If you would like to join the fun of retriever hunt tests, this introduction will help you get started. What does your dog have to do? Retriever hunt tests are offered at three test levels. Junior, Senior and Master. Beginner handlers and dogs should start at the junior test level. Any dog that is an […]

We'd like to answer as many of your questions as we can before you attend, exhibit, or volunteer at AKC Meet the Breeds events! Whether you're coming as an attendee or participating as a volunteer, please find our most Frequently Asked Questions to help you get the information you need. I'm Attending AKC Meet the […]

To earn the AKC Therapy Dog™ title, you and your dog must have completed at least 10 therapy visits. These visits must be documented with time, date, location, and a signature of a staff person at the facility (e.g., school, hospital, etc.). This documentation can be achieved by submitting one of the following: Therapy Dog […]

Mannheim, Germany July 10-12, 2026 https://www.jaosao2026.com/ News and Updates February 3, 2026 - Docked Dogs Dogs with docked tails or cropped ears are not permitted to participate in the competition, unless a veterinary certificate confirms that – the docking was medically necessary in the individual case, or – in the case of hunting dogs, docking was […]

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 […]

When comes to creating desire for the reward object there are only two approaches. The first is to make use of a young dog’s desire to play and the second is to train the dog to engage the reward object. Play is much easier to use and develop. Using food motivation or negative reinforcement to […]

The AKC works with several non-AKC service and sports organizations to recognize the titles that AKC-registered dogs earn in their programs. This includes the AKC Therapy Dog titling program and the AKC Search & Rescue title program. AKC also recognizes titles of the Barn Hunt Association (BHA); North American Diving Dogs (NADD); the North American […]

Below you will find upcoming breeder seminars and webinars. If you have a suggestion for a breeder seminar (in person or virtual) that we should include on this list, please email us at education@akc.org. Date Location Seminar Name and Link Additional Information January 18, 2023 6:00pm Online Webinar Disorders of Sexual Differentiation By Bruce Christensen, […]

Five years ago – on April 1, 2010 – the American Kennel Club opened competitions in AKC Agility, AKC Rally & AKC Obedience to mixed-breed dogs. Since that date, thousands of All-American Dogs have earned AKC titles and qualified and won in the AKC national events. Congratulations to all the winners in the program and […]

If it seems that your dog sleeps a lot, don't worry. It is natural. Most dogs sleep an average of 12 to 14 hours a day - puppies sleep even more! Unlike people, who mostly sleep in one large block of time, dogs spread their snoozing through the day in "dog naps." It seems that Rowdy […]