Events have again hurled the Belgian Malinois onto the national stage, with the participation of the Navy SEAL dog, Conan, in the raid that killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in Syria. Favorable publicity for the Malinois is a double-edged sword: It makes people more aware of this still-unusual breed, which has the potential to […]

Only 107 dogs have earned their RACH titles since November 2017. Of these dogs, only one is a Briard. And only one dog has earned a RACH the dark. While impressive, this is far from the only accomplishment of 10-year-old Norman the Briard. In fact, he has been a dog star all his life — earning […]

Did you know your dog can earn titles for showing off fun tricks? In fact, at the top level of AKC Trick Dog — AKC Trick Dog Elite Performer — you and your dog are required to perform a routine of tricks strung together into a story or script using at least five props. But do the […]

Teaching your dog to speak on command can be a fun trick as well as a useful behavior. It's easier to teach your dog to “quiet” once you've put barking on a cue. You also can reward your dog for just one bark, as opposed to barking non-stop for several minutes. Plus, it's an entertaining […]

There are days when Nina Daniel feels like a gymnast while penciling in Jack’s schedule. With fluidity and flexibility, the Starksboro, Vermont, dog owner finds herself writing in Agility entries for the 8½-year-old Boxer for events weeks and months ahead. But when it comes to Jack’s other life – TV commercial acting – that’s a […]

The first time Samantha Scicchigno met Marge, the black mixed-breed dog had just arrived at the shelter she volunteered for. Scicchigno was a high school student who had never owned a dog before, but liked Marge's size and comfort level around cats. Shortly after bringing Marge home, Scicchigno realized that training classes would be 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 […]

Why register your dog with the AKC? It’s a question many people ask when they are bringing home a new puppy or grown dog. With the exception of those who have firmly set their sights on the conformation show ring and breeding the next generation of champions, the benefits of registration may not be obvious. […]

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 […]

Hoping to meet a specific dog breed (or cat breed), or do you just want to meet all 150+ breeds? Find your favorites on our list of breeds so you won't miss a single wag, whisker, or woof! They'll all be there to meet you at the January 25-26, 2020 AKC Meet the Breeds event. […]