On Wednesday, November 1, 2017, the Hillsborough County Commission is scheduled to discuss an ordinance that would regulate, require registration and licensing, and establish extensive record keeping requirements for certain dog trainers and dog training businesses in the county.

Citizens of Hillsborough County and dog trainers who have concerns about the proposed ordinance are encouraged to immediately contact Hillsborough County Commissioners to express your opposition, and to attend the meeting on November 15.

The Boone County (IN) Board of Commissioners is considering a proposal on Monday, November 20, that would mandate the spaying and neutering of all dogs owned by county residents by the year 2020.

Chapter 3 A. First Meeting: First organizational meeting select/elect Chairperson and each committee's leadership. Determine scope of event and necessary work force. Make a list of preferred judges, possible event facilities, dates and livestock contractors. Timeline 12 to 18 months prior to event: Have organizational meeting B. Chairperson: Communication is important to conducting a successful […]

A club holding a licensed or member club agility trial must prepare an official catalog once entries have been closed and drawn. The catalog must list the dogs in the order drawn in each class along with the full AKC name, AKC number, breed, date of birth, sex, name of owner (and handler, if different […]

Barking…chasing..rushing..splitting…gripping…overflanking…ignoring…not stopping…these are just a few of the negative things our dogs may exhibit on occasion during the training process. Running…hollering…pushing…repeating…allowing…grudging…Well, folks, these are just a few of the negatives things handlers may exhibit while in the training process! And, if you haven't guessed it by now, these things are, more often than not, closely […]

(c) 2007 Ernest Hartnagle and Jeanne Joy Hartnagle-Taylor Some historians propose Basques and their sheepdogs from the Pyrenees played an insignificant role in the history of the Australian Shepherd breed. Secondly, Basques did not to go Australia with their "little blue dogs" and then come to the U.S. with boatloads of sheep. Thirdly, the Basque […]

Clinic by Lori Herbel "My dog has become really pushy lately. We seem to be in constant battle all the time. I can't figure out why!" "I've never started a dog in herding before. I have no clue what to do. Help!!" "Why does my dog quit when I try to teach him new things? […]

by Lori Herbel Judging a herding trial is a tremendous responsibility. Consistency and fairness are the top priorities of the day, and the ability to comfortably make sensible split second decisions under pressure is a necessity. In order to help carry out this responsibility, a judge needs a trustworthy assistant by his side that he […]

Members of the P Litter puppies (Labrador Retrievers) move about on their first day of training at the center. The P Litter (TSA/Penn Vet Working Dog Center) was whelped by a foster family and began their training at 8 weeks of age. Each member of this litter is named after a victim of the 9/11 […]

AKC Government Relations now has information available on the economic impact of dog shows in each state in 2016.  This information, downloadable by state, helps demonstrate to legislators a tangible reason to support dog shows, fanciers and breeders.  To view this information, visit the Government Relations Toolbox and scroll down to “Economic Impact of Dog […]

As recent history has shown, many anti-breeder animal rights extremists continuously advocate for incremental breeding and sales restrictions that they hope will eventually lead to outright bans on all animal breeding and ownership.  They collectively consider all breeders and pet stores as substandard and inherently not interested in practicing or promoting animal welfare.  These politically-aware […]

Searching for a new purebred puppy isn’t necessarily as easy as it seems. Sure, anyone can post an advertisement for healthy, purebred, AKC-registered puppies on sites like Facebook and Craigslist, but that doesn’t make them true. It is important for dog owners to know where exactly their new furry friend came from to ensure their […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®) hosted a U.S. Detection Dog Conference February 28 – March 1.  The purpose of this conference was to discuss the pressing need for a U.S.-based national breeding program for explosives detection dogs.  A majority of dogs procured by government agencies come from Eastern Europe, and the increasing global demand for […]

U.S. Congressmen and veterinarians Ted Yoho [R-FL-3], Ralph Abraham, [R-LA-5], Kurt Schrader [D-OR-5] and have joined forces across the aisle to introduce a Congressional Resolution in support of National Purebred Dog Day. The resolution highlights the essential and important role that purebred dogs and breeders of purebred dogs have played throughout United States history and […]

In last November’s election, we saw a fair amount of misuse of the term “animal rights” and even outright support for “animal rights” by candidates that otherwise seemed to support the human-animal connection, kindness to animals, and proper care of animals based on sound science. Policymakers know semantics matter. We urge every policymaker and their […]

On Friday, June 2nd, 2017, Delaware Governor John Carney (D) signed House Bill 13, which is intended to protect the rights of responsible Delaware dog owners by prohibiting any dog from being declared “potentially dangerous” or “dangerous” under state law simply based on the dog’s breed. The bill would also prohibit municipalities from enacting laws […]

City slickers are used the grime and the crime that comes with their territory, but when they have a dog by their side, it make the concrete jungle seem just a little more friendly. And the dog can benefit, too. Here’s why: He gets more exercise (and so do you): This subject is often the […]

Approximately 40 legislative liaisons, federation leaders, and dog owners and advocates from across the country travelled to Alexandria, Virginia, and Washington DC this past weekend to attend the AKC Government Relations team’s second regional legislative conference of the year. The purpose of these conferences is to empower club members, dog fanciers, and leaders with the […]

  For over 130 years, the American Kennel Club has been dedicated to protecting and promoting the health and well-being of dogs. This is reflected in AKC events, public education initiatives, inspections, and many programs that celebrate and encourage responsible dog breeding and the preservation of purebred dogs. At its April meeting, the AKC Board […]

  More and more people are traveling with their pets and bringing dogs into the United States from overseas. Although a pet doesn’t need a passport to enter or re-enter the United States, you are required to provide certain documentation attesting to the health of your dog or cat. These rules serve to protect the […]

  The Albany (OR) Democrat-Herald spotlighted the Covered Bridge Dog Show Cluster for bringing in an estimated $1 million in economic impact for the Albany area during its four days of dog shows. Linn County Kennel Club Show Chairman Harvey Mohrenweiser says that part of their success has been in making connections with local officials […]

  By Jessica Acito, AKC Government Relations   The Delaware House of Representatives has unanimously approved a bill to make the Golden Retriever Delaware’s state dog. Eleven states currently have official state dog breeds, often recognizing those that are indigenous to a state. Pending approval by the Delaware Senate, the Golden Retriever will join the […]

  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 […]

  Gracie, dog rescued from Michael Vick’s fighting ring, dies She was just a funny-looking little bow-legged black pit bull, but her legacy will be huge. Gracie, who died Monday in her home in Midlothian, Virginia, was one of the 51 dogs seized in the 2007 raid on NFL star Michael Vick’s Bad Newz dogfighting […]

  We have all heard the heartbreaking stories: A child brutally attacked by a dog. A beloved family pet or a farmer’s livestock killed or injured by a stray dog. Such stories are far too common, and everyone agrees our communities must be protected from dangerous animals. When faced with this dilemma, many public officials […]

  Purebred dogs are purpose-bred dogs and come in all shapes and sizes. The characteristics that make each of these dogs unique also help them perform the function for which they were bred. The physical appearance of the dogs illustrates this, and is also an important part of the breed’s history. For example, the thick […]

  Long before Jane Lynch rose to fame for her role as the loud-mouthed, plotting cheerleading coach in the hit TV series, Glee, she proved herself as an all-out dog lover in the film Best in Show. Recently, she sat down with the team at The Honest Kitchen to talk about her Lhasa Apso, Olivia, […]

  A groundbreaking shelter study released today by the National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA) reveals that U.S. animal shelters are reporting an all-time low in the number of purebred dogs available. The study finds that only about five percent of the dogs available in U.S. shelters are purebred; a significant departure from the 25% figure […]

With the Litter number and Dam (female parent) certification issue date from your Dog Registration Application or Registration Certificate, you can enter or maintain contact information for new owners of your puppies. AKC then contacts the new puppy buyers with a letter explaining the benefits of AKC registration. Litter Authentication helps ensure the continued health […]