When we think about the activities of our dogs, usually we picture their play, their “jobs” or their quiet repose on our laps or couch. However, in all animals the ability to stand quietly at rest is critically important for health and soundness. Many dog owners don’t realize that the reason their dogs flop down […]

Jenny and Brian Beadling had no idea they were raising a prodigy.Their German Shorthaired Pointer, Limoncello, never took to the sport her breed is known for—hunting—because she had a fear of guns. But she still had that GSP high drive, which she’d exert by jumping off the dock of the family’s lake house to retrieve […]

It’s one of the great dog-themed anthems of rock ’n’ roll, but up until the last minute “Hey Bulldog” was supposed to be about a frog. It was early February 1968, as the Beatles were preparing for their fateful trip to India to meditate with the Maharishi. Pressed for time, and with a commitment for […]

Therapy Dogs Can Help During Stressful Court HearingsCertified therapy dogs have proven their worth in providing comfort to seriously and terminally ill people. But therapy dogs have also ventured into the courtroom to help crime victims cope with the prospect of giving testimony. Twenty-six states now have programs in which therapy dogs are working in […]

Big dogs equal big love and loyalty. Here are the large dog breeds that earn their place at the top of the size chart. Most people will know the Great Dane but what about the lovely Leonberger? When considering getting a dog, size is a factor, but only one of them. The dog’s personality, activity […]

Dogs that can be considered of medium size can be found in most of the AKC’s seven groups. Whether it’s the energetic Shetland Sheepdog, the sporty spaniels, or the laid back Bulldog, there is a range of temperament and appearance within this size category. When considering getting a dog, size is a factor, but only […]

The Morris & Essex Kennel Club dog show taking place October 1 at Colonial Park in Somerset, New Jersey, will continue a historic tradition in the dog world, harking back to the legendary shows of the early to mid-20th century that were hosted by Mrs. Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge on the grounds of her estate. From […]

by Ranny Green via the Seattle Kennel Club. You can’t blame 9-year-old Luke Gonzalez, of Yelm, if he feels like he’s on overload some days. He attends physical and speech therapy classes once and twice each week, respectively, takes guitar lessons weekly, attends a church youth class weekly and is home schooled along with his […]

Our pack is getting bigger and bigger! The American Kennel Club has given four additional breeds AKC recognition, bringing the total number of recognized breeds to 184.Allow us to introduce you to:Cirneco dell’EtnaThe Cirneco dell’Etna hails from Italy and joins the Hound group. The Cirneco is a hunter that works by scent, sight, and hearing. The breed has […]

Saying goodbye to our pets is always gut-wrenching. And as much as it breaks our hearts, we love when we hear stories of owners who go above and beyond to make their pet's time on earth extra special.  Jordan Greene Roberts of Houston, Texas, took exactly that approach to her beloved dog's (Duke's) death. She filled Duke's last day with […]

The Labrador Retriever has done it again. The intelligent, family friendly breed held onto the number one spot on the most popular list for the 24th consecutive year, continuing the longest reign as the nation’s top dog in American Kennel Club history. For the full list of breed rankings, click here. While the Lab holds strong, […]

Tioga County Kennel Club honored two officers and their K-9s in a special presentation at their all-breed show on Sunday, August 21, 2016 in Apalachin, New York. The Tioga County Kennel Club has been a proud supporter of the Southern Tier Police Canine Association for several years and has donated over $5,000 to their organization. […]

July 14 is Bastille Day, when France and Francophiles the world over commemorate the start of the French Revolution in 1789. The AKC joins the celebration in just the way you’d expect—with dogs. Here’s a roundup of some AKC breeds developed in France, plus a few that are French by tradition if not by birth. […]

It is always a tremendous honor to be asked to judge at one of the big, prestigious shows. It’s a thrill. One thing that makes it so is that these shows tend to draw dogs of excellent quality, and it’s always a pleasure to go over quality dogs. When you’re judging a televised show, you […]

By Betty-Anne Stenmark "Reprinted with permission from Dogs in Review and author Betty-Anne Stenmark, from the May 2015 issue of Dogs in Review magazine." Fifteen years ago I applied for a volunteer coordinator position at an animal shelter. Before my interview, I asked myself, "What do you know about being a volunteer coordinator?” Finally it dawned on me; I […]

When we did agility with our dog, we drove 2.5 hours one way to take lessons from a world-class trainer. I have a friend in Houston who starts a 2-hour drive across Houston in 5 o’clock traffic to get to the best training school she could find. So when we surveyed 3500 dog owners and discovered […]

The sounds of "Stars and Stripes Forever" were blaring from a CD player in the backyard and children splashed in the pool. Matthew and Susan were hosting their annual Fourth of July cookout. As guests arrived in festive red, white and blue attire, they would ring the doorbell and immediately hear a few quick barks […]

Ask AKC  Dear AKC: I recently adopted a seven-month-old Bernese Mountain Dog. He is approximately 64 pounds. He knows sit and down but he tends to jump up a lot and also I have no control when he is on a leash. I would like to be able to take him for walks instead of the […]

Ask AKC  Dear AKC: I have two Siberian Huskies. We got our female at 14-weeks-old about a year ago and recently we added a 3-year-old male. We would like to have her in the house more but she absolutely will not settle down even with toys and our undivided attention. Outside, she digs, chews, and […]

In 1990 I walked into an indoor arena at the CCA national specialty with my Collie Perry and tried something we’d never done before, we’d entered the Herding Test level of one of the very first AKC Herding Trials. Neither one of us had ever even seen sheep before! The judges helped us out, and […]

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, 47-year-old FDNY Fire Marshal Ronald Bucca contacted his wife to say that he was heading to the scene of New York City's World Trade Center, where a plane had crashed into Tower One. By the time he arrived, a second plane had crashed into WTC Tower Two, where […]

Staying competitive out of state while competing in Alaska is not as easy as it may sound. Sixteen-year-old Junior Handler Destiny Lytle can confirm that. Growing up a resident of Palmer, Alaska, she’s had to deal with some extreme weather while still maintaining a high level of competitiveness. Destiny says that the average Alaskan sporting […]

There is a general movement within the dog world that has breeders and their clubs looking for new ways to make breed improvements. This is occurring because of the growing arsenal of tools available to breeders and their clubs. Given these conditions, the opportunity for making improvements is well within the reach of most clubs […]

Research Indicates that Some Dogs Can Emulate Their Owner’s ActionsSome dogs are copycats. Experiments indicate that some breeds are capable of emulating the actions of their owners. "Where did my dog learn that?" The next time you ask yourself that question, take a look in the mirror. A study published in “Proceedings of the Royal […]

Capturing Your Dog's AttentionYou might not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, as the cliché says, but you can teach almost any dog to obey basic commands, trainers and handlers agree. It's best to begin training a dog at the puppy stage. Start when the puppy is about seven weeks old and […]

A Minnesota dog was reunited with her family earlier this week after she had been missing for 985 days. The Great Pyrenees, Betty White, ventured into the woods of her owners' 13-acre property on Nov. 16, 2013 and failed to return home, devastating her family. We had the opportunity to connect with Betty White's owner, […]

Meet Willey Boy and Cheswick, two Old English Sheepdog buddies who are registered Pet Partners therapy teams in Bellingham, Washington. Willey and his handler, Barb Webb, have been a registered therapy team since 2010 with more than 300 hours donated. Cheswick and his handler, Judy Davis, have been a therapy team since 2013 and have […]

Last weekend, a Sussex Spaniel, named Duncan, made a huge splash at a North American Dock Diving event in Greensboro, North Carolina, becoming the first of his breed to earn an AKC Dock Diving Novice title and AKC Dock Diving Junior title. Dogs have been able to earn AKC titles in this water sport since June […]

The War DogIt was May of 1966, and Ron Aiello was on his first patrol as a new Marine, leading an inspection of two villages in Vietnam. His military working dog, Stormy, walked ahead of him with the other Marines following at a distance. As they reached a clearing, Stormy suddenly stopped. Aiello bent down […]

No one has to convince Linda Hickey of the incredible effect dogs can have on children with autism. She's seen it first-hand with her son Jonny and his dog Xena the Warrior Puppy. Xena, a pit bull, had been abused and neglected, and barely survived before being taken in by an animal welfare organization and later brought home with […]