The first time Za'Ria Thomas took Kahlua paddle boarding, Kahlua was petrified. The Miniature American Shepherd has a thin undercoat, so the chilly California water quickly makes her cold. Unlike her 15-month-old brother, Whiskey, a true water dog who loves jumping off paddleboards and swimming, 20-month-old Kahlua likes to stay on the board and out […]

More than 100 competitors from 29 states and Canada submitted videos of performances for the 2020 AKC Trick Dog Competition. This 2nd Annual competition was a virtual event, open to Elite Performers, AKC’s highest level of trick dogs. The videos were then judged by three AKC licensed judges who selected the winners. The winner, it […]

Teaching your dog to "read" is an advanced trick that will surprise and impress your friends and family. It's also a very low-impact trick, so it's appropriate for dogs who are young and still growing, senior dogs, or those who might have an orthopedic injury or health condition. Although dogs aren't going to learn the […]

If you ever find yourself seeking out the true meaning and personification of 'underdog,' the versatile Turbo should be right at the top of the list. This former South Carolina shelter All-American puppy, under the guidance of owner-handler Pam McKinney, of Mont Vernon, New Hampshire (population 2,300), hasn’t found an American Kennel Club sport he […]

Dozens of rescued dogs competed at the National Agility Championship (NAC) March 15-17 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While some of them were All-American dogs, there were several rescued purebred dogs as well. Agility is open to all dogs, regardless of whether or not they are purebred. Any All-American dog can compete in Agility by registering as a […]

We are proud to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the AKC Canine Partners program. Beginning in 2010 as an enrollment program for mixed breeds and other dogs not eligible for AKC Purebred Registration, the program has since enrolled hundreds of thousands of canines. The total number of enrollments is over 420,000 as of June 2020 There were […]

The adorable Bichon Frise is among the canine kingdom’s great survivors, relying on charm and intelligence to weather history’s ups and downs. Bichons Frises have withstood world wars, revolutions, and the fall of empires by eagerly adapting to whatever challenge fate has sent their way. Early Beginnings as a Noble Companion The informal grouping of what […]

Training your puppy or adult dog to lie down on command can help to calm down excitable dogs and keep pups out of trouble. Some puppies, however, are hesitant to lie down and stay there, so patience and practice are key. "Down is a fundamental skill for dogs as it serves as the cornerstone for teaching […]

Lenore Hedemark, a 14-year-old from North Carolina, is the number-one American Hairless Terrier Junior Handler for the past two years. As an up-and-coming show photographer and active competitor, Lenore began showing dogs at 11 years old. She stepped into the ring for the first time with her aunt's ex-racing Greyhound registered with a Purebred Alternative […]

They’re all elite athletes, but one of the entrants in the 8th Annual Masters Agility Championship at Westminster on June 11 is certain to attract more puzzled looks than the 349 others. That would be Caper (Paradox Capricious), a 5-year-old Danish-Swedish Farmdog owned and handled by Kelly Ansaldo, of Northhampton, Massachusetts. For you just don’t see […]