You work hard to teach your dog good manners. There’s one area, though, where you probably won’t have much success: Asking them to “stop being so nosey!” It won’t work because your dog's keen sense of smell – which is 100,000 times stronger than humans – makes him naturally “nosey,” and thus innately ideal for [...]

A number of legislative bills have been filed in Maine that could ultimately impact the state's dog breeders and owners.  While some may prove beneficial to responsible dog breeders and owners, other may prove troublesome.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) urges all concerned residents of Maine to learn about the bills detailed below and to […]

New York, N.Y. – Eleven AKC® National Agility Champions, one National Obedience Champion and four AKC Rally® National Competition class winners...   were crowned from an entry of more than 1,600 dogs at the inaugural Companion Events Extravaganza, hosted by the American Kennel Club® (AKC®) this weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma.   “Congratulations to our new […]

More than 1,600 of the nation’s top obedience, agility and AKC Rally® dogs will jump, heel and retrieve their way into Tulsa, Oklahoma for the first-ever Companion Events Extravaganza, hosted by the American Kennel Club® (AKC®) on March 15-17, 2013.   These talented canines will compete in the AKC National Agility Championship, AKC National Obedience […]

In celebration of dogs with good manners at home and in the community, beginning January 1, 2013, passing the AKC®’s Canine Good Citizen® test can be recognized as an official American Kennel Club® title for all dogs. Since the program began in 1989, the CGC® has been considered an “award.” Dogs that passed the 10-step […]

Eligibility Criteria Also Updated   A new Masters Class added to the inaugural AKC Obedience Classic slated for December 2013 in Orlando, Florida, as well as revised eligibility for the Novice, Open and Utility classes, will give more Obedience exhibitors a chance to compete, the American Kennel Club® announced today. “With the eligibility criteria as it was originally established, we […]

Chief Operating Officer John Lyons announces AKC staff promotions as a result of a number of recent retirements in several departments. Doug Ljungren will be promoted to Vice President of the newly consolidated Companion and Performance Events Department effective May 2, 2012. Ljungren has been responsible for all facets of AKC Field Trials, Hunting Tests, […]

The Missouri Senate Agriculture, Food Production, and Outdoor Resources will consider a bill tomorrow that would make several positive changes to the state's laws regarding animal seizure laws. Among these changes is a provision stating that no animal may be intentionally euthanized or sterilized until legal proceedings have been concluded. Missouri dog owners and breeders […]

Iowa Senate committees have approved two measures that would make detrimental changes to the laws regulating commercial breeders, defined in current law as anyone who owns at least four intact dogs or cats and receives any consideration for breeding. While the bills are virtually identical to the ones that were scheduled for consideration last week, […]

Two bills are pending in the Iowa Senate that would impose detrimental requirements on those who are classified as "commercial breeders". In current law, a "commercial breeder" is defined as anyone who owns at least four intact dogs or cats and receives any consideration for breeding. These bills would significantly restrict the ability of those […]