Game of Thrones may be over, but dogs and dog lovers around the world are still feeling the show's repercussions. For eight years, more than 30 million viewers watched dire wolves protect the Stark family. For many viewers, Ghost, Summer, Nymeria and pack's intelligence, fierce loyalty, and imposing stature were more than entertaining: it inspired them […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®) joins the world of online learning with the launch of AKC Canine College -- an initiative that will extend robust, interactive learning content to breeders and judges, adding subject matter for groomers and trainers in the near future. Anyone interested in learning more about the dog world will find a […]

Meet four representatives of the Working Group, blue-collar dogs with strength and smarts, and understand why responsible breeding of working dogs is particularly important.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) honored New Jersey Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney with the AKC Legislator of the Year award in recognition of his strong advocacy for responsible dog ownership. Sheila Goffe, AKC Vice President, Government Relations; Jeffrey Ball, President of the New Jersey Federation of Dog Clubs; and representatives of area AKC dog […]

Golden Retrievers — We now have the benefit of “clearance” testing and the mapped canine genome that could help guide intelligent crossbreeding decisions and the possibility that new breeds might eventually be developed. In the 19th century, as gentleman farmers and sportsmen kept breeding records of their canines and began to exhibit the best of their […]

This July, federal policy has been heating up. AKC Government Relations has been working to educate Congress on the many problems and concerns with two bills that could negatively impact dogs and responsible breeders. One-size-fits all mandates such as the Puppy Protection Act (HR 1624) may sound great on the surface, but they are problematic […]

From Our Nation's Capitol Although neither chamber is in session this week, the AKC Government Relations team continues to monitor Congress for issues of interest to dog owners. Visit our 2019 Legislation Tracking page and click on “US Fed” on the map to get the latest updates on federal bills currently being monitored by the AKC. Highlights […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC) honored New Jersey Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney with the AKC Legislator of the Year award in recognition of his strong advocacy for responsible dog ownership. Sheila Goffe, AKC Vice President, Government Relations; Jeffrey Ball, President of the New Jersey Federation of Dog Clubs; and representatives of area AKC dog […]

The results of several elections may still not be official, but our outreach as responsible dog owners, exhibitors, and breeders needs to begin now. Many states elected a large number of new lawmakers on the federal, state, and local levels – most of whom likely know very little about canine legislation. Most state legislatures will […]

Earlier this month, the Legislature of the Canadian Province of Nova Scotia passed Bill 27, an “Act to Protect Animals and to Aid Animals in Distress” proposed by the province’s Minister of Agriculture.  According to the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), Bill 27, which awaits Royal Assent to become effective, removes the rights of animal ownership […]