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 […]

Congratulations on making the decision to welcome a new furry friend into your home. Just as it’s important to ask breeders questions about their practices before purchasing a puppy, it’s equally important to do a little digging before rescuing a dog from a shelter. Here are some pre-adoption questions to ask to make sure the […]

As 2024 moves quickly through the first quarter of the year, it’s easy to get focused on the next big thing.  Afterall, AKC is hosting the Detection Dog Conference again in July, which requires significant effort and focus to ensure a quality event.  However, 2023 was a banner year for the AKC Detection Dog Task […]

Gregor Mendel, father of modern genetics, was a meticulous record keeper. “It was there that he grew 28,000 pea plants during the period from 1856 to 1863. He kept careful records of his crossbreeding experiments and recorded each individual plant’s height, pod shape, flower location and color, and seed shape and color.” The Patriotic Puppy Program opened […]

The Communications staff is available to assist any working member of the news media. If you are not a journalist and are looking for assistance with AKC papers, registration, finding a breeder, DNA kits or any customer service related inquiries, please call our Customer Service center at: 919-233-9767. Our representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8:15 […]

By Jo Ann WhiteThere are many good reasons to buy a well-bred purebred dog from a responsible breeder. The first, of course, is predictability. You will know whether you are getting a breed that exemplifies what you want from a dog, rather than an albeit cute puppy who could grow up to be something other […]

News reports say puppy buying is at an all-time high, but you have not received many communications about your new litter. Then the phone rings and a buyer is on the line. They are outraged, demanding to know why they have not received a puppy even though they paid a deposit. When you can get […]

Summer has arrived, and most of the country is experiencing hot, muggy weather. I hope these ideas will help protect your home, kennel, and dogs from summer hazards. Check daily for ticks. The reports are in, and ticks are bad this year!  Be careful and make sure you visually and physical examine your dogs daily […]

The AKC PAC educates federal and state legislators about the rights of responsible dog owners. The PAC is nonpartisan, and collects voluntary contributions from individuals. Donated money is used to support legislators and legislative candidates who defend dog owners' rights and can influence legislation that affects pet owners. AKC appreciates reasonable and enforceable laws that […]

As a dog trainer, Karissa Solberg had worked with many different breeds and mixes. But she had never seen anything quite like the little dog that walked into her basic obedience class one night in 2008. The cute prick-eared canine looked like a miniature husky. “I was enthralled with the dog, and her owner was […]