The AKC Government Relations team continues to monitor Congress for issues of interest to dog owners. Visit our 2018 Legislation Tracking page and click on “US Fed” on the map to get the latest updates on federal bills currently being monitored by the AKC. Highlights of issues we are currently addressing on the federal level include: U.S. […]

News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Visit the 2019 Legislation Tracking page and click on your state to get the latest updates on state bills monitored by the AKC. California – AB 588 would require shelters to disclose any history of bites for dogs available for […]

News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Visit the 2019 Legislation Tracking page and click on your state to get the latest updates on state bills monitored by the AKC. Arkansas – HB 1778 seeks to require a fine of $1,000 to $5,000 and either imprisonment for […]

News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Visit the 2019 Legislation Tracking page and click on your state to get the latest updates on state bills monitored by the AKC. Alabama – SB 10 seeks to provide for the rights and responsibilities of an individual with a […]

From the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Visit the 2019 Legislation Tracking page and click on your state to get the latest updates on state bills monitored by the AKC. Alabama – SB 10 would provide for the rights and responsibilities of an individual with a disability who […]

News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Visit the 2019 Legislation Tracking page and click on your state to get the latest updates on state bills monitored by the AKC. Alabama – SB 10 would provide for the rights and responsibilities of an individual with a disability […]

This Standard Poodle is one of five, loyal companion dogs who won the 19th annual AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). The winners will be honored at the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin in Orlando, Florida, December 15-16, 2018. Some relationships resonate more deeply with time. In the case of 13-year-old […]

Sampson, a Golden Retriever,  is one of five, loyal companion dogs who won the 19th annual AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). The winners will be honored at the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin in Orlando, Florida, December 15-16, 2018. Animals have always been a vibrant part of Joey Ramp’s life. […]

StoneBull BullMastiffs is a small hobby kennel located in the southwest corner of New Hampshire. Owners Steve Krulish and Jackie Smith have been involved in Bullmastiffs since 1989. With each litter, they say that their goals remain the same: to produce sound, healthy puppies that are good examples of the breed and who will enrich […]

There’s a newly recognized breed coming to American Kennel Club all-breed show rings this year. It has both a tongue-twister name and a unique physique. Many confuse this breed for a Greyhound or a Whippet, but three owners set the record straight. Meet the Azawakh Meet the Azawakh (pronounced AH-ZA-WAHK), a tall, slender Hound originating […]

We all expect to save and set aside money for big expenses, like a new car or the down payment on a house. But, what many of us don't consider, when we're oohing-and-ahhhing over that adorable new puppy, is the actual cost of dog ownership. It's important to take into account how much of your […]

In a typical day, Ryan Arens sees one dozen dogs along his Bozeman, Montana route. There are office dogs in the morning, and ranch dogs in the afternoon — sometimes as many as five or six dogs on one property. After 14 years with UPS and six years on this route, he knows them all […]

The 2019 AKC National Rally Championship takes place March 15 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. If you can't attend, tune in to the live stream by going to AKC.tv on any device or download the AKC.TV app on Roku, Apple TV, or AmazonFireTV. Rally has taken on an entirely new meaning in recent months for the Cruise family of Blountsville, Alabama […]

By Dr. Candace Croney, Ph.D., & Traci Shreyer, M.A.  The environment in which a dog or puppy is raised will have significant impacts on virtually every aspect of his or her life. The quality of the kennel environment can affect a dog’s physical health, comfort, and safety.    A kennel that is aesthetically pleasing to people but does not adequately meet the dogs’ […]

People in the sport of dogs can wear many hats, and Bonnie Threlfall of Cary, North Carolina, has pretty much donned them all: Born into a dog-show family, she has been breeding her Edgewood English Cocker Spaniels for more than 40 years. After a decade-long stint as a professional handler in the late 1970s into […]

In any field of endeavor, there are personalities so larger than life that only part of their name is sufficient inducement to bring them to mind. In fashion, there are Valentino and Iman. In music, Adele and Beyoncé and Madonna and too many more to count. And in purebred dogs, there’s Sunny. A Household Name […]

Leaping over a broad jump, hopping through a hoop, and digging furiously underground to find rats. Add in a sniff-out session, some snappy switchbacks around poles, and a 100-yard dash in tizzy time and it looks like a dog in supersonic shenanigans. If this sounds like a flashy, popular breed who always stands in the […]

As a Breeder of Merit, you have demonstrated your commitment to the AKC community, to dedication to your breed(s), and to ensuring that 100% of your puppies are individually registered with the AKC. To help you achieve your puppy registration goal, we offer multiple registration options. Which option is right for you? If you prefer […]

In its endless pursuit to recognize outstanding members of the fancy, The American Kennel Club Lifetime Achievement Awards were created and first awarded in 1999 to honor our best. The purpose of the awards is to celebrate those individuals whose many years of dedication have led to significant contributions to our sport on a national […]

The AKC works with several non-AKC service and sports organizations to recognize the titles that AKC-registered dogs earn in their programs. This includes the AKC Therapy Dog titling program and the AKC Search & Rescue title program. AKC also recognizes titles of the Barn Hunt Association (BHA); North American Diving Dogs (NADD); and the North […]

We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles in Agility, Coursing Ability, Rally, Obedience, Tracking and Trick Dog, including the first and second All-American Dogs to become AKC Rally® Champions and two new AKC Champion Trackers! And many All-American Dogs had big success at the 2019 AKC National […]

We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles in Agility, Coursing Ability, Rally, Obedience, Tracking and Trick Dog, including the fourth All-American Dog to earn the new AKC Agility Grand Championship, the fifth All American Dog to earn the AKC Champion Tracker title, and another CAX for the […]

The AKC now works with several non-AKC service and sports organizations to recognize the titles that AKC-registered dogs earn in their programs. This includes the AKC Therapy Dog titling program and the AKC Search & Rescue title program. AKC also recognizes titles of the Barn Hunt Association (BHA); North American Diving Dogs (NADD); and the […]

Don’t let stress keep you from doing your best By Jordan York This issue’s training tip is from Jordan York, who lives in Southern Indiana with three dogs: a 9-year-old All American, Moses; a 4-year-old Border Collie rescue, Nile; and a 7-month-old Border Collie puppy, Capture. Jordan is a registered nurse and works as an […]

The AKC now works with several non-AKC service and sports organizations to recognize the titles that AKC-registered dogs earn in their programs. This includes the AKC Therapy Dog titling program and the AKC Search & Rescue title program. AKC also recognizes titles of the Barn Hunt Association (BHA); North American Diving Dogs (NADD); and the […]

National Champion Beats Dogs from 49 States and 21 Countries GCHP CH Pinnacle Tennessee Whiskey, a Whippet known as “Whiskey,” triumphed over more than 5,000 entries to earn a $50,000 cash prize and the title of Best in Show at the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin, held December 15-16, 2018 in Orlando, Fla. […]

MACH Cobber CGC MJS MXB XF was once an abandoned puppy who was nearly euthanized after becoming ill with parvo. But Kirsten Swenson of Columbus, OH, and her veterinarian sister had other ideas. They saved Cobber, who is not only Kirsten’s best friend, but also has become an AKC Master Agility Champion. Kirsten tells their […]

April 8, 2019 An ordinance with unclear provisions that could affect hobby breeders and rescue groups is scheduled for a vote by the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday, April 9.  Brevard County citizens who are concerned about vague and problematic provisions in the ordinance are encouraged to immediately contact their commissioners. The […]

Friday, June 14, 2019 The American Kennel Club (AKC) is seriously concerned that the New Hampshire Legislature, through procedural maneuvers avoiding the full legislative process, may be on the verge of eliminating the state’s recognition of “breeders” and instead labeling them as newly-defined “pet vendors”.   Because this proposal is problematic for multiple reasons, it is […]

Communicating the AKC mission to the public is one of our most important goals as an organization. Our leadership and staff are dedicated to sharing our message about purebred dogs, the work and expertise of the AKC, and responsible dog ownership as broadly as possible on a daily basis. Last year, the Communications department generated […]