Spaniels by nature are flushing dogs that are well adapted to find, flush and retrieve a variety of upland game in all types of habitat. The American sportsman has been using Spaniels for upland game hunting long before there were Hunting tests and Field trials. There are currently ten different recognized Spaniel breeds that are […]

In last November’s election, we saw a fair amount of misuse of the term “animal rights” and even outright support for “animal rights” by candidates that otherwise seemed to support the human-animal connection, kindness to animals, and proper care of animals based on sound science. Policymakers know semantics matter. We urge every policymaker and their […]

U.S. Congressmen and veterinarians Ted Yoho [R-FL-3], Ralph Abraham, [R-LA-5], Kurt Schrader [D-OR-5] and have joined forces across the aisle to introduce a Congressional Resolution in support of National Purebred Dog Day. The resolution highlights the essential and important role that purebred dogs and breeders of purebred dogs have played throughout United States history and […]

AKC Government Relations recently welcomed the Dog Owners of the Golden State (DOGS) as its fourth recognized federation in California. GR works with state federations of dog clubs to fight bad dog laws and support positive measures that teach the public about responsible dog ownership and care.  State federations are the ground soldiers for state-level […]

Atlanta, GA – The American Kennel Club (AKC) honored Georgia Senator Bill Heath with the AKC Legislator of the Year Award on January 12, 2017 in recognition of his dedication to protecting the wellbeing of dogs and the rights of responsible dog owners and sportsmen. The AKC Legislator of the Year award honor legislators who demonstrate […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®) hosted a U.S. Detection Dog Conference February 28 – March 1.  The purpose of this conference was to discuss the pressing need for a U.S.-based national breeding program for explosives detection dogs.  A majority of dogs procured by government agencies come from Eastern Europe, and the increasing global demand for […]

Since 2012, the AKC Government Relations team has hosted Conferences on Canine Legislation for AKC legislative liaisons and state federation leaders. The popular biennial conference brings together in Raleigh, North Carolina, grassroots leaders from across the country -- from as far as Hawaii to Maine Raleigh, North Carolina for two days of training and networking. […]

Searching for a new purebred puppy isn’t necessarily as easy as it seems. Sure, anyone can post an advertisement for healthy, purebred, AKC-registered puppies on sites like Facebook and Craigslist, but that doesn’t make them true. It is important for dog owners to know where exactly their new furry friend came from to ensure their […]

If you are looking for a calm, confident, and courageous guardian, then look no further than the Rottweiler. These robust dogs are powerful and loyal companions that have strong protective instincts. They can quiet, well-behaved housedogs, yet are powerful enough to ward off burglars. Their personality can vary from dog to dog, with some being […]

As recent history has shown, many anti-breeder animal rights extremists continuously advocate for incremental breeding and sales restrictions that they hope will eventually lead to outright bans on all animal breeding and ownership.  They collectively consider all breeders and pet stores as substandard and inherently not interested in practicing or promoting animal welfare.  These politically-aware […]