Here at the AKC, we believe in honoring responsible breeders who have gone above and beyond on health issues, temperament, and genetic screening, as well as to the individual care and placement of puppies in responsible homes. That’s why we started the AKC Breeder of Merit Program: To give breeders a way to prove [...]

–Award Presented at AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin – Gail S. Wolaniuk and Joan E. McFadden were presented with the 2020 AKC Breeder of the Year award for Unique Standard Poodles at the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin on Sunday, December 13, 2020.  The annual award honors those breeders who have […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to recognize breeding programs from the Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups as 2020 AKC Breeder of the Year group honorees. “We are proud to honor these esteemed breeders,” said Dennis Sprung, AKC President and CEO. “Each of them has made important contributions to the […]

Joseph and Brenna Carlisle are AKC Breeders of Merit Bronze and AKC Bred with HEART breeders. Their kennel, Heritage Hounds, is located on about 80 acres just outside of Birmingham, Alabama. Brenna has bred and shown Standard Longhaired Dachshunds her whole life, and Joseph has bred Treeing Walker Coonhounds and competed in competition hunts with […]

AKC Breeder of Merit Kym Burch-Ryan has raised and shown Australian Shepherds since 1993. She lives on a 20-acre farm in Roxbury, Kansas. Her daughter Brandi shares her passion for the breed; she has shown Aussies since she was 8 years old. Kym’s younger daughter, Hadlei, is also now showing Aussies. AKC: How did you […]

Talk about a three-peat – just make sure you spell it with a capital “P.” A winning family trio for more than four decades, David and Pamela Peat of Scottsdale, Arizona, along with their daughter Maggie first made a name for themselves in the sport with Longhair Dachshunds. Their Pramada kennel has produced more than […]

Susan Kustrup, owner of Tallie Farms Beagles in Manahawkin, NJ, has lived in New Jersey all her life. She is an AKC Breeder of Merit, having bred and shown dogs since 1977, and has bred and shown Tallie Farms Beagles for the past 15 years. She is a past board member of the Central New Jersey Hound Association.   AKC: How did you get started in breeding dogs? Susan: I started […]

Finding a responsible breeder you trust is your first—and most important—step to finding your new best friend. Breeders are invaluable resources. Not only are they a bridge between you and your perfect dog, but you can also rely on them throughout your dog’s lifetime. Think of a breeder as your own private guide to all […]

The annual AKC Breeder of the Year award honors exceptional breeders who have made an impact on their breed and dedicated their lives to improving the health, temperament, and quality of purebred dogs. On December 14 at the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin, Elizabeth and Daniel Karshner were selected as winners of the 2019 AKC Breeder of […]

–Award Presented at AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin – Elizabeth and Daniel Karshner were presented with the 2019 AKC Breeder of the Year award for their Little Ponds Bulldogs at the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin on Saturday, December 14, 2019.  The annual award honors those breeders who have made an […]