Hand-stripping is a specialized grooming procedure for wiry-coated dogs. It involves plucking dead strands of hair to retain the coat's coarse texture.

  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 […]

BREED 2015 2014 2013 Retrievers (Labrador) 1 1 1 German Shepherd Dogs 2 2 2 Retrievers (Golden) 3 3 3 Bulldogs 4 4 5 Beagles 5 5 4 French Bulldogs 6 9 11 Yorkshire Terriers 7 6 6 Poodles 8 7 8 Rottweilers 9 10 9 Boxers 10 8 7 Pointers (German Shorthaired) 11 12 […]

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 […]

Pride parades and festivals are often annual events that take place around the world to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. Can you bring your dog?

Once again, the Labrador Retriever took Atlanta’s top spot in the 2016 ranking of the most popular AKC-recognized dog breeds in the U.S. The Labrador Retriever was also recognized as the #1 pup in Denver, Boston, and Seattle, among others. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have climbed the ranks in Atlanta, increasing from eighth to fifth. Boxers, […]

The American Kennel Club is the world's largest registry of purebred dogs, and uses these statistics to rank the most popular breeds — and the rarest breeds. The numbers are in: these are the rarest dog breeds according to AKC registration statistics. In 2025, 202 total breeds were counted in the registration statistics. In 2026, […]

In 1939, a million Americans a year paid admission to attend AKC shows exhibiting over 100,000 dogs across the country. The mightiest events, Westminster and Morris & Essex, reported record-setting entry numbers during the 1930s that have still never been topped. Savvy publicity efforts and new AKC publications brought the formerly closed-circuit world of purebred dog breeding and exhibition to the American public, who clamored for more. […]

Once again, the Labrador Retriever took Chicago’s top spot in the American Kennel Club’s (AKC®) 2016 ranking of the most popular AKC-recognized dog breeds in the U.S. The Labrador Retriever was also recognized as the #1 pup in Washington, D.C., Seattle, and Boston, among others. The Labrador Retriever held strongly to the #1 spot in Chicago, […]

From Atlanta to West Palm Beach, here are the most popular dog breeds in each city based on the 2023 rankings from the American Kennel Club.

As the American Kennel Club announced, the Labrador Retriever was the most popular dog breed in the United States in 2021 — for the 31st year in a row, no less! (It usurped the Cocker Spaniel in 1991, and hasn’t let go of the No. 1 spot since.) But when looking at the most popular […]

The top dog breeds have been crowned nationally for 2024! See the most popular dog breeds by city to see where your favorite breed ranks.

Based on American Kennel Club registration statistics, we rank the most popular dog breeds in America each year. The French Bulldog takes the No. 1 spot!

We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles in Agility, Coursing Ability, Rally, Obedience, Scent Work, Tracking, and Trick Dog. Moreof you continue to enjoy success taking advantage of AKC’s Virtual Titling programs too! AGILITY AGCH (Agility Grand Champion) AGCH MACH4 Sassy RAE2 MXB2 PDS MJC PJS MFG TQX T2B6 CGC owned by […]

Many cases of canine constipation can be resolved with dietary changes and exercise, but other cases may require a veterinarian's insight.

When did Fast CAT start? Was it when it when the dog's wolf ancestors chased down their first rabbit? When the Pharaohs unleashed swift hounds in...

He seems like someone who had to have been conjured up by an adventure novelist— space explorer, pro football player, scholar, educator, musician, inspirational speaker, chemist, engineer, writer, wanderer. Leland Melvin has been all of those things, but he is very much a real person and, despite the more than 565 hours he logged in […]

Treatment for Cushing's Disease in Dogs is expensive and ongoing, and it requires consistent monitoring. Here's what symptoms to look for.

The Labrador Retriever does it again! In a press conference today at its new pet care space, AKC Canine Retreat, the American Kennel Club (AKC®), the nation’s largest purebred dog registry, is announcing that the intelligent, family friendly Lab firmly holds on to the number one spot on the most popular list for a record-breaking […]

As summer is winding down, many are beginning to focus on a return to school.  It’s also a great time for clubs, fanciers and breeders to reach out to lawmakers and educate them on the benefits of purebred dogs, responsible breeders, and AKC events in their communities. This month, a city in New Jersey passed […]

Who's the best puppy? More than 1,300 puppies later, we have an answer. Hundreds of puppies and junior dogs ages six months to 18 months competed for AKC Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy of the Year on Friday, December 13. Only one came out on top: "Pierce" the Wire Fox Terrier. Fleet St Forged At Hampton Court […]

Over the past three weeks, AKC Government Relations staff has traveled around the country to interact with state and county lawmakers at national legislative conferences. AKC GR hosted legislative information booths at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) conference in Denver, CO, the National Association of Counties (NACo) conference in Columbus, Ohio, and the National […]

Merrick, a 4-year-old black Labrador Retriever, works as guide dog for a blind man. But his career as a savior started when he was just a tiny pup. Lorraine Trapani, the volunteer puppy raiser who took 11-week-old Merrick under her wing in 2011, says that this tiny bundle of black hair, high spirits, and energy […]

What’s New from AKC Government Relations September means the end of summer, going back to school, and for some states it also signifies the convening of legislative sessions after summer breaks, and a final push on bills before the end of the year.  We encourage you to continue to keep an eye on our Legislative […]

Our Beginnings On September 17, 1884, a group of twelve dedicated sportsmen, responding to a "meeting call" from Messrs. J. M. Taylor and Elliot Smith, met in the rooms of the Philadelphia Kennel Club in that city. Each member of the group was a representative or "delegate" from a dog club that had, in the […]

Is this a whelping emergency? Am I jumping the gun? Am I waiting too long? Are the puppies in danger? Is the dam in danger? What should I do? Does she need a C-section? There's not a breeder alive who hasn't agonized over these same questions during a whelping. But take a deep breath, calm […]

For thousands of years, Basenjis served as hunting dogs and have since won the hearts of many. Here are some interesting facts about this ancient breed.

It was the last blast of summer sunset gathering of the French Bulldog NYC Meetup group. Sophie, 5 months old, was determined to make the most of it. First, there was some serious rough-and-tumble with her pal, a Bernese Mountain Dog who was born just one day after Sophie in April. Then she was off, […]

The American Kennel Club’s Government Relations team has had an extremely busy two months, starting with the 15th annual AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day (RDO) held in Raleigh, NC on September 9th.  Each September, the AKC hosts AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Days to educate first-time dog owners about the responsibilities of dog ownership and help current […]

Breed 2018 Rank 2017 Rank 2016 Rank 2015 Rank 2014 Rank Labrador Retrievers 1 1 1 1 1 German Shepherd Dogs 2 2 2 2 2 Golden Retrievers 3 3 3 3 3 French Bulldogs 4 4 6 6 9 Bulldogs 5 5 4 4 4 Beagles 6 6 5 5 5 Poodles 7 7 […]