AKC Government Relations continues to monitor the US Congress for issues of interest to dog owners. Visit our 2022 Legislation Tracking map and click on “Federal Bills” 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:  U.S. […]

AKC Government Relations continues to monitor the US Congress for issues of interest to dog owners. Visit our 2022 Legislation Tracking map and click on “Federal Bills” 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:  U.S. […]

Puppy buyers around the world contact AKC Breeder of the Year David Fitzpatrick. His Pekingese puppies have journeyed to new homes in Australia, Thailand, the Philippines, China, Panama, Japan, and other international destinations. Fitzpatrick requires potential puppy buyers to travel to his home in Pennsylvania to meet him and his dogs. If they are lucky […]

What makes a dog lash out in aggression? It's one of the most critical questions dog lovers face — and failure to find answers can bring heartbreaking consequences, including behavioral euthanasia and even the banning of certain breeds. While it's important to know the difference between aggressive and reactive behavior, recent research out of the […]

When most people first see Hex, a 7-year-old Samoyed, they might think she's just really good at winking. In reality, she's just good at seeing out of one eye, having the other removed in 2018 due to glaucoma. Despite the odds, she and owner Mary Drexler still compete in AKC Rally, Obedience, and Agility, placing […]

Humans and dogs have had a special bond for thousands of years—we see it in the way dogs work, play, and live with us. Most experts agree that this relationship developed when the wolf, the dog's ancestor, and human came in contact with each other. Some wolves, for unknown reasons, attached themselves to this strange […]

Like many people, Sheba Lo of Chatsworth, California, acquired a dog during the pandemic. Lo bought the dog to serve two roles — companion and "emotional support animal" for her 13-year-old daughter. The pair immediately fell in love with cuddly, white Riyo. Without hesitation, the college professor let the landlord of her apartment know about […]

As dog lovers, it can be difficult to ignore when we see someone doing something we think is bad, harmful, or ineffective with their dogs. Sometimes what someone is doing is abusive or at risk of causing immediate serious injury to a dog, in which case stepping in right away or calling the proper authorities […]

Linda Brady has been involved in dog training since 1978 but nothing quite prepared her for what she dealt with in early December. A resident of Oxford, Michigan (population 3,586), she was alerted shortly after the shootings at the town high school on November 30. “You always think something like this is never going to […]

It’s one of the American Kennel Club’s smallest recognized breeds, but the Russian Toy is seldom overlooked with its substance and splash. Petite (up to 6 ½ pounds) and personable, it is now fully recognized as a member of the Toy Group after three years in the Miscellaneous Class and AKC companion events such as […]