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. […]

Kay Finch produced well over 100 Afghan Hound champions At the same time, Finch excelled in creating ceramics, including 20+ Afghan Hound sculptures One dog, 'Johnnie,' won the Hound Group at Westminster in 1954 and 1955, and was the first dog on the cover of Sports Illustrated. When it came time to celebrate their 25th wedding […]

The pathway to becoming a full-fledged detective has had its challenges for Rocco and Rider but it has never been a mystery to either, or their Midwest owner/handlers. The AKC Scent Work® Detective title, considered the pinnacle of success in the popular sport, went unclaimed since its inception on Oct. 1, 2017, until July 14 […]

Being the "first" to achieve something takes a lot of determination and tenacity, something that Scottish Deerhound Brodie and his owner, Linda Beisswenger, know all too well. In St. Louis, Missouri, Brodie came to Beisswenger as just a puppy. Previously, Beisswenger competed in AKC Tracking with her Borzoi. "I just fell in love with Tracking and I'm still in love […]

When you think about breeds competing in Obedience and earning a Utility Dog (UD) title, an Afghan Hound probably isn't the first breed that comes to mind. Count on Golden Retrievers, Shetland Sheepdogs, Border Collies, Labrador Retrievers, and German Shepherd Dogs to lead the pack of breeds who achieve UDs in obedience. But Hope, a blue and white […]

For much of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show’s 142-year existence, winning the country’s most famous dog show meant the fast track to retirement. Sure, sometimes a plucky soul returned the following year for another grab at the brass ring: After all, the very first Westminster Best in Show winner, the Smooth Fox Terrier Ch. […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panel for the 2019 AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15, 2019. The 2019 event will showcase the top national and international canine athletes […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panel for the 2018 AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 15 and Sunday, December 16, 2018. The 2018 event will showcase the top national and international canine athletes and will also […]

  – A True Gentleman in the Sport of Purebred Dogs – New York, NY — The American Kennel Club's Board of Directors is deeply saddened by the loss of their associate Asa Mays, DVM. "The sport of purebred dogs lost a highly respected life-long fancier, esteemed judge and three-term AKC Board member with his passing," […]

  – "Breeder of the Year" to be Announced at AKC/Eukanuba National Championship – New York, NY -- Today, the American Kennel Club (AKC®) announced the seven group winners for the American Kennel Club’s 2005 Breeder of the Year Award. The award honors breeders who have dedicated their lives to improving the health, temperament and […]

Award Ceremony Featured on National Broadcast of AKC/Eukanuba National Championship The recipients of the AKC Breeder of the Year Award, Dave and Peggy Helming of Flemington, N.J., were honored on the live national broadcast of the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship on Saturday, January 14. The annual award honors those breeders who have dedicated their lives to […]

  NEW YORK, NY– The American Kennel Club® is pleased to welcome four students participating in the 2008 AKC® Internship Program. The program is geared towards college students with a background and interest in purebred dogs and is designed to further their professional development, as well as help AKC identify potential employees with experience in […]

Humans aren’t the only members of the workforce! This Labor Day, the American Kennel Club celebrates the evolution of our canine coworkers – what jobs they were originally bred to perform and what work you can see them doing now. Dogs do so many important jobs. From hunting to bomb detection to saving lives, dogs […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) and Royal Canin are pleased to announce the judging panel for the 2016 National Championship to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 17 and Sunday, December 18, 2016. The 2016 event will showcase the top national and international dogs and will also […]

New York, NY – The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award finalists in the categories of Conformation, Companion Events and Performance Events. The Awards, created and first awarded in 1999, are presented in recognition of exceptional participation and achievement within the dog fancy. The finalists chosen, based on […]

In its ongoing 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 very 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 […]

Humans aren’t the only members of the workforce!  The American Kennel Club (AKC®) celebrates the evolution of our canine coworkers – what jobs they were originally bred to perform and what work you can see them doing now.  Dogs go above and beyond each and every day, not only as beloved family pets, but as […]

Twister Agility and Dog Event Center - Edmond, OK Best in Field Winner: NFC FC Windrock Tid-Bittius Velocitus SC Best of Breed Winners: Afghan Hound - DC Kominek’s Rains of Castamere SC Basenji - GCH DC Joy-Us Hung The Moon SC CGC TKN Borzoi - FC Kirov Strike It Rich At Highpoint CDX RE MC […]

Flintrock Farm - Reidsville, NC Best in Field Winner: NFC GCH DC Dsrtphnx Hallam Sweet Child O Mine RN MC LCX AX AXJ CGC TKN Best of Breed Winners: Afghan Hound - Kominek’s The Conquerer SC BCAT Basenji - Borassus Apollon SC Borzoi - FC Kirov Strike It Rich At Highpoint CDX RE MC LCX AX […]

Kominek Farm - Limestone, TN Best in Field Winner: NFC FC Cali’s Red Clay Halo MC LCX2 Best of Breed Winners: Afghan Hound - DC Kominek’s Celaeno SC LCX Basenji - Makindu’s Next Man Up SC CA Borzoi - FC Kirov Wind Glider at Highpoint RN SC CGC TKI Cirneco dell’Etna - DC Fly by […]