The Azawakh is one of the AKC's newest recognized breeds, becoming officially AKC-recognized in 2019. These tall and elegant sighthounds — known for their athleticism — are the passion of Kayley Paylor of In Stride Azawakh & Training. Paylor has fallen in love with the breed and she has been breaking records with her pack of […]

The cancellation of swaths of AKC events as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has left many of us wistful and impatient for their return. With no shows to enter and plenty of absence to make the heart grow fonder, I found myself pondering what I got out of them in the first place. 1. […]

Jupiter Piquet, from Pinellas Park, Florida, is competing in the 2025 AKC Rally National Championship at Purina Farms in St. Louis, MO. When Piquet was...

Are you inspired to figure out which sport you should do with your dog? When your dog participates in sports, they will improve and maintain their physical fitness level, sharpen their mental acuity, and build their bond with you. Doing sports with your dog also has benefits for you! Dog sports can help you improve […]

Drafting, or carting, is a sport most commonly associated with large draft breeds like Bernese Mountain Dogs and Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs. But all breeds can compete in the sport – and many dogs enjoy pulling their own weight plus! Former shelter dog Dino, formally known as Woodacre’s Court Jester, recently became the first mixed-breed […]

Flopdoodle Chloe Bean CGC TKE VHMA owned by Christina & Gary Jones of Stafford, VA was one of two finalists in the 2022 AKC Trick Dog Competition. This fourth annual competition was a virtual event open to Elite Performers, AKC's highest level of trick dogs. There was also a Junior division for people ages 17 […]

(photo above by Crystal Creek Designs/Kim Langevin) Kurt was a homeless dog, turned in as a stray to the Humane Society of Sarasota County (FL), which is where Amy and Wade discovered him and adopted him. They quickly realized that Kurt was a very smart dog who wanted a job. “Kurt has an inquisitive mind […]

Consistent with the AKC’s ongoing efforts to grow the AKC National Owner-Handled Series (NOHS) program and the sport overall, the American Kennel Club (AKC®) has launched the AKC National Owner-Handled Series Levels of Achievement that offers Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum recognition to exhibits obtaining a predetermined number of NOHS points for each level of […]

Like many young people who have become involved in dog showing, I first heard about it from others.  In my case, I learned a lot about it when I was in sixth grade and did a project for one of my teachers, who enjoyed raising and showing dogs.   That’s when I knew that it was […]

AKC Patch Program The AKC Patch Program is an interactive "scavenger hunt" hosted by clubs at a dog show. Youth groups and children are invited to attend a club's show to complete the Patch Program and learn about purebred dogs, AKC dog sports, and responsible dog ownership. Upon completion, participants receive an iron-on AKC Patch […]