Just like the beauty-pageant queen who is a member of Mensa, the Poodle sometimes gets swept away in an unfair stereotype: These perfectly coiffed show dogs are also amazingly smart and versatile. Nicole Sugai of Targa Poodles in Saline, Michigan, knows that firsthand: A second-generation Poodle breeder together with her mom Patti Jason and sister […]

Visit a Conformation dog show, and you'll see hundreds of dogs groomed to the max and striking a well-trained pose. But there are different types of shows.

Sometimes the first breed that you get doesn't end up being "your breed." With an open mind, research, and often, some fate intervening, you can end up...

Since 2012, the AKC Government Relations team has hosted Conferences on Canine Legislation for AKC legislative liaisons and state federation leaders. The popular biennial conference brings together in Raleigh, North Carolina, grassroots leaders from across the country -- from as far as Hawaii to Maine Raleigh, North Carolina for two days of training and networking. […]

Attention Texas dog owners! Rep. Al Edwards of Houston is sponsoring HB1096, a bill which would exempt any cities with a population of over 1.9 million from the current state law prohibiting breed-specific legislation. (Currently this includes the City of Houston only, but rapid growth in Dallas and San Antonio means these cities would be […]

September 16, 2019 An overreaching animal ordinance is back on the agenda for 9/17/19 in Hattiesburg, MS.  The ordinance has been minimally amended, and additional amendments might be added.   However, as of the time of this message, many provisions of concern remain in Draft #3 of the ordinance, and new problematic provisions have been added. […]

The New York Assembly and Senate officially adjourned, resulting in several victories for responsible owners, breeders, and hobbyists in the state. Thanks to your phone calls and emails, bills did not advance that would have regulated hobby breeders, created unclear regulations for dog trainers, or made dangerous and unreasonable changes to the state’s consumer protection […]

The Berkeley Citizens Humane Commission will meet again on Wednesday, May 17th to discuss a proposal to require mandatory spay/neuter of all “pit bulls.” It is vital that responsible dog owners and concerned breeders attend this meeting. Fanciers are also encouraged to contact their representative on the Berkeley City Council to oppose this measure. The […]

Local/Other: Issues at the City, County, and Metropolitan Levels, and in U.S. Territories The AKC Government Relations Department is pleased to assist dog owners with canine legislation issues in their local communities, but we can't help unless we are aware of the proposal. Please contact us at (919) 816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org when new laws are discussed or […]

It is sometimes beneficial in both our personal and our professional lives to step back and take a longer perspective of what we have achieved and what we seek. Our natural inclination is to focus on just today and tomorrow. Today I want to share with you some longer range evaluation of just how AKC […]