This article appears in the November/December issue of AKC Family Dog Magazine. If you tuned into the livestream of the AKC Agility League Championship, you may have spotted a spunky young Poodle in the novice class. Tribute jumped, weaved and tunneled with joy, and his handler Lyndsay Klemens looked just as happy to be running […]

Article Complements of Purina Pro Plan Agility competitors who are eager to sprint to the start line to put titles on their dogs are finding that being on an AKC Agility League team eases the journey. The team agility sport, which began its third year in May 2025, offers an amazing transformation in skills and confidence via […]

Training Tip: Send to a Target  This issue’s tip is from Lindsay Clark of LC’s Competitive Edge Dog Training in Reddick, Fla. Lindsay is owner and trainer of “Sooper Cooper,” an All American Dog who has titles in rally, obedience, agility, scent work, barn hunt, coursing and more. The rescue dog won top scoring mixed-breed at the 2020 AKC Rally National Championship. One of the first things I teach my dogs […]

Rescue Pup Wows the Crowds with Disc Tricks Bonnie Scott adopted Mars as a puppy from a shelter to be a companion. She quickly realized Mars was athletic and smart and needed a job. The two discovered disc and have excelled at UpDog Challenge competitions. AKC began recognizing UpDog titles last year. Read how to […]

  [accordion] [accordion_panel title="AKC Educational Requirements Policy and Recommendations (April 2024 Board meeting; amended May 2025)"] As an additional step in creating a safe and respectful sport environment for all, the AKC Board of Directors approved the following educational requirements policy and recommendations. Effective April 10, 2024: AKC Board of Directors, Inspectors, Field Staff across […]

Deaf dogs can participate in a number of AKC events and dog sports. Learn more about some amazing canine athletes who are deaf and how their trainers work with them.

In observance of the fifth anniversary (April 1) of AKC Canine Partners dogs in competition, we are honoring some of the first top achievers in the program. Woodacre’s Court Jester UD RAE is the first All-American Dog to earn the AKC Rally Advanced Excellent (RAE) title which he achieved on Dec. 29, 2010 – just […]

One-year-old Rainbow was a homeless puppy wandering the streets in Tennessee when she was picked up and turned over to rescue. Retiree Jane Mendleson saw a photo of the little dog and offered to adopt her. Jane, who has trained and shown dogs for many years, has done wonders with the little rescue dog in […]

Above, he enjoys a San Franciso Giants baseball game during the team’s Giants Dog Day at AT&T Park in San Francisco, CA. And this summer, he had a great time at the Bark in the Park event at the Oakland Athletics game (pictured below). Many sports teams now feature regular “dog day” events so owners […]

Many dogs were developed to pull heavy loads to assist their owners. Today, many dogs enjoy the sport of weight pull, which enables dogs to put on a special harness and pull a cart that is loaded with weight, often bags of dog food. Chase, a mixed-breed dog, loves the sport and shows his good […]