We've compiled the top 100+ most popular […]

Terri Walker, of Le Berger Bien Aime (the beloved shepherd) in Tennessee, fell in love with Pyrenean Shepherds in the ’90s. She is involved in several international health initiatives on behalf of the breed, has hosted international forums, and written many breed-related articles. Terri is a long-standing member of the breed clubs in the US […]

Puppies, like human babies, do a lot of learning to do in their early months, especially when it comes to navigating their new environment and adopting good manners. For tips on how to facilitate that learning, we turned to certified dog trainer Kate Naito, who is also an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and Manners […]

Puppies seem to grow up so fast. One day, they're little balls of furry cuteness and, in what seems like the blink of an eye, they're fully grown into loving canine companions. But not all dogs grow at the same rate, with smaller breed dogs growing up much faster than their larger counterparts. That's because […]

December may be months away and, yes, it's currently sweltering outside, but that doesn't mean we can't prepare for the upcoming holiday season. Get a head start on your shopping with these Christmas in July sales on the AKC Shop! Here are some gift ideas for the pup-obsessed people in your inner circle. For Dog-Loving […]

Dogs are like people: sometimes they need a break. For many reasons, some dogs need space and time to themselves. Learn to recognize when and how to give dogs space.