The American Kennel Club (AKC) and ESPN joined forces for the AKC Diving Dog Challenge, an all-star invitational competition hosted by the College of Veterinary Medicine on the campus of North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C. Highlights from the exciting dog sport event will air in a two-hour presentation on ESPN2 on Sunday, April […]

We are reaching out to you because your representative in the U.S. Congress sponsored the Puppy Protection Act last year. This bill to restrict dog breeding has been re-introduced in Congress again this year. Your action is urgently needed to contact your member of Congress and respectfully ask them to not sponsor or support the […]

The 2023 Kentucky legislative session ended with positive results for dogs, working K9s, and dog owners. The American Kennel Club Government Relations team (AKC GR) thanks AKC club members, dog owners, sportsmen, and every individual who contacted lawmakers about legislation that affects the dogs we love.  Bills Opposed by AKC GR: HB 321 attempted to problematically […]

Arbitrary federal legislation to restrict the activities of dogs breeders has been re-introduced in Congress.  Though labeled as commercial breeding regulations, the one-size-fits-all requirements can also apply to small hobby breeders.  Your action is urgently needed to stop the animal-rights supported Puppy Protection Act (H.R. 1624) and to protect the rights of responsible dog breeders […]

This week, Delaware legislative committees are considering bills regarding animal cruelty reporting and naming the rescue dog as the official state dog. In addition, while the hearing has not been rescheduled, legislators are still deliberating a bill that would regulate dog barking statewide.  Below are the latest updates, along with information on how to comment: […]

At its upcoming hearing on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, from 1PM – 5PM, the Massachusetts Joint Judiciary Committee will consider multiple dog-related bills .  The American Kennel Club (AKC) supports two, requests amendments to four, and opposes three of the proposals.   The full agenda with links to bill text can be viewed here. AKC encourages […]

News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Alabama – SB 2 seeks to prohibit inmates from participating in training of dogs for tracking humans. AKC is monitoring this legislation, which has not yet received a committee assignment. Arkansas – HB 1420, among other provisions, defines […]

The Recycled Dog: Unlocking One Dog’s Potential Through Play This issue’s training article is contributed by agility competitor & AKC Agility League participant Norah C. Strebel of Utah, who shares her story of working with an “unadoptable” rescue dog. Norah discovered the world of dog sports with the adoption of a flying disc-obsessed mixed-breed dog in 2000. […]

When the Canine Dirt Diggers formed a Flyball team in 1992, options were limited. Without a proper training facility in rural New Richmond, Wisconsin, the group wound up practicing together in a horse barn, which offered a long enough stretch to practice the relay sport, hence the team name. “A lot of times it was […]

Dogs, people, and clubs from across North America and beyond meet each year in October for the world's largest Flyball tournament: the CanAm Flyball Classic. This prestigious event has been held every year since 2009 with the exception of 2020 due to COVID-19. Consisting of three one-day tournaments and two championship tournaments, the entire event […]