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 [...]

Etiquette describes the requirements of behaviors according to the conventions of society. This includes proper conduct that is established by a community for various occasions in everyday life. The recent COVID-19 pandemic forced all of us to alter some form of basic conduct. We stopped hugging and shaking hands when greeting each other and had […]

If you live in a region with harsh winter weather, then you may want to consider a spitz breed. Many of these dogs were bred for life in arctic climates and originated in Scandinavia, Russia, North America, and Asia. The word “spitz” in German means "pointed." Physically, most spitz breeds have a wolf-like appearance that […]

On Monday, June 14, the New Jersey Assembly Agriculture Committee will consider three dog-related bills.  It is imperative that American Kennel Club (AKC)-affiliated clubs in New Jersey, and breeders, owners, and performance dog enthusiasts, contact the members of the New Jersey Assembly Agriculture Committee and respectfully urge them to amend A.1365 and amend S.1258/A.2319. AMEND […]

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 […]

Anyone foolhardy enough to be outdoors in Le Harve, France, on a stormy, windswept evening in October 1789 would have beheld a curious sight: a conspicuously tall, ginger-haired gentleman striding through a soaking rain, urgently searching for something he apparently held quite precious. Onlookers in the old port city might have wondered if he was […]

About AKC Meet the Breeds From Affenpinschers to Yorkshire Terriers and everything in between! AKC Meet the Breeds® is going nationwide this year, giving thousands of dog lovers a unique opportunity to not only meet and play with spectacular dogs but also shop some of the best products the area has to offer. We anticipate […]

Can dogs get poison ivy? Though the plant is extremely bothersome to humans, cases of canines being affected by poison ivy are rare.

Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Alabama – HB 235 would authorize food service establishments to allow pet dogs in outdoor restaurant seating areas and sets out access, sanitation, and other requirements. It also specifies that emotional support animals are not service animals within the meaning of the Americans […]

AKC Government Relations team continues to monitor the US Congress for issues of interest to dog owners. Visit our 2021 Legislation Tracking page and click on “US Fed” on the map to get the latest updates on federal bills currently being monitored by the AKC. Highlights of issues we are currently addressing on the federal level include: […]