A very attractive 50-something year old woman took her seat beside me on the plane. Within a few minutes, she looked at the carry-on bag under my seat and said, "What's in the bag?" I thought it was an odd question, but I replied. "A sandwich and some books." She began to laugh. "I'm so […]

-- The Way Forward in 2014 -- Everyone who has ever produced a litter of puppies knows this time of year brings holiday cards from puppy buyers with heartwarming photos and most-welcome news about the progress and antics of those puppies during the year. The cards are both informative and inspiring as the breeder considers […]

New York, NY – The American Kennel Club® (AKC) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2014 AKC® Lifetime Achievement Awards: Pat Hastings (Conformation), Lynn Eggers (Companion Events) and Dr. Ray Calkins (Performance). The AKC Lifetime Achievement Awards honor individuals who have made outstanding contributions on a national level. This year’s recipients have contributed […]

Just in time for the German Shepherd Club of America's 100th year, we are featuring as our Breed of the Week, the German Shepherd Dog! We love these wonderful dogs and hope you’ll share your love for them with us–your stories, images, videos, etc.! Congrats to the German Shepherd Club of America for reaching a milestone of […]

The State of Connecticut has appointed a task force to investigate the sale of dogs and cats in Connecticut and they are holding a public hearing in Fairfield on Wednesday, October 16th.  Upon completion of these public hearings, it is expected that the task force will draft legislation for consideration in 2014. It is vitally […]

Is your dog driving you crazy with rambunctious behavior you just can't control? Puppy training giving you the blues? No time to search the Internet for advice you can trust?  Promoting responsible dog ownership is at the heart of the American Kennel Club, and the launch of its newest service, the Good-Dog!SM Helpline, gives dog […]

Tomorrow (September 18, 2013), the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) will publish the final new federal regulations that narrow the “retail pet store” exemption under the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA), triggering a 60-day countdown to enactment (November 18, 2013) of those regulations.   The purpose of the new rule is […]

Today, the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) released a finalized version of new federal regulations that narrow the definition of a “retail pet store” with the purpose of bringing internet-based pet breeders and sellers under the regulation of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA).  The rule, originally proposed in […]

In an ongoing campaign to recognize the hard work and commitment of breeders dedicated to improving the health, temperament and quality of purebred dogs, the American Kennel Club® announced today the seven group recipients of the 2013 AKC® Breeder of the Year Award.    “The AKC Breeder of the Year Award celebrates several of AKC’s […]

Giving responsible dog owners a whole new level of achievement for their dogs, the American Kennel Club® (AKC®) has developed a new advanced level title – AKC Community Canine – as part of the Canine Good Citizen® (CGC®) training program.  Since 1989, the CGC program has rewarded more than 600,000 dogs and their owners who […]