National Champion Beats Out More Than 5,000 Dogs GCHG CH Lagniappe's From The Mountains To The Bayou, a Giant Schnauzer known as “Bayou” triumphed over more than 5,000 competitors 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 18-19, 2021 […]

Why do dogs eat rocks? Understanding why some dogs eat rocks, as well as teaching basic obedience skills, can prevent your dog from doing this dangerous behavior.

At only 18 years old, Madison Schlagel of Magnolia, Texas, has already made a name for herself in the dog world and is active in the Conformation ring. Madison owns and competes with three dogs: a Pointer named Daykene I Just Can't Help Myself ("Vice"), a Newfoundland named GCHB Bear N Mind's I'm Meant For […]

Papillon Learn about Papillons [accordion] [accordion_panel title="Rescue Organizations"] PapAdopters & Placement Service Phone: 248-231-5076 Email: info@papadopters.com Papillon Haven Rescue phone: 501-865-4442 (central time), fax: 501-865-4600 (central time) Email: jorolan@catc.net or jorolan2@yahoo.com Papillon Pals Rescue phone: 904-477-6829 - Tami Steinle Email: papillonpals@comcast.net  [/accordion_panel] [/accordion] Parson Russell Terrier Learn about Parson Russell Terriers [accordion] [accordion_panel title="Rescue Organizations"] Parson Russell Terrier […]

German Pinscher Learn about German Pinschers [accordion] [accordion_panel title="Rescue Organizations"] German Pinscher Club of America [/accordion_panel] [/accordion] German Shepherd Dog Learn about German Shepherd Dogs [accordion] [accordion_panel title="Rescue Organizations"] German Shepherd Dog Club of America German Shepherd Resource and Rescue Center P.O. Box 57 Hathorne, MA 01937 Contact: Stephanie, Info@germanshepherdcenter.org Austin German Shepherd Dog Rescue Blue […]

Thousands of dogs compete at the Westminster Kennel Club Best in Show. Check out some statistics on the breeds and groups who've taken the trophy.

Dog body language involves a series of unique methods for communicating emotions and intentions. It can be quite different from how humans communicate with one another. A lot of canine communication consists of barks, whines, and growls, so it's important to know what dog sounds mean. More often, though, dogs rely on nonverbal body language. That […]

Many first-time puppy owners feel overwhelmed in the early weeks of bringing home their new addition. As a responsible breeder, there is much that can be done to alleviate some of the more common issues owners have with new puppies before you send your precious litters out to their new homes. Addressing common problems before they begin can set your puppies up for success in their […]

WINNER Tracy Dulock & Gryff SEMI-FINALISTS Laura Morefield & Carly Sharon Page & Dash Outstanding Performances from the 2019 AKC Trick Dog National Competition In addition to the competition winners listed above, here are 20 other submissions (in random order). Each of these has something special about the performance. Some of the performances included fabulous […]

Do you need great gift ideas for the dog lovers in your life? You can be sure they’ll appreciate these breed-specific home goods, whether as a hostess gift, to celebrate a special occasion, a holiday present, or just because! Best Dog Home Goods Gifts - Kitchen Best Dog Home Good Gifts - Decor Best Dog […]

We welcome all breeds, including All-American Dogs, to enroll in the AKC PupPals Program. Our goal is to have each breed represented. This allows us to fulfill special requests from children seeking a specific breed. It also allows us to introduce these wonderful, and sometimes rare, breeds to children. We are especially in need of […]

At AKC shows, dogs are organized into 7 groups: Hound, Working, Sporting, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding. Learn about what makes each group unique.

Whether you are just entering the world of purebred dogs or have been a breeder, exhibitor and participant for many decades, joining your local and national dog club is hugely beneficial. You will derive different benefits from different organizations but all will contribute to your ongoing education in the sport. Your Local All-Breed Kennel Club […]

When Caroline Myers moved from New York City to Nashville a few years ago, meeting new people was a priority. "As a military spouse, moving to a new location is always a challenge," the 26-year-old social worker explains. Little did she know that Riley Tucker Myers, her Labrador Retriever, would play a major role in […]

In many ways, our dogs are walking noses. Sniffing is how they make sense of the world, so activities that incorporate their sense of smell are a sure-fire way to make them happy. There are many types of nose work for dogs, from scent work with different organizations to various sports like tracking, Earthdog, or […]

Halloween can be a fun time for children and families. But for dogs, it can be a nightmare. Here's what you can do to prevent a night of frights. Candy is not for dogs. All forms of chocolate—especially baking or dark chocolate—can be dangerous, and even lethal. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning may include vomiting, diarrhea, […]

It’s the time of year when family and friends gather to celebrate Independence Day. Whether you're going to a small, intimate gathering, or a larger party, there is bound to be a variety of foods, drinks, and, of course, fireworks throughout the day. While this sounds like fun to most people, your dog may have […]

Education is paramount to the AKC’s mission. Through education, we preserve history, stay relevant to the needs of today’s dog owners and fanciers, and invest in the future health and well-being of dogs, dog sports, and the human-canine relationship. The AKC recognizes and appreciates the enormous contributions that Parent and All-Breed Clubs give to the […]

The following are the group designations that the current FSS breeds have been assigned. There are currently 83 breeds in the FSS program.  (Revised 7/27/23) Sporting Group - 15 breeds Braque du Bourbonnais Braque Francais Pyrenean Braque St. Germain Deutscher Wachtelhund Drentsche Patrijshond French Spaniel German Longhaired Pointer Large Munsterlander Pont-Audemer Spaniel Portuguese Pointer Pudelpointer […]

As of July 13, 2009, the AKC Board of Directors approved the eligibility of Foundation Stock breeds that meet the below criteria may compete in AKC Companion Events; this will be effective January 1, 2010. Dogs with three-generation pedigrees recorded in FSS® Breed Standard has been submitted As of February 9, 2007, the AKC Board […]

Effective January 1, 2010 Miscellaneous breeds became eligible to compete for the Certificate of Merit.  Congratulations to the first recipients of this new title. Russell Terrier, Frayed Knot Spike, was the first of the eligible breeds to earn a Certificate of Merit in May 2010. SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The breeds listed below were top point holders […]

(updated 5/16/24) 5/09/24 From the May Board Meeting - One new breed was added to the Foundation Stock Service Program – Blue Picardy Spaniel. 4/18/24 From the April Board Meeting - One new breed was added to the Foundation Stock Service Program – Bouvier des Ardennes. 2/12/24 The Presa Canario Club of America will serve […]

Each year, we are proud to recognize and celebrate the men and women who dedicate their lives to improving the health, temperament, and quality of purebred dogs. These breeders are the heart of our organizations and they deserve to be recognized for their incredible work. One breeder is chosen from each of the seven groups […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to recognize breeding programs from the Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups as 2017 AKC Breeder of the Year group honorees. “The breeders honored with this award are truly committed to excellence, consistency, breed standard and type,” said Dennis Sprung, AKC President and CEO.  “They […]

National Champion Beats Dogs from 49 States and Hundreds of International Competitors   GCHB CH Cordmaker Mister Blue Sky, a Puli known as “Preston” triumphed over nearly 5,000 dogs to earn a $50,000 cash prize and the title of Best in Show at the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin, held this weekend in […]

Not a lot has changed regarding the fear and myths surrounding canine epilepsy since the first person observed seizing dogs when animal/human cohabitation started. Throughout history, thousands of people suffering from epilepsy have been killed because they were thought to be possessed by the devil. Sadly, despite all the scientific improvement and understanding of this […]

Swarms of setters, hordes of herders, oodles of Poodles— with the seemingly endless variety of dogs gaiting around AKC show rings, you might assume every breed in creation is represented. Actually, hundreds of breeds from around the world are outside the AKC orbit. Here are just a few:   ESTRELA MOUNTAIN DOG Birthplace: northern Portugal Job […]

There was a time not long ago that nearly every advertisement featuring a child with a dog seemed to include a Lab or a Golden Retriever, consistently among the most popular dog breeds in America. Today, there’s a bit more variety in the breeds being photographed with children for commercial advertising. Perhaps the public perception […]

AKC Gazette breed column, Bearded Collies: Try something new with your dog in 2015 — there's a veritable feast of canine activities out there that he's likely to enjoy. I recently spent a pleasant afternoon cruising on Lake Ontario in a sailboat owned by friends who have two Bearded Collies of my breeding. The Beardies, […]

AKC Canine Health Foundation reaches out to owners of several breeds for participation in important genetic studies. Your dog can help researchers make advances in the study of many canine diseases. Participation is currently needed in the following trials and studies: Immunolight Therapy Clinical Trial for Canine Malignancies Dr. Michael Nolan and his team at […]