Getting the chance to win big in the conformation ring at Westminster is one thing. Getting another kind of ring on top of that is even more life-changing.

In May, two major federal issues dominated the canine legislation landscape. The U.S. House Agriculture Committee unveiled its draft for the 2024 Farm Bill, officially titled the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024. This essential legislation reauthorizes U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs for five years and includes significant provisions affecting canine health […]

The following are highlights of the numerous bills in Congress that could impact dog owners and the wellbeing of dogs. Visit our 2024 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 […]

Seventeen state legislatures and the District of Columbia are currently in session. The following are highlights of current, active legislation around the country: Arizona – Senate Bill 1047 seeks to regulate dogs outdoors. It provides specific exemptions for police and working dogs, hunting, training, “sporting and competitive functions”, and “lawful competitions”.  As introduced, the bill […]

Last week was a pivotal point in the California Legislature with the deadline passing for bills to clear fiscal committees in their house of origin to be eligible for further advancement during the session. This year was especially challenging for bills that increased spending given the state’s sizeable budget deficit. Below are updates of key […]

You love training and competing in dog sports, and chances are, your dog enjoys them even more. But at some point, they can't move like they used to.

By Penny Leigh (This article first appeared in the May/June 2024 issue of AKC Family Dog magazine). The purchase of a new puppy and the promise of a new sport had Sarah Kolath excited about the future. She trained dogs for 4H obedience competitions as a teen-ager and was ready to re-launch her dog training […]

The Spotlight shines on a special dog - Aspen, who is deaf and an amazing agility competitor. Aspen ran last season on the League team Living the Dream based at Dream Acres Agility in Wisconsin. She helped her team win the Season 6 Regulation Sophomore Championship with her speed and accuracy. Her owner and handler, […]

AKC Vetline is a valuable resource available to your puppy buyers. This live telephone service offers 24/7 health advice from licensed veterinary staff and pet professionals. They can provide helpful medical advice whenever it’s needed – a comfort for new puppy owners. Sometimes owners are not sure their dogs’ unusual behavior warrants a trip to […]

Carefully bred for working ability, Briar has more than fulfilled her breeder’s hopes. The 4-year-old Golden Retriever has already earned the AKC Obedience Trial Championship and the AKC Master Agility Championship, as well as shown her ability in the field with a Junior Hunter title. She has learned the tasks for service dog work, the […]