AKC Government Relations continues to monitor the US Congress for issues of interest to dog owners. Visit our 2021 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. […]

A dog is called a man's best friend for a reason. They are the embodiment of unconditional love and a source of entertainment. Their paws leave an indelible mark on our hearts. Our existence is sprinkled with moments of joy that our dogs bring when life is sometimes a bit too much to handle. In […]

UPDATE: On August 17, 2021, the FDA issued a "corporate-wide warning letter" to Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc., the company that produces Sportmix pet food and other pet food brands. Per the FDA alert, as of August 9, the agency "is aware aware of more than 130 pet deaths and more than 220 pet illnesses that […]

This is the third in a series on early socialization and training that breeders can do with young puppies to help them adapt to life in their future new homes. New puppy owners often do not see the benefits of crate training beyond short-term use as a tool to aid in housetraining, something to be […]

Puppies seem to grow up so fast. One day, they're little balls of furry cuteness and, in what seems like the blink of an eye, they're fully grown into loving canine companions. But not all dogs grow at the same rate, with smaller breed dogs growing up much faster than their larger counterparts. That's because […]

Registered Kennel Names are used by AKC breeders to help protect one's reputation and legacy. As of 2018, breeders may register dogs with protected kennel names online. When a new kennel name is granted, the AKC protects the name as entered, as well as plural forms. What Exactly Is A Registered Kennel Name?   Registering a […]

There's arguably nothing cuter than watching a puppy encounter certain things for the very first time. Our lives are full of objects that puppies find strange or downright scary. Here are six things that baffle puppies in the most adorable way. 1. Vacuums It is most likely the noise of the vacuum that confounds puppies […]

It all started with a tweet. “Your story could be in Season 2 of DOGS.” The June 2019 post from Dogs producer Glen Zipper included an announcement about the Netflix show’s second season. Your story could be in Season 2 of DOGS. 🐶👇 https://t.co/aoxWtSdPtO — Glen Zipper (@Zipper) June 12, 2019 Around the same time, the Live […]

All breed rescue groups are listed to the left by breed The AKC Rescue Network is the largest network of dog rescue groups in the country, and was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in late 2013. One hundred sixty unique breeds are currently represented within the network. More than 450 AKC Rescue Network […]

Every dog lover knows the telepathy between man and his best friend: that doggy sixth sense that has them loving on you when you're sad and even seeming to anticipate your commands. But how did dogs get to be so excellent at communicating with people in the first place? Putting Puppies’ Communication Skills to the […]