Jerry RAE BN GN owned by Emily Kocon of St. Paul, MN Jerry was adopted from a small shelter in Minnesota back in 2006. He is my first competitive performance dog and he has taught me patience, diligence and humility. I started taking him to obedience classes just to learn the basics. We both enjoyed […]

Judges that apply to judge Scent Work are first approved for provisional status and can begin judging Novice and Advanced levels only for all elements and Handler Discrimination. After meeting further requirements, provisional judges can progress to approved status for Novice and Advanced only and will receive provisional status for higher levels - Excellent, Master […]

      Welcome Michelle Persian – Director of Agility We are pleased to announce that Michelle Persian has been named Director of Agility for the American Kennel Club. Michelle brings extensive experience in AKC Agility to this role. Most recently, she served as an AKC Agility Field Representative, where she worked closely with clubs to […]

Obedience training may just be the best gift you can give yourself, your family, and your pet. It teaches your dog appropriate social behavior with both people and animals; helps correct annoying behaviors like jumping, digging, barking, and chewing; and keeps your dog entertained and happy. A win-win all around! When to Start Training The […]

This issue’s Spotlight shines on a very special young dog who has overcome so much, including being a rescue dog and battling cancer. Aspen, a rescue Australian Shepherd, was diagnosed with GI Lymphoma in late 2021, but thanks to great medical care and the love of her owner, Jan Flatten, she is fighting back and […]

Thank you to Luke, Lexi, Rachel, Savanna and Rebecca for sharing their experiences. Have your own story? Submit it to juniors@akc.org. [accordion]   [accordion_panel title="Luke Edmonson"] Yesterday Luke and Apple competed in the MN State 4-H Dog Show. Here they are at the end of their day. The got Reserve Champion in Foundation Obedience grades […]

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

Competition/Titles Update We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles in Agility, Coursing Ability, Rally, Obedience and Tracking. This past quarter delivered an All-American Dog winning a division of the AKC National Agility Championship and the first ever Versatility Companion Dog Level 3 (VCD3)! AGILITY AKC National Agility […]

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

Meet Piper Hall: Competing Should Always be Fun for the Dog Piper enjoys several sports with her young dog, Gracie, and competing in the AKC Agility League has helped them build skills and confidence that have carried over to those sports. She likes that it offers a way to train and compete without the pressure […]