The only breed to rank in the top ten breeds every decade since the founding of the American Kennel Club became the nation’s top breed in the 1950s—the Beagle. Not coincidentally, Charles Schultz’s pet Beagle, Snoopy, made his illustrious first appearance in national newspapers on October 4, 1950, and swiftly became a pop phenomenon. The […]

We hear a lot about the responsibility of the breeder. By breeder, I do not mean those who breed for puppies they can sell quickly; rather, I mean those seriously and carefully breeding dogs of good quality -- people committed to the betterment of the breed. The first responsibility the breeder has is to himself: […]

Every year in conjunction with the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin the general public is given the exciting opportunity to meet (and more importantly, play with!) over 100 different dog breeds at AKC Meet the Breeds. Attendees get the opportunity to learn about the different breeds and find out which dog might be […]

The winners of this year’s photo contest created unforgettable images by placing their models in vivid landscapes. A red barn, for example, provides a perfect backdrop to show the range of Newfoundland colors. Seagrass complements the straight, coarse coat of a tiny brown dog. A German Shorthaired Pointer stands on a rock, staring out at […]

ASK AKC Dear AKC: My Bulldog will soon be having her first litter. What should be included in a puppy kit for the new owners? -- Novice Breeder Needs Dear Novice: A great way to insure a new puppy's continued success with their new family is to provide an abundance of resources for each new owner. As a longtime […]

Here are the AKC's top 10 most popular dog breeds in the 1940s. They range in size, form, function, and groups, among other categories.

Once again, the Labrador Retriever took Raleigh’s top spot in the 2016 ranking of the most popular AKC-recognized dog breeds in the U.S. The Lab was also recognized as the #1 pup in Houston, Kansas City, and Denver. The Havanese was a big mover and shaker in Raleigh, breaking into the top 10 at number […]

Humans have much longer lifespans than dogs. This is a basic fact of dog ownership and one that many owners struggle with when the time comes to say goodbye. While we may wish our dogs could live forever, knowing how long dogs live helps prepare us for their needs as seniors, ensuring that we give […]

Whether you learned about it in history class or, at the very least, from the iconic movie of the same name, there are very few people who don’t know the story of the RMS Titanic, the luxury ocean liner that sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on April 15, 1912. More than 1500 people died […]

The AKC DNA Program is proud to announce the official launch of a new DNA test, AKC DNA + Health. This test combines the original AKC DNA profile with genetic health and traits testing for a powerful breeder tool. The goal of this new test is to satisfy all the needs of breeders with just […]