The German Shepherd Dog is one of the most versatile creatures on earth. There’s not much these strong, agile, fearless dogs can’t do. Ancestors of today’s German Shepherds earned their keep by tending enormous flocks of sheep, as many as 1,000 of them. The AKC has assigned them to the Herding Group, a reflection of […]

Celebrating the diversity of our dog sports community is part of helping our sports to thrive, including the AKC LGBTQ community.

The Azawakh is one of the AKC's newest recognized breeds, becoming officially AKC-recognized in 2019. These tall and elegant sighthounds — known for their athleticism — are the passion of Kayley Paylor of In Stride Azawakh & Training. Paylor has fallen in love with the breed and she has been breaking records with her pack of […]

The cancellation of swaths of AKC events as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has left many of us wistful and impatient for their return. With no shows to enter and plenty of absence to make the heart grow fonder, I found myself pondering what I got out of them in the first place. 1. […]

Jupiter Piquet, from Pinellas Park, Florida, is competing in the 2025 AKC Rally National Championship at Purina Farms in St. Louis, MO. When Piquet was...

Are you inspired to figure out which sport you should do with your dog? When your dog participates in sports, they will improve and maintain their physical fitness level, sharpen their mental acuity, and build their bond with you. Doing sports with your dog also has benefits for you! Dog sports can help you improve […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®), a not-for-profit organization that is the world’s largest registry of purebred and mixed-breed dogs, and a leading voice for canine welfare and responsible ownership, is pleased to announce the top Juniors in AKC Sports for 2025. The American Kennel Club recognizes and appreciates the participation of Junior handlers across all […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®) wishes to acknowledge the participation of Juniors in all AKC Sports. Top juniors are determined by a point system for participation, handling dogs to qualifying scores or legs for the event, placements and wins. “We at the American Kennel Club are thrilled to recognize these juniors,” said Mari-Beth O’Neill, Vice […]

AKC Library Vertical Files Sports Illustrated Library News Clippings files 1950-1993 Processed by Brynn White, 2016 Click here to the view complete inventory and/or to search all AKC archival collections   The Sports Illustrated Library News Clippings files are comprised of dog-centered subject files originally assembled as a reference resource for journalists working for the […]

MACH Sir Tucker MXB MJG MXF MFB T2B3 CGC owned by Scott & Denise Beaumont of Granite Falls, WA In November 2010, Scott & Denise helped “socialize” a litter of 8-week-old Aussie mix puppies at Lil’ Waif Puppy Rescue, not intending to bring one home. “But Tucker chose us that day.  Thankfully he did,” Denise […]