PACH Jesse Belle RM RAE MX MXB MXJ MJB MXP4 MXPB MJP3 MJPB PAX XF TKI owned by Cindy Stewart-Mackes of Pedricktown, NJ Jesse Belle was 4 months old when Cindy adopted her and still, at 13 ½ years old, she continues to add titles to an already-impressive resume. The pair will be competing this […]

  Nicole Sieling and her All-American Dog, Lillie, took first place in their division at the 2013 AKC Juniors Agility Competition held in December in Orlando, FL, in conjunction with the AKC Agility Invitational.  Nicole adopted Lillie from a shelter as a puppy, and the two have discovered dog sports together. This was their third […]

Woodacre’s Lucky Dragon CAX owned by Jackie Phillips of San Leandro, CA Palo was born on April 1, 2011, in the Ventura County Animal Regulations animal shelter, in Ventura, CA, after his mom, dad and 30 additional relatives were part of a large-scale humane confiscation. After the court case was closed, Canine Adoption Rescue League […]

PACH Mojo! MX MXJ MJB MXP5 MXPS MJP5 MJPS PAX OF owned by Nancye Scalamandre and Jack Bandel of Roswell GA Mojo has not had an easy life. When he was 18 months old, Nancye and Jack decided to foster him, as he was heartworm positive and the shelter had him scheduled to be euthanized the […]

Jesse Belle and Cindy Stewart-Mackes of  Pedricktown, NJ, placed third in the large dog agility competition. Tack and Rhonda Koeske  of The Villages, FL, placed third in the small dog agility competition. The event took place July 11-12 in Boston, MA, and is a preliminary event for the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge finals that are […]

MACH Hailey Bell CD BN MXB MJB THD & Danielle Oss of Prior Lake, MN Danielle Oss and her family adopted Hailey, a Border Collie-retriever mix, from a shelter in 2008. The following summer on a trip to the Minnesota State Fair, Danielle saw an agility demonstration and knew that she had to try the […]

Emberly CA RATS DM owned by Kathryn Smiley of Kingsport, TN Emberly is a mixed-breed dog also known by Kathryn as “The Very Rare Spotted Dog.” Kathryn first met Emberly as an 8-week-old puppy at Young Williams Animal Shelter in Knoxville, TN, and says “our futures changed forever. With her heart, stamina, and a boundless […]

Emmy is 11 years old, and was adopted from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, UT, in 2008.  At the time, she was an insecure dog who knew very little about being a dog and generally seemed to lack any sense of purpose.  Eventually, she followed another dog in the family into agility classes. It […]

Iyong Tapat Kaibigan CAX5 owned by Stephanie Markgraf of Locust Grove, VA Photo by Kate Renner Kai, a 5 year-old Catahoula Leopard dog mix, loves lure coursing. There is no other way the rescue dog would rather spend his time than chasing the lure around the field. His great skill at the sport had earned […]

Do you have a blind or visually impaired dog at home? Although these dogs can have some challenges getting around at first most dogs adjust quite well...

Dog agility's roots go back to the United Kingdom and the legendary Crufts Dog Show in 1978 but the AKC's first trial wasn't until 1994.

Competing in dog sports allows you to bond with your four-legged friend and gives you the opportunity to create friendships with other dog owners. Your canine companion will also sharpen their mental abilities and stay physically active. Dog sports are a deeply rewarding endeavor — and they're quite fun! Today, hundreds of people with various […]

The AKC Rules for Retriever Trials state that the word "Retriever" includes the several breeds of Retrievers and/or Irish Water Spaniels. Continuing, it says that field-trial clubs formed to improve any one of the several Retriever breeds may hold field-trial stakes in which one or more of the Retriever breeds may compete. The organization of […]

Article Complements of Purina Pro Plan The AKC Agility League has just turned 3 years old. Its triple birthday is a nod to the launch of the pilot season in 2022 and coincides with plans to add an Invitational in 2026 and to recognize the most-improved competitors starting with the Spring-Summer 2025 season. The fast-growing, popular team […]

By Penny Leigh This article originally appeared in AKC Family Dog magazine. Ask Andrea Cobb what it is like to own a Yorkshire Terrier, and she will quickly correct you. “I’m owned by Yorkies,” the Alabama resident quips. “I fell in love with the breed more than 20 years ago when I first met one. […]

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. […]

Thanks to Avery and Mara for sharing their experience in Junior Showmanship. We wish to feature as many juniors as possible, so please send your stories to juniors@akc.org. Avery Miller Hello, my name is Avery Miller and I am 12 years old. I started in the competition dog world with Barn Hunt about 5 years […]

The Spotlight shines on a talented odd couple and their dedicated owner. Frankie is a Miniature Pinscher, and his best friend is Zoe, an Old English Sheepdog. Zoe might be much taller and hairier, while Frankie is smaller and quicker, but both are excelling in agility through the League. Frankie also is a Fast CAT […]

What’s up With the Poodle Club of America Juniors? Well…They are up to learning and achieving and experiencing and forming great friendships with poodles in tow! This year at PCA there were 9 entries in Conformation as well as 2 entries in Obedience and Agility.  Congratulations to EVERY Junior who was able to attend, experience […]

[accordion] [accordion_panel title="American Rottweiler Club Scholarship"] Qualifications for Eligibility The American Rottweiler Club, Inc. offers the Kalyn Rae Bastyr Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 each year in which the ARC Junior Scholarship Committee determines there is a qualified and deserving applicant.  The deadline for the 2017 Scholarship is April 15, 2017.  The winner […]

In July 2024, The AKC Board of Directors voted to establish a policy to require all professional handlers and agents listed in dog show catalogs to successfully complete the Stewards of Children® training from Darkness to Light once every three years effective January 1, 2025. This action followed the AKC Board of Directors’ adoption of […]

It All Starts with Confidence This issue’s training tip is brought to us by Valerie Dietz of O’Fallon, IL. Valerie has learned through experience the importance of building confidence in her dogs.  She has enjoyed much success with her two All-Americans, Sally & Shani, in several sports. Sally, 10, has earned eight MACH titles in […]

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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. […]

Teach Your Dog to Back Up We are repeating the Training Tip from the winter issue because part of it was accidently left out. Our apologies! Many thanks to Mandy Baker CPDT-KA CBATI CCUI, who has been training and competing with All American Dogs for 16 years in rally, agility, scent work, freestyle and more, […]

Fitness Training Basics This month’s tip is contributed by Courtney Holscher, a rehabilitation and acupuncture veterinarian in South Carolina. Courtney is also an agility competitor, who started in the sport in 2003 at the age of 11 with her Cocker Spaniel. She has also run an Australian Shepherd and currently competes with her All American […]

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 […]

  The Chairman's Committee on Conflict of Interest in the AKC and the Sport of Purebred Dogs High Volume Breeders Committee Report to the AKC Board of Directors AKC DNA Advisory Committee's Final Report

The goal of AKC Education is to educate breeders, judges, groomers, trainers, and the general dog-owning public about purebred dogs and the sport of purebred dogs through AKC Canine College, AKC Public Education and the AKC Education Webinar Series. Follow us on Instagram Learn more about each area of AKC Education below. [accordion] [accordion_panel title="About […]

Upbeat, lively, inquisitive, and friendly, the jaunty Russell Terrier was developed by England's "Sporting Parson" for use in foxhunts. The adorable Russell Terrier looks like a plush toy come to life but is an eager, tireless working terrier.