The only breed to rank in the top ten breeds every decade since the founding of the American Kennel Club became the nation’s top breed in the 1950s—the Beagle. Not coincidentally, Charles Schultz’s pet Beagle, Snoopy, made his illustrious first appearance in national newspapers on October 4, 1950, and swiftly became a pop phenomenon. The […]

No doubt spurred on by the famous Best in Show wins of My Own Brucie in the early 1940s, accompanied by this handsome dog’s likeness appearing on the cover of Life, the Cocker Spaniel became the country’s number-one dog. The breed enjoyed the number-one ranking for sixteen years, from 1936 to 1952. Although the Pekingese […]

The Boston Terrier, a top-ten breed for six decades of the 20th century, has reached the number-one position twice, including in the 1910s. The Airedale Terrier reached the number-two position, the highest the breed would ever claim, appearing in the top ten for three consecutive decades and then never regaining its national popularity. The decade […]

The Cocker Spaniel and English Cocker Spaniel (ECS) are both beloved dog breeds. In fact, they rank among the most popular dog breeds in America. These two members of the Sporting Group share the same early roots, which might explain why these merry, biddable, compact sporting dogs are often confused for one another. Cocker Confusion […]

  Welcome to the AKC . We have put together definitions for dog words that you may not be familiar with. If you have additional questions regarding the glossary, please contact our Special Services Department. A Abdomen The belly or under surface between the chest and the hindquarters. Acetabulum The concave lateral portion of the […]

We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles and honors in Agility, Coursing Ability, Fast CAT, Rally, Obedience, Scent Work, Tracking, and Trick Dog. Many dogs are also having success in AKC’s Virtual Titling programs! Agility Congratulations to these dogs who have added more MACH titles to their […]

As natural disasters become more common, it's important to plan ahead in case you and your dog need to someday evacuate your home. One aspect of being prepared for a possible evacuation in the event of a natural disaster involves having things physically ready like making sure your dog is microchipped, preparing “go bags" for […]

Convincing your dog that it's time to go outside for a bathroom break is hard enough, but getting tugged throughout a stroll is another battle entirely. This behavior is common, but it's understandably very frustrating to many dog owners. Leash biting and tugging is a phase that many puppies go through and usually grow out of, but […]

Owning an endangered breed can be incredibly rewarding. It's no secret that what’s old is new again. As a millennial, I know that what used to be known as "used clothing" is now "vintage" and all the rage. Many of us have gone back to eating local and embracing a "farm-to-table" mentality when it comes […]

When it comes to communication, dogs are significantly better at interpreting our body language than we are theirs. Humans rely on verbal language more heavily than body language, whereas dogs are just the opposite. Unfortunately, this often means we are left scratching our heads, wondering what our dogs are trying to tell us. Shaking is […]