As 2016 drew to a close, Lydia Smith and her family were looking to bring another dog into their lives. Having shared their Texas Hill Country home with a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Koki for several years, they decided to add another member of the beloved Herding Group breed to the mix.  While researching Corgi […]

The first time Lucy Hayes met Stella, the Dayton, Ohio, native could sense something special about her. Hayes had owned a Bulldog before, but that dog had been somewhat stubborn and sedentary. Stella, however, was a whole different story. Despite being the runt of a nine-pup litter, Stella showed a certain spunk and eagerness to achieve. […]

Competition & Title Updates  We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles in Agility, Coursing Ability, Rally, Obedience, Scent Work, and Tracking. AGILITY Congratulations to the winners at the 2019 AKC Agility Invitational AKC Canine Partners congratulates the All-American Dogs and their owners who competed and won honors at the AKC […]

The AKC recognizes three titles earned by dogs in competitions sanctioned by the North American Flyball Association (NAFA). Owners of flyball-titled dogs may apply to the AKC and request that their flyball title be added to their AKC permanent record. Flyball is one of the few team sports for dogs, and the sport is for […]

Give GWPs A Chance A few years ago, Ariel Wolf had hardly even heard of the German Wirehaired Pointer. The Winston-Salem, North Carolina, native was born with a rare connective tissue disorder, resulting in issues with her joints, tendons, and ligaments. Wolf had benefitted from service dogs in the past, and she was seeking a new dog […]

  Performance Events Scholarship The Performance Events Department is pleased to announce the creation of a $10,000 scholarship fund for students that are active in AKC Performance Events who will be attending an institution of higher education during the 2020-2021 academic year. New AKC Performance Scholarship Program Announced! - Jan 2020 More information regarding the […]

Temperament Testing is an important characteristic for any breed.  There are several AKC Parent Clubs which are currently participating in having the AKC recognize their breed as having passed a temperament test or certification. Some Parent Clubs have their testing administered by the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) and some conduct their own testing.  AKC […]

Brenda Riemer grew up a California girl surrounded by sunshine, sand, and surf. These days, though, she struggles with another "S" element – snow. All of these, however, have sublimely shaped the dynamics affecting the sport psychologist/mental skills trainer and her approach to teaching dog handling seminars nationwide. “I hate snow," Riemer says. “I hate winter. As someone who grew up in L.A., driving […]

In its endless pursuit to recognize outstanding members of the fancy, The American Kennel Club Lifetime Achievement Awards were created and first awarded in 1999 to honor our best. The purpose of the awards is to celebrate those individuals whose many years of dedication have led to significant contributions to our sport on a national […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to recognize breeding programs from the Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups as 2019 AKC Breeder of the Year group honorees. “The breeders honored with this award have made important contributions to the sport and future of purebred dogs,” said Dennis Sprung, AKC President and […]