Alan Kalter and Dr. Chris Lezotte were presented with the 2016 AKC Breeder of the Year award for their HappyLegs Bullmastiffs at the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin on Saturday, December 17, 2016. The annual award honors those breeders who have made an impact on their breed and dedicated their lives to improving […]

Patti Stanley and 18-pound Lucy, her Miniature Poodle-Miniature Schnauzer mix, were the leaders in the Run for Music 5K in Lakewood Ranch, Fla., and were a tantalizing quarter mile from the finish line when Lucy stopped in her tracks and licked Stanley's leg. “She pulled me to the side of the road and refused to […]

In honor of Check the Chip Day, we wanted to share some great lost-dog recovery stories courtesy of AKC Reunite. These dogs all went missing, but were eventually found and reunited with their families with a little help from their microchips. Meet Monroe, the French Bulldog.   Monroe snuck out the front door and was […]

There are many reasons why your dog might have a seizure. Learn more about what causes seizures in dogs, triggers, and how to help prevent them.

Header photo courtesy of Nancy Bishop, AKC Breeder of Merit The decision to get a puppy is a big one. First, there's deciding what kind of puppy you want, choosing a breed, and then, finding a reputable and professional breeder to ensure you are getting the dog of your dreams. And finding the right breeder […]

Not everyone enjoys cleaning up copious amounts of dog hair. If you are looking for a small dog with equally small amounts of shedding hair, you are in luck. From small dogs that don't shed at all, to dogs who shed minimally, here are the dog breeds you need to know about to help you […]

The Westminster Kennel Club recently announced that Mr. Thomas H. Bradley III is scheduled to judge Best in Show at the club’s 141st dog show Feb. 13–14, 2017. A lifetime participant in the dog sport, Mr. Bradley competed in his first dog show as a teenager in 1955, showing his German Shorthaired Pointer at the […]

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 […]

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 […]

For most people, Thanksgiving means family gatherings with an abundance of delicious food for everyone. And even though we want to include our dogs in the celebrations, some of our holiday food is not safe for them. At Pet Poison Helpline, we believe that prevention is the best option for keeping our pets healthy — […]

  This year’s national specialty for the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of America (WSSCA) was held in late April during the Cherry Blossom Cluster in Maryland. We enjoyed four days of competition and camaraderie, and it only rained once! (In 2011 we held our national specialty in Pennsylvania during “The Great Harrisburg Flood.”) Welsh Springer […]

Some Breeds Might Be Better Choices for People with AllergiesNo breed of dog is totally hypoallergenic. However, certain breeds seem to tolerated better by people with persistent allergies. In a recent study investigating people with animal-related allergies, researchers found that the worst animal for hypersensitive people to own was guinea pigs, followed by rabbits and […]

By Allan Reznik   By Allan Reznik (Reprinted with permission from Dogs in Review and author Allan Reznik, from the November 2014 issue of Dogs in Review magazine. People get into a new breed for all kinds of reasons: the need to downsize, a desire for less grooming, a thirst for greater challenges, even the search […]

The number-one breed of the 1940s, the Cocker Spaniel, enjoyed a renaissance in the 1980s, climbing to the number-one position. The breed was the most popular dog in the nation from 1983 to 1990, giving it the distinction of holding the number-one spot for more years than any other breed to that point (23). After […]

Poodles retain their position as the country’s top dog for a second decade and have regularly remained in the top ten since. The Doberman Pinscher made its first appearance in the top ten in the 1970s as the number-three breed. The breed would remain in the top ten for the 1980s as well. The Miniature […]

The Poodle, recognized by the AKC in 1887, did not make the top ten breeds until the 1950s, when it ranked number seven. This glamorous show dog and companion strutted into the number-one position in the 1960s and would become the first breed to hold the number-one crown for two consecutive decades. German Shepherd Dogs, […]

  In honor of start of Movember, we're putting wags and whiskers centerstage. Here are six stately dog breeds that boast some seriously awesome beards.   Airedale Terrier: Look at at those muttonchops! No wonder he's called the "King of Terriers."    Miniature Schnauzer: Who can resist the bushy beard (and, seriously, the EYEBROWS) on […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to recognize breeding programs from the Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups as 2016 AKC Breeder of the Year group honorees. “We are proud to honor some of the nation’s finest breeders with this award,” said Dennis Sprung, AKC President and CEO. “The dogs that […]

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 […]

There are a variety of breeds that don’t shed, each with different temperaments and energy levels, so you can find the right breed for your lifestyle. Breeds that Don‘t Shed Bedlington Terrier: The gentle, loveable Bedlington Terrier is known for its curly, wooly coat that resembles a lamb. The breed doesn’t need intense exercise – […]

There are also ways to prep your home that will help keep allergens at bay when you have a dog. Be sure to wash your pet‘s bed often, keep up with his grooming, and don‘t let him sleep on your bed. It‘s also helpful to remove heavy carpets and drapes that trap dander. Best Breeds […]

New York, NY — Dr. Joseph H. Kinnarney has been named the first American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) liaison to the American Kennel Club® (AKC®), a position newly created to foster shared objectives between the two organizations. As AVMA liaison, Dr. Kinnarney will work with AKC liaison Mari-Beth O’Neill to ensure access to world-class health […]

Highlights from the July 2012 meeting of the AKC Board of Directors are as follows.   Full details on these actions, as well as other actions taken, are included in the minutes for the meeting, which are posted on the AKC website, within one week of the meeting.   James Stevens, AKC’s Chief Financial Officer […]

Now that Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has chosen his vice president, it's time for him to concentrate on another important selection: family dog. The American Kennel Club® (AKC) announced today that the public has elected a Poodle as their breed of choice for the Obama family. The AKC launched its poll to find a […]

  Less Than Two-Weeks Left to Cast Your Vote for The Best "Canine Candidate" for the Obama Family @ www.presidentialpup.com The American Kennel Club® (AKC) reports a tight race between the Poodle and Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier in their poll to determine America's breed of choice for the Obama family. Preliminary results indicate that the […]

AKC Selects Short List of "Canine Candidates" and Enlists America's Help to Choose the Right Dog Breed for the Obama Family @ www.presidentialpup.com New York, NY – Vice President isn't the only high-level position that Barack Obama is currently trying to fill. It's been widely reported that – win or lose – the Obamas have […]

Bulldog Makes the List for First Time in Nearly 75 Years; Labrador Retriever Continues to Fetch Top Spot AKC Appears on NBC Today Show to Announce 2007 Registration Statistics - New York, NY – Today the American Kennel Club® announced that the Bulldog, a popular sports team mascot and one of the most recognizable and iconic […]

  The American Kennel Club® is pleased to welcome the seven students participating in the 2007 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 both AKC […]

Bella is an 8-year-old rescue Miniature Schnauzer that Eileen adopted from the Kent County SPCA. Bella has brought countless hours of love and enjoyment to Eileen and also hundreds of other people through her therapy dog visits. She has earned the AKC Therapy Dog Excellent title for making more than 200 visits and also has […]

Each of the AKC registered breeds are assigned to one of seven groups representing characteristics and functions the breeds were originally bred for. Current as of June 17, 2025 [accordion] [accordion_panel title="Herding Group"] HERDING GROUP The Herding Group, created in 1983, is the newest AKC classification; its members were formerly members of the Working Group. […]