Press Releases

Heroes, like dogs, come in all shapes and sizes. Since 2000, dog lovers have nominated hundreds of special canines for the AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE).   This year’s ACE nominations are open to all dogs, including purebreds and mixed-breeds.   If you know of a heroic canine that has performed a […]

American Kennel Club Chief Operating Officer John Lyons announces the appointment of Connie Pearcy to the position of Vice President /Chief Information Officer, effective June 18, 2012.     Pearcy, a former AKC staffer, is returning as a result of current VP/CIO Charles Kneifel’s resignation effective June 1, 2012.    Pearcy joined AKC in 1998 […]

More Than 100 Grants in 40 States to Assist Volunteers   The AKC Companion Animal Recovery (AKC CAR) Canine Support and Relief Fund recently awarded $258,000 in grants, the majority to K-9 Search and Rescue (SAR) teams. Since 2002, AKC CAR has proudly supported the crucial role these volunteers play during natural disasters and other […]

Beginning in 2013, the American Kennel Club® (AKC®) will celebrate the top dogs in AKC Companion Events with the “Companion Events Extravaganza,” a multi-day event that will feature Championship events for Obedience and Agility and a new national competition for AKC Rally®.    On March 15-17, 2013 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the National Obedience Championship (formerly […]

AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence Opens 2012 Nominations to All Dogs Heroes, like dogs, come in all shapes and sizes. Since 2000, dog lovers have nominated hundreds of special canines for the AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). This year’s ACE nominations are open to all dogs, including purebreds and mixed-breeds. […]

The American Kennel Club® is pleased to announce that 28 Junior Scholarships have been awarded to students from 19 states. The scholarships for high school, college and graduate school students range from $1,000 to $3,000 for each student. “This year’s recipients have demonstrated academic success as well as impressive AKC involvement and we are happy […]

The AKC Humane Fund, Inc. is pleased to announce the creation of the John Spurling, O.B.E. Scholarship Celebrating the Human-Canine Bond.  Five scholarships will be awarded annually to full-time students enrolled in courses of study that advance responsible pet ownership.  For more information and an application, please visit www.akchumanefund.org. The scholarship is named in honor […]

The AKC Owner-Handler Series launched in January 2012 as a pilot program to celebrate the owner-handlers who are the core of the conformation dog sport and make up the majority of show entries. Based on the positive feedback received from exhibitors, the American Kennel Club® (AKC®) has opened the Series to every All-Breed club. Any […]

Chief Operating Officer John Lyons announces AKC staff promotions as a result of a number of recent retirements in several departments. Doug Ljungren will be promoted to Vice President of the newly consolidated Companion and Performance Events Department effective May 2, 2012. Ljungren has been responsible for all facets of AKC Field Trials, Hunting Tests, […]

Enhanced Guidelines and New Format Provide Best Practices For All Responsible Dog Owners As the only purebred dog registry in the country with an ongoing kennel inspection program, the American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is proud to announce recent enhancements to its Care and Conditions of Dogs policy.  Since 2000, AKC has conducted more than 55,000 […]