Whether you remember Petey from The Little Rascals, Lassie and Timmy, Benji, Beethoven, or Clifford the Big Red Dog, images of kids hugging and kissing dogs are burned into our minds. For dog trainers, that imagery makes us cringe. We’ve seen some of the painful results of such interactions in real life—the kinds that won’t […]

Kanga, a 15-year-old Australian Cattle Dog, is one of the oldest dogs competing in the 2023 National Agility Championship.

It wasn’t exactly the tender, affecting environment for love at first sight. But when double lower amputee Marine Sgt. (ret.) Patrick Brown and an anxious German Shepherd Dog puppy Drea first cast eyes on each other in August 2017, a union of soul mates was established. That dream moment occurred at a Mutts With A […]

Reba's Fancy Red Heart BN RI FDC CA BCAT ACT2 SWNE SWM SCME SIEE SHDE THDN CGCA CGCU TKI owned by Barbara Bumcrots of Maumee, OH Reba, Barbara’s first rescue dog, came from the Golden Retriever Rescue Resource from Toledo, OH. Apparently, her father was a golden, but her mother must have been a Toller. […]

Thank you to Izzy, Blair, and Jack for sharing their experiences. Have your own story? Submit it to juniors@akc.org. [accordion]   [accordion_panel title="Izabelle Burg"] When I was 10 and Shiloh was 3 months old, she came to live with us. Mom said we needed to bond, so I slept with Shiloh so I had to […]

Printed with permission from Purina Pro Plan AKC Agility League course designer Ashley Deacon loves to inspire people to build positive connections with their dogs. He believes one of the best ways to do that is through the sport of dog agility. “Agility is a great way to have a good relationship with your dog. […]

The Spotlight shines on one of the rarest breeds competing in League this season – the Croatian Sheepdog. The breed is in the AKC Foundation Stock Service, moving towards recognition. Liya hails from her home country of Croatia, and her owner, Lorie, was inspired to get the breed because of her own heritage. Her father […]

AKC National Detection Dog Conference Returns to Durham, NC August 14, 2026 The American Kennel Club’s National Detection Dog Conference returned to Durham, North Carolina, August 4–6, 2026. The conference brought together researchers, breeders, trainers, veterinarians, law enforcement professionals, and industry experts to discuss advancements and challenges across the detection dog field. Pre-conference activities began […]

Responsible Dog Ownership Time: 45-55 minutes Resources Needed: Sticky Notes Responsible Dog Owner's Tip Sheet 2 Cones (or similar item) 2 (or more) Plush Dogs (preferably different breeds) Required Materials: Food Dish, Dog Food, Leash, Bed, Brush, Collar, ID Tag Random Items for Relay (i.e. textbook, board eraser, etc.) Responsible Dog Ownership Bookmarks Bailey Goes […]

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 […]