In an effort to help the puppy-buying public find responsible breeders of AKC registered puppies, the Board has approved a program whereby clubs can easily and proactively promote the AKC brand, AKC registration and AKC breeder referral through local classified advertising. This initiative which we have dubbed, "Demand AKC Papers" asks clubs to place classified […]

The American Kennel Club has been advocating for purebred dog owners since our founding in 1884. Yet in 1990 we stepped up our efforts in the political arena with the formation of the Canine Legislation department. Now the time has come again for AKC to further enhance our role in protecting owners' and breeders' rights. […]

Last month in my Chairman's Report I reported on a pending threat to purebred dog ownership in California: Assembly Bill 1634 would require the mandatory spay or neuter of dogs 4 months or older unless an intact dog permit is purchased through local authorities. Should this bill become law, I fear it could be a […]

A myriad of challenges and responsibilities face your Board of Directors and management everyday.  Maintain a registry with the highest integrity so necessary to AKC breeders.  Support and supervise the nearly 20,000 AKC approved events held every year.  Lead the fight for improving the health and welfare of our dogs.  Provide support and leadership in […]

As an organization of dog lovers, we have all been deeply impacted by the news of NFL quarterback Michael Vick's federal indictment for alleged involvement in the illegal and barbaric "sport" of dog fighting. While this story is distressing and brings up intense emotions in all of us, there is a silver lining. It is […]

It is sometimes beneficial in both our personal and our professional lives to step back and take a longer perspective of what we have achieved and what we seek. Our natural inclination is to focus on just today and tomorrow. Today I want to share with you some longer range evaluation of just how AKC […]

Dogs initially earned the moniker "man's best friend" as a result of their work alongside man as hunter, herder, or guardian. Today's canine may have dwindling duties on the farm and in the field but a new role has emerged, taking simple companionship a step further and becoming a full fledged family member. Like our […]

In the 1950s, the Poodle skirt as a fashion trend embodied the popularity of the number one AKC® registered breed. And if the recent media attention surrounding the release of AKC's 2006 Registration Statistics is any indication, not only does the Labrador Retriever reign supreme, but the purebred dog remains one of the most popular […]

The American Kennel Club is the only purebred dog registry which mandates both registration as well as care and condition quality control standards enforced through ongoing rigorous inspections of AKC Breeders. In 1991, the AKC’s Compliance Department came into its own, going beyond the complaint-based system of investigations to mandatory inspection for certain AKC breeders.  […]

The Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE) reaches out to the public in a compelling way like no other AKC awards program. It's about more than great dogs and dedicated people, it's about their relationship with each other. And it's more than an award, it's a celebration of that extraordinary canine-human bond that exists between no […]