The Regulation Elementary champs: Raindogs are repeat winners from last season! The members live in Ketchikan, Alaska – a remote city located on an island only accessed by boat or plane. They run outdoors year-round and often in the rain as Ketchikan is in a temperate rainforest. Captain Michelle Steed tells us more about how […]

The AKC Agility League recently concluded its eighth season of competition and honored its top teams and competitors. Team champions were named in each of the 10 divisions, including the League’s new division of Elementary for beginner dogs. The AKC Agility League is sponsored by Purina Pro Plan, YuMove and AKC Pet Insurance. The League […]

About AKC Meet the Breeds From Affenpinschers to the Yorkshire Terrier and everything in between, AKC Meet the Breeds® gives pet lovers the unique opportunity to meet and play with more than 150 different dog and cat breeds in booths individually decorated to depict each breed’s country of origin, historical purpose/function, and attributes as a […]

AKC National Owner-Handled Series Finals held in conjunction with the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin Orange County Convention Center Orlando, Florida December 12 & 13, 2026   The AKC National Owner-Handled Series recognizes and showcases the quality dogs being exhibited by owner/handlers and provides a venue for the owner/handlers to compete against their peers. […]

Hello, my name is Celeste Morelli and I am in Juniors. I am in Open Intermediate and I have Standard Poodles! I have been practicing since I was seven years old and I have been showing since I was nine years old. My breed is harder than most, but it is really fun to work […]

By Carol Chittum AKC's newest dog sport offering, Coursing Ability, more than proved its validity to the fancy at the recent Tests hosted by Cascade Coursing Club (all-breed AKC lic. Lure Coursing club) in conjunction with Olympic Kennel Club's all-breed shows. OKC has as a goal, to provide as many performance events as possible so […]

All-Breed Shows All-Breed shows are conformation events that are held for the more than 190 breeds and varieties of dogs recognized by the AKC to compete in, unless otherwise noted on the club's premium list. Also listed under All-Breed are the Group Shows, or shows limited to one of the seven AKC Groups: Sporting, Hound, […]

Kennel must be neat and clean -- free of dirt, fecal accumulation, odors and parasite infestation. Good ventilation and proper temperatures must be maintained within healthful comfortable limits for the dogs. Fencing must be sturdy and well maintained -- being of substantial strength and height to safely secure dogs. Exercise areas must provide adequate shelter […]

2017 AKC Scholarship Recipient Samantha Van Buren I am currently attending the University of Minnesota. I am studying environmental studies and animal science. I plan to pursue a career in these fields. I also plan to stay involved with AKC dog events, as it is my passion and I think I can contribute positively to […]

Twelve-year-old Buddy loves spending vacation weeks by the sea shore in his favorite red, white & blue chair. The 12-year-old Chihuahua-terrier mix looks forward to beach trips with his owner, Michelle Antonio of Benicia, CA. Taking your dog to the beach can be a great way to spend a beautiful summer day. However, as a responsible dog […]

Omri is a Miniature Schnauzer/American Staffordshire Terrier mix that Karen adopted from a shelter when he was just 3 months old. He proved very early on that he was born to be a therapy dog. “Everywhere we go, he makes a beeline toward people, regardless of what else is going on in his environment,” Karen […]

In observance of the fifth year anniversary on April 1, 2015, of AKC Canine Partners dogs in competition, we are looking back at some of the first major achievements in the program. The first mixed-breed dog to win at an AKC national competition was the tiny, adorable Tangle (shown on A-Frame in accompanying photo) who […]

Janie’s Little Loyal Levi CD BN RM RAE AX OAJ XF CGC TKA owned by Janellen Henderson of Amarillo, TX “When I retired after teaching for 38 years, my husband thought I needed a dog to fill my time. A dog! What? Because of several bad experiences when I was a child, I had spent most […]

Ally RAE CGC owned by Viki Smartt of Knoxville, TN In 2010, a friend of Viki’s spotted an addict trying to sell a young puppy on a street corner and immediately knew he had to help. The friend offered the man $4 as that was all he had in his wallet at the time. It […]

Hailey and her owner New York resident Karen Profenna were a wonderful team and not only were successful  in dog sport competitions, but also brought cheer to thousands through their therapy dog work. Hailey’s achievements included winning the top scoring All-American Dog at this year’s Westminster Master Agility Championship. The Beagle- Boston Terrier mix also […]

Five dogs in the AKC Canine Partners program are entered in the 2017 AKC Obedience Classic that takes place Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 16-17, in Orlando, FL, in conjunction with the AKC/Royal Canin National Championship and AKC Agility Invitational. There will be competition at every level of obedience: Novice, Open, Utility and Masters for dogs that qualified […]

Each breed’s health testing requirements originate with a “parent club,” the AKC-recognized national club devoted to a particular breed. To assist breeders in fulfilling these requirements, AKC has compiled the health testing requirements for each breed, organized by group on the left navigation of this page. AKC Breeder Programs that Require Health Testing: Breeders that participate […]

Through December 31, 2016, the AKC collected over 709,000 DNA profiles in its database. The AKC DNA database has samples from 243 AKC and FSS breeds. The top ten breeds that are AKC DNA Profiled are: Labrador Retriever (54,006) Yorkshire Terrier (45,080) German Shepherd Dog (37,606) Dachshund (35,831) Poodle (33,069) Chihuahua (27,373) Golden Retriever (27,292) […]

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 […]

Our Beginnings On September 17, 1884, a group of twelve dedicated sportsmen, responding to a "meeting call" from Messrs. J. M. Taylor and Elliot Smith, met in the rooms of the Philadelphia Kennel Club in that city. Each member of the group was a representative or "delegate" from a dog club that had, in the […]

In our award-winning Down and Back: Stories From the American Kennel Club Archives dog podcast, now in Season Four, host Bud Boccone tells the tales of breeds, dogs, and personalities who’ve shaped America (and Americans) over generations. Using the American Kennel Club's historical records, archival material, oral histories, interviews, and more, the show brings dog […]

Can They Really Get Along?   The AKC Offers Tips to Cat Owners On Introducing a Dog to Your Home  The age-old phrase “fighting like cats and dogs” does not have to be the case. Despite popular belief, canines and felines can, in fact, live together in harmony.  If you’re a cat owner looking to add […]

The AKC Lifetime Achievement Awards were created to recognize those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of purebred dogs on a national level. The recipients were selected by votes cast by AKC Member Clubs for nominees in each of the following categories: Conformation, Companion Events and Performance. The American Kennel Club honors […]

Among the marvels of human ingenuity is the way various breeds of dog were developed, mentally and physically, to tackle specific jobs. Consider the farmer’s eternal war against rodents and other burrowing mammals that devastate grain stores, raid henhouses, tear up fields, dig away riverbanks, and carry disease. As their number-one weapon in subterranean warfare, […]

As legend has it, the roots of the Kerry Blue Terrier harken back to the Spanish Armada. Learn more about the history of the Kerry Blue Terrier.

Is the Scottish Terrier the right breed for your lifestyle? Learn more about this iconic terrier breed and see if they're right for you.

The Miniature Bull Terrier packs mirth and mischief into its 10 to 14-inch body. Not to be confused with the Bull Terrier, a separate breed.

The American Hairless Terrier (AHT) is a small-to-medium-sized terrier that is intelligent and curious. These active and trainable dogs are completely hairless, although some can have whiskers and eyebrows. Here are some fun facts about this truly American dog. 1. The American Hairless Terrier is directly descended from the Rat Terrier, a dog that was […]

The Biewer Terrier is a playful dog, recognized by the AKC in 2021. Learn more about the breed with these Biewer Terrier fun facts.

Kathy Wakefield, from Tualatin, Oregon, grew up with two Rat Terriers — Kelly and Turbo. They were her best friends and learned every trick quickly and willingly. As an adult, Kathy decided it was the right time to get her own dog. She met a few different breeds, but they didn't feel like the right […]