The end of June brought with it the closure of Oregon’s 2025 legislative session. A bill that the American Kennel Club (AKC) has tracked closely, SB 1076, did not advance to the finish line. In fact, it did not make it out of the chamber in which it was introduced. SB 1076 would have directed […]

Summary: On Tuesday, June 24, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors advanced a proposal that will significantly overhaul the county’s animal ordinance code. The ordinance includes new breeding permitting requirements for breeding as few as one dog.  It is unclear if this applies solely to breeding females, or if it applies to stud dogs as […]

Last night, the New York Assembly adjourned, officially ending the New York 2025 legislation session with many positive results for dogs and dog owners in the state: Hobby Breeder Licensing/Commercial Regulations Did Not Advance: Thanks to the partnership with the NY Federation,  Associated Dog Clubs of New York State (ADCNYS) and the many hobbyists who […]

Earlier this month, the Rhode Island (RI) House introduced H. 6383 as a companion to the Senate bill that seeks to change the state’s  “hobby breeder” definition. For the bill’s June 10 public hearing, the American Kennel Club (AKC) submitted testimony that highlighted concerns and requested the House Corporations Committee amend the bill with text […]

Legislation is likely to move any time in the New York legislature that could force virtually every hobby breeder in the state to be licensed, inspected, and regulated as pet dealers. As mentioned in a previous alert, Senate Bill 8252 and Assembly Bill 8653 include some clarifying language to address the ban on dog and […]

Two Rhode Island (RI) bills of concern to the American Kennel Club (AKC) have been amended before being passed by the State Senate. Earlier this week, the State Senate delayed its scheduled vote on S. 325, “Animal Care”, which sought to further restrict the state’s definition of “hobby breeder”. Yesterday, before passing the bill, the […]

The AKC Breeder of Merit program celebrates your dedication to maintaining breed standards and ensuring your AKC-registrable puppies find loving homes. Your work as a breeder is vital to upholding AKC’s mission, and you play a crucial role in preserving the legacy of your beloved breed. This is why, as a Breeder of Merit, your […]

Introduction In many breeding programs, genetic health testing has become an essential part of responsible dog breeding. One concept frequently used by breeders is “Clear by Parentage” (CBP). This designation indicates a puppy inherited two normal copies of a genetic variant because both parents tested “clear” for a known disease-associated variant. While this can be […]

Summer is here, and that means fun at the lake or in the pool! Dogs and puppies need exciting new toys to keep things interesting. Flat-shaped toys are safer than balls for retrieving in water, and Tractor Supply has a great selection including the Retriever Ballistic Covered Durachew Boomerang, the Tractor Supply Floating Flyer Dog […]

A Bolognese Breeder for over 10 years, Ikuko Hisaka fell in love with the breed as soon as she first held a Bolognese puppy in her arms.