Each of the AKC registered breeds are assigned to one of seven groups representing characteristics and functions the breeds were originally bred for. Current as of June 1, 2023 [accordion] [accordion_panel title="Herding Group"] HERDING GROUP The Herding Group, created in 1983, is the newest AKC classification; its members were formerly members of the Working Group. […]

ASK AKC Dear AKC: I have a question about the possibility of registering my Scottish Terrier with AKC. At the time of purchase I was given an application from another kennel club's registry because the father of the puppy was AKC registered but the mother was not. Does this mean my Scottie can NOT be […]

No doubt spurred on by the famous Best in Show wins of My Own Brucie in the early 1940s, accompanied by this handsome dog’s likeness appearing on the cover of Life, the Cocker Spaniel became the country’s number-one dog. The breed enjoyed the number-one ranking for sixteen years, from 1936 to 1952. Although the Pekingese […]

The Boston Terrier became the first breed to enjoy the number-one position for two decades, though the breed fell to the number-two position in the 1920s after its initial reign atop the list in the 1910s. The records of the Boston Terrier Club of America show that the breed was number-one or number-two for every […]

As the second-longest continuously run sporting event in the United States, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show presented by Purina® Pro Plan® has been around longer than the AKC and has seen new breeds, a growing number of entries, and an upgraded venue in its 140-year history. Here are a few other facts you probably […]

The AKC Archives is arranged into four major groups: Clubs, including AKC Member Clubs and Parent Clubs People AKC Administrative Visual Materials In addition to the library book and periodical collection, there is also an assortment of photographs, pamphlets, clippings, pedigrees, and more in the Library & Archives vertical files. Contact the Archivist for further information on undescribed […]

  Welcome to the AKC . We have put together definitions for dog words that you may not be familiar with. If you have additional questions regarding the glossary, please contact our Special Services Department. A Abdomen The belly or under surface between the chest and the hindquarters. Acetabulum The concave lateral portion of the […]

Our Beginnings On September 17, 1884, a group of twelve dedicated sportsmen, responding to a "meeting call" from Messrs. J. M. Taylor and Elliot Smith, met in the rooms of the Philadelphia Kennel Club in that city. Each member of the group was a representative or "delegate" from a dog club that had, in the […]

AKC Canine Health Foundation reaches out to owners of several breeds for participation in important genetic studies. Your dog can help researchers make advances in the study of many canine diseases. Participation is currently needed in the following trials and studies: Immunolight Therapy Clinical Trial for Canine Malignancies Dr. Michael Nolan and his team at […]

New York, NY — Dr. Joseph H. Kinnarney has been named the first American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) liaison to the American Kennel Club® (AKC®), a position newly created to foster shared objectives between the two organizations. As AVMA liaison, Dr. Kinnarney will work with AKC liaison Mari-Beth O’Neill to ensure access to world-class health […]