There are several required steps to becoming an AKC Tracking Judge. Please review all the material and links below. Once you have read the information, if you have additional questions please email tracking@akc.org To qualify as an applicant to judge TD/TDU or TDX Tests — you must have: TD/TDU - Personally owned, trained, and handled two (2) […]

If you would like to join the fun of retriever hunt tests, this introduction will help you get started. What does your dog have to do? Retriever hunt tests are offered at three test levels. Junior, Senior and Master. Beginner handlers and dogs should start at the junior test level. Any dog that is an […]

After her dad needed to have major surgery, ten-year-old Natalie Higginbotham of Minneapolis, Minnesota, took over handling his dog "Max" in Scent Work.

Finding the perfect dog can sometimes be difficult. With so many options, how do you know which is right for you? The American Foxhound is described as an independent, easy-going, and sweet-tempered dog. George Washington owned many of this dog breed, and was a key player in the breed's development to what it is today.  […]

Meet "Trevor" the Saluki, who was born in the breed's homeland of Iran. He's now a Fast CAT competitor, and one of the top-ranked Salukis across the board.

15-year-old Sophie Weaver, from Parrish, Florida, is one of the brightest young talents on the US competitive agility circuit. Despite this, she remains remarkably humble about everything she and “Violet,” her 4-year-old Shetland Sheepdog, have achieved together. At the AKC Agility Premier Cup in Philadelphia this June, the teenager will stand out for being the […]

  A Conformation dog show...in a mall?! Who's ever heard of such a thing? We hadn't until we learned about "Match in the Mall" held by the Abilene Kennel Club in Abilene, Texas. The club held this small "match" to bring the wonder and excitement of the sport of purebred dogs to the public, and […]

Lenore Hedemark, a 14-year-old from North Carolina, is the number-one American Hairless Terrier Junior Handler for the past two years. As an up-and-coming show photographer and active competitor, Lenore began showing dogs at 11 years old. She stepped into the ring for the first time with her aunt's ex-racing Greyhound registered with a Purebred Alternative […]

Showing dogs—the formal term for it is “Conformation”—is a sport. Like any football game or tennis match, dog shows have rules, too. But folks who sit on the sidelines can easily become bewildered if they don’t understand how guidelines apply to the game at hand. Whether you’re taking aim at a fastball or trotting with […]

We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles in Agility, Coursing Ability, Rally, Obedience, Scent Work, and Tracking. Many of you have had great success taking advantage of AKC’s Virtual Titling programs too!   Agility Master Agility Championships (MACH)  Multiple Master Agility Champions Congratulations to these dogs who have earned more MACHs: AGCH […]