Here’s a newcomer’s guide to the basics of watching a dog obedience competition — including a breakdown of classes and scoring. 

So many parts of our daily lives have changed in the past few years. While our favorite dog activities — from classes and seminars to shows — have resumed safely, there are now some permanent virtual training options that you can do from the comfort of your home or on vacation. You and your dog […]

A common question we hear from dog lovers is "Does the AKC like mixed breeds?" The AKC stands for the love of all things dog, including mixed breeds.

Finding an AKC Sport that Fits Your Mixed-Breed DogSince 2010, the AKC has awarded thousands of titles to mixed-breeds. Why shouldn’t your clever, athletic mix join the fun? And why shouldn’t you enjoy the dog-park bragging rights that come with putting an AKC title on your dog? Here’s an overview of the competitions. Obedience Dog-and-handler […]

How many tricks does your dog know? Once your dog knows a few different tricks you can start to put together a small routine. Trick routines are a great...

Tricks are a great way to keep your dog's mind and body conditioned. Here's how to prepare and train for an AKC Trick Dog Competition.

The individual journeys that dogs and their handlers take to the American Kennel Club Obedience Classic in Orlando follow a variety of paths. Whether their goal is to achieve a perfect performance or to build an enduring relationship, their hard work will be on display when they compete on December 15 & 16. All 243 […]

Most dog owners know the enjoyment and sense of accomplishment that comes from teaching their dog a trick or two. Trick training is fun for humans and dogs; dogs enjoy learning tricks and earning rewards for their success. And it's a great teamwork experience for both. But did you know that AKC Trick Dog is […]

The AKC Breeder of Merit program was introduced in October 2010. Since that time, more than 13,000 breeders have been enrolled. The program was developed to recognize those breeders that are the foundation of our sport through their participation in various AKC events and dedication to selective breeding of healthy purpose-bred purebred dogs. The Basic […]

We break down the basics of AKC Rally, a sport centered around teamwork that requires a handler and their dog to complete a series of specific skills.