They’re certainly great, but did you know they’re not Danish? Dogs resembling Great Danes appear as far back as ancient Egyptian carvings, but the modern Great Dane was actually bred in Germany in the 1800s as a boar-hunting beast. Today, these gentle giants make beloved family pets.

Accepted into AKC in 1885, the Saint Bernard swiftly rose to the position of the most popular dog of the 1890s. To this day, it is the only giant breed to secure the country’s top position as well as the only number-one breed to never appear in the top ten again. In later decades, two […]

Dogs provide immeasurable benefits to their owners' lives including companionship, stress reduction, unconditional love, and more. It's impossible to put a price on all your dog does for you. But you can put a price on what it costs you to own them. And it may be far higher than you expect. In fact, many […]

Regular exercise and keeping your dog in good physical condition is important for all canines, and essential if you are thinking about participating in any dog sports together. Human athletes prepare their bodies before hitting the court or field, and it's the same for canine athletes. Well-conditioned dogs are less likely to be injured than […]

Some of the fastest dogs in the country dashed after the coveted "bunny" lure in a 100-yard Fast CAT dash, in hopes of being named the fastest dog at the 2023 AKC Fastest Dogs USA competition, which aired on ESPN.

At 10 years old, Olivia Merrill is an active Junior Handler of over eight years. After a house fire, the dog show community helped her family rebuild.

Here at the AKC, we never get tired of learning more about dogs, whether it's a new study on canine behavior, a statistic from our database, or even just cool facts about a dog's impressive physical and mental abilities. You may know some of these already, and others may be more of a "wait, really?" […]

Our dogs are extremely important parts of our daily lives. They follow our commands, work with us in various capacities, and act as faithful companions. Studies have shown that dogs provide health benefits. Service dogs have these abilities, combined with training to perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities.  During the last decade, the use of service dogs has rapidly expanded. However, more […]

The FDA is investigating potential links between canine heart disease and diet — specifically grain-free dog food diets. We've compiled the information you need to know to understand this ongoing investigation. Why Is the FDA Investigating Grain-Free Dog Food? It is easy to panic anytime we see an FDA headline about pet food. After all, keeping our dogs […]

When you compete at a national level in any dog sport, it takes a special kind of passion, but being an emergency vet on top of that is dedication.

AKC Meet the Breeds is an excellent way to do first-hand research on different dog breeds. Here's what to ask at each breed booth.

Can dogs with missing tails, ears, or eyes compete in AKC conformations shows? It depends on the missing part and the breed standard.

Keeping a growing puppy fit can be tricky, but exercise is very important for puppy health. Learn ways to exercise with your puppy and keep them fit.

Over their lifetime, cancer affects one in three dogs. Understand this high risk and life threatening disease so you know the signs and treatments.

As the American Kennel Club announced, the Labrador Retriever was the most popular dog breed in the United States in 2021 — for the 31st year in a row, no less! (It usurped the Cocker Spaniel in 1991, and hasn’t let go of the No. 1 spot since.) But when looking at the most popular […]

When you watch dogs compete in Flyball for the first time, it can be fun but confusing. We're here to break down the sport of Flyball.

When Jeff Wells of San Antonio, Texas, came across a listing of a found, injury puppy in 2021, he never could have imagined all that he and "Winston,"...

From Washington's Foxhounds to Obama's famous Portuguese Water Dogs, presidential dogs are as traditional as baseball and apple pie. Almost all of our presidents have shared the White House with a dog, and often more than one. These presidential dogs became as much a staple of the capitol as the rest of the First Family […]

Hypoadrenocorticism, more commonly known as Addison’s disease, is a disease has serious consequences for dogs. Fortunately, with proper treatment, dogs diagnosed with Addison's disease are expected to have normal lifespans. Addison’s disease occurs when the adrenal glands fail to produce the hormones that they are in charge of in the body. The most important hormones […]

Routine spaying and neutering of dogs is generally accepted, and some doggy daycares and dog parks don't allow intact male dogs or female dogs in heat. In addition, many states require dogs in rescue shelters to be spayed or neutered before they're placed in a home, often at just a few months old. Along with […]

Keep an eye out for physical, behavioral, and mental changes in your older dog. These might be signs of aging in dogs, and being aware of them is the first step to ensuring continued quality of life for senior dogs.

Is your dog scared of the vacuum cleaner? We explain why dogs fear these cleaning machines, and what you can do to get your dog used to the vacuum cleaner.

Arguably the world’s first “fad dog,” the Maltese was a persistent motif in Roman culture. Learn more about Maltese history.

Ever wonder if you can go from watching dog shows on TV to competing at big shows yourself? Well that's exactly what Junior Handler Ashlyn Navis did.

Based on American Kennel Club registration statistics, we rank the most popular dog breeds in America each year. The French Bulldog takes the No. 1 spot!

The American Kennel Club (AKC®), a not-for-profit organization, the world’s largest purebred dog registry and leading advocate for dogs, is excited to announce that AKC Fastest Dogs USA presented by The Farmer’s Dog, is set to premiere on ESPN on July 29th at 3pm ET. This invitational event was held on May 19, 2023 at […]

The AKC Museum of the Dog is pleased to announce the opening of their new exhibit “Fashionable Dogs”, which will run from September 7th, 2023, through December 31st, 2023. This exciting exhibition is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor […]

The easygoing Great Dane, the mighty “Apollo of Dogs,” is a total joy to live with—but owning a dog of such imposing size, weight, and strength is a commitment not to be entered into lightly. This breed is indeed great, but not a Dane.

All AKC DNA + Health Kits include the original 201 markers for genetic identity and parentage verification purposes, as well as over 328 genetic variants for health and traits. Download a pdf of all included tests Health Tests Acral Mutilation Syndrome (AMS, SN) This genetic variant is associated with an inherited neurological disease characterized by […]

Nominees in Conformation Michael Canalizo Michael Canalizo has spent many years in the Dog Show World as a Breeder/Owner, Professional Handler, turned Judge. His first exposure to his primary breed: the Afghan Hound came in 1961 as a member of “the typical Hobby Breeder family” with their purchase of “Babu Bamn of Grandeur”. He showed […]