Obedience trials demonstrate the dog’s ability to follow specified routines in the obedience ring and emphasize the usefulness of the dog as a companion to humankind. The objective of obedience trials is to recognize dogs that have been trained to behave in the home, in public places, and in the presence of other dogs […]

This program was formulated due to the overwhelming success of the Retriever Hunting Test program. In 1986 Director of Field Trials and Hunting Tests, A. Hamilton (Ham) Rowan, Manager of Performance Events, John Carroll, and AKC Field Representative, Bob Bartel developed the plans for the fledgling Pointing Breed Hunting Test program. The regulations were approved […]

To earn an AKC Therapy Dog™ title, you and your dog must meet the following criteria: Certified/registered by an AKC recognized therapy dog organization. Perform the required number of visits for the title for which you are applying. For your convenience in helping you track your visits, you can use the Therapy Dog Record of Visits […]

OUR TRICK DOG PROGRAM IS OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY AND WE HAVE BEGUN TO PROCESS TITLES. THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN AMAZING! THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE NEW AKC TRICK DOG PROGRAM! FOR ANY INQUIRIES PLEASE CALL 919-816-3819 OR EMAIL: TRICKDOG@AKC.ORG. ***GRANDFATHERING ALLOWED FOR HIGHER DMWYD TITLES***  **Be sure to include both the title application and the […]

AKC’s Herding program offers both tests and trials. The herding test is offered in a non-competitive pass/fail format as an Instinct Test, Herding Test, and Pre-Trial test. All are conducted within a fenced arena and includes the use of livestock such as ducks, sheep, or cattle. During a test, a dog must demonstrate the ability […]

Think of an AKC Rally event as any team sport: You and your dog navigate a course, side-by-side, as you steer him through a course of 10-20 different signs. Each of these signs provides instructions regarding the next skill that is to be performed. The dog and handler move continuously throughout the course with the […]

We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles and honors in Agility, Coursing Ability, Fast CAT, Rally, Obedience, Scent Work, Tracking, and Trick Dog! AGILITY New AGCH (Agility Grand Champion) AGCH MACH4 Gorman's Athena MXB2 PDS MJS2 PJS MFG TQX T2B6 owned by Diane Fairfax Gorman of St. […]

Originally ran in the "Dogsport 101" column of AKC Family Dog Dog sports aren't only for purebreds. Since 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 bragging rights that come with putting an AKC title on your dog? […]

When you and your dog reach the Elite Performer level, you'll need not only to perform high-level tricks, but also act out a story together. The same is true for the AKC Virtual Trick Dog Competition. So, is your dog ready to be the star of their own show? As a fiction author turned dog […]

Leaping over a broad jump, hopping through a hoop, and digging furiously underground to find rats. Add in a sniff-out session, some snappy switchbacks around poles, and a 100-yard dash in tizzy time and it looks like a dog in supersonic shenanigans. If this sounds like a flashy, popular breed who always stands in the […]