AKC Government Relations is hosting an informational meeting and discussion at the Tarheel Cluster dog shows on Friday, August 30, to help you learn the latest on how we can work together to build a strong state federation in North Carolina to advocate on behalf of our dogs and our sport: Friday, August 30 2:00-3:00pm […]

On July 31, the last day of formal sessions, Massachusetts lawmakers were unable to resolve differences between the two branches on major legislative proposals by early Thursday morning. Two dog-related bills detailed in the American Kennel Club’s recent update did not cross the finish line either. The Legislature will meet in informal sessions through December […]

Weimaraner 'Monet' isn't just a skilled Conformation dog with a Grand Champion title, among others. She's also a medical alert service dog for her owner.

Today, Thursday, August 1, 2024, new rules for the importation of dogs into the United States have gone into effect. HISTORY In July 2023, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) proposed new rules to address the public health risk of dog-maintained rabies virus variant (aka, canine rabies) associated with the importation […]

Dog calming treats can relieve anxiety, soothe senior dogs, and reduce excitability. Yet, the best option depends on your dog's specific needs.

Yesterday, the Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee amended two dog-related bills that were then immediately approved by the House of Representatives. All bills will now advance to the Senate for consideration before July 31. The American Kennel Club’s (AKC) amendment analysis and the new bill numbers are below: TO INCREASE KENNEL SAFETY, AKA “OLLIE’S […]

The AKC Agility League is excited to announce a new class aimed at beginner dogs and handlers. The Elementary skill level will launch in the Fall Season and will feature courses designed for pre-competition dogs. The courses will not contain weave poles or teeters. They will be flowing courses that are motivating for pre-competition dogs […]

In July 2024, The AKC Board of Directors voted to establish a policy to require all professional handlers and agents listed in dog show catalogs to successfully complete the Stewards of Children® training from Darkness to Light once every three years effective January 1, 2025. This action followed the AKC Board of Directors’ adoption of […]

Introduction to Autosomal Recessive Conditions Dogs have 78 chromosomes, or 39 pairs in each cell. Genes are located on these chromosomes, and they can have different genetic variants related to genes, known as alleles. Each gene typically has 2 copies, one from the dam and one from the sire. The dam and sire randomly contribute […]

Yesterday (July 22, 2024), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provided an update related to new CDC requirements effective August 1 for importing or traveling into the United States with a dog older than 6 months of age. The revisions to the rule no longer require an additional rabies vaccination form certified by a USDA-accredited […]