February 1, 2019 The Washington House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business will hear House Bill 1640 in a public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 5, and in executive session on Thursday, February 7. HB 1640 will prohibit retail pet stores from selling any dog or cat unless the dog or cat has been obtained from […]

Friday, February 01, 2019 The Hawaii House Agriculture Committee is scheduled to consider several dog-related bills at its meeting on Friday, February 8, 2019.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) and our Hawaii federation, the Pacific Pet Alliance, encourage all concerned Hawaiian dog breeders and owners to contact the committee members and express their views before […]

Maryland House and Senate committees are considering bills over the next week that could cause an owner to permanently lose ownership of their animals when they are suspected of cruelty – even if they are found not guilty. The AKC agrees that anyone found guilty of cruelty should be punished appropriately, including being responsible for […]

Among the marvels of human ingenuity is the way various breeds of dog were developed, mentally and physically, to tackle specific jobs. Consider the farmer’s eternal war against rodents and other burrowing mammals that devastate grain stores, raid henhouses, tear up fields, dig away riverbanks, and carry disease. As their number-one weapon in subterranean warfare, […]

Toy dogs are more than just small. Learn more about each of the Toy Group breeds and find out what exactly these adorable dogs were bred to do.

2018 was another busy year for AKC Government Relations, its state federations, and responsible dog owners and breeders advocating for dogs.  Over 2,100 bills impacting animals were monitored by AKC Government Relations department.  Several new laws impacting dog owners and breeders were enacted over the past year.  It is imperative for responsible owners to ensure […]

An important aspect of being a responsible dog owner is being sure your dog is in shape. No matter how cute an overweight dog is, they could still be at risk for health problems. Certain breeds will be affected more than others by even the slightest weight gain, so it’s important to maintain your dog’s […]

  The AKC Detection Dog Task Force has launched its Pilot Detection Puppy Rearing Program – an opportunity for breeders and owners to work closely with experts on raising dogs that will have the potential to be trained for explosives detection work. The United States has a serious shortage of qualified dogs to perform the […]

January 8, 2019 Last night, the New Haven Board of Alders incorporated into its public record the AKC’s request and suggested amendments to its recently-amended animal ordinance.  After AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) and a board member of the Connecticut Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners met with the Mayor of New Haven […]

Anyone who mentors newcomers to showing dogs knows the steps to follow on the path to success. Yet we may present the advice as if it were a script,  forgetting to take that occasional refresher course ourselves. The start of the year is an excellent time to get back to dog show basics and try […]