Is your dog considered a rare breed? Do you want an informal way to get some event experience under your belt? A Foundation Stock Service (FSS) Open Show is a perfect way for you and your dog to practice before an official event without any pressure, and is a must-do for anyone new to competing. […]

Did you know that more than 80% of show dogs are handled by their owners? The AKC National Owner-Handled Series celebrates the dedication and enthusiasm of owner-handler exhibitors and allows them to compete head-to-head against one another in the conformation ring. The AKC National Owner-Handled Series occurs after Best of Breed judging in each breed […]

In January 1999, the AKC embarked on a journey to recognize Juniors who obtain titles on dogs in the Companion and Performance Events.  We are pleased to announce the continued growth of the program.  AKC will now be awarding points to Juniors who have competed in Junior Showmanship, Companion and Performance Events.  The Juniors number […]

You already know that your puppy is the absolute cutest. So why not share his adorableness with the rest of the world? Enter him in an AKC 4-6 Month Beginner Puppy Competition. It’s a relaxed, stress-free way to make your debut in the dog show world. Plus, it gives both of you a fun way […]

The official term for dog shows is conformation -- as in, the act of conforming or producing conformity. While a dog show may look like a beauty pageant, it’s not. Dogs are not being compared to each other; they’re being measured by how closely they conform to the standard of their particular breed. Why? Because […]

The American Kennel Club offers breeders the Registered Kennel Name Program to protect the use of their kennel's name in the naming of AKC registered dogs. The use of a registered kennel name allows breeders to name dogs of their breeding in an identifiable manner creating a prominent familial foundation in the breed. Application for […]

You work hard to teach your dog good manners. There’s one area, though, where you probably won’t have much success: Asking them to “stop being so nosey!” It won’t work because your dog's keen sense of smell – which is 100,000 times stronger than humans – makes him naturally “nosey,” and thus innately ideal for […]

A high school stadium, three sets of bleachers, and one Q-tip dipped in the scent of birch. Finding that tiny swab, planted somewhere in the arena, seemed an impossible task to Suzanne LeRoy, as she and her Border Collie, Rain, faced their first nose work competition. “It was a huge area to search,” the California […]

Moderator Laura Reeves points to an audience member ready to ask a question at a Del Monte Kennel Club Friday Night Forum in Carmel, Calif., last month. Panelists are, from left, Pat Trotter, Dorothy Macdonald, and Kimberly Meredith-Cavanna. Photo by Cook Dog Show Photography.   Bridging the gap is defined as connecting two things — […]

Lucky Cricket RAE CD OA OAJ owned by Beth Jansen by Albuquerque, NM Cricket joined Beth’s family in 2013 after she was found living in a trailer park with another dog, surviving on trash. Some good samaritans noticed the dogs and contacted a rescue group, who placed the dogs in foster care. When Cricket arrived […]