There are two kinds of pointers at dog shows. The first type is the Pointer, an elegant dog with a dished face, tail shaped like a bee stinger, and the hard-wired instinct to signal the location of camouflaged birds with the slow-motion lift of a front paw. The other pointers, by contrast, are found in […]

Introduction Dear Student: This resource guide -- -- was created especially for you. Making a career choice that you will be happy with is not easy. There are many things to consider before you can really make the right choice for yourself. Of course there are practical matters, such as educational requirements, that should influence […]

2021 AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin Orange County Convention Center Orlando, FL December 18 & 19, 2021 All Sporting, Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting Breeds and Junior Showmanship Competition  will be Judged on Saturday All Working, Terrier, Herding Breeds, Miscellaneous and Best in Show will be Judged on Sunday   The 2021 event will showcase the top canine […]

The AKC/Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy & Junior Stakes is held in conjunction with the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin   Orange County Convention Center Orlando, FL Friday, December 17, 2021   The AKC/Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy & Junior Stakes is a competition created especially for purebred dogs aged 6-18 months (Puppies 6-12 months/ […]

The American Kennel Club will help breeders be more successful with the start of a new program that makes available on-line educational materials and marketing support for participants. AKC Bred with H.E.A.R.T stands for Health, Education, Accountability, Responsibility, and Tradition. Preparing breeders to produce healthy, excellent examples of their breeds is the program’s goal. The […]

On Tuesday, Congressional lawmakers released the final version of a must-pass $1.7 trillion fiscal year 2023 federal spending bill that provides funding for the U.S. Government. The agreement between House and Senate appropriators contains spending for several key areas impacting dogs. It also includes report language impacting canine policy, including legislative proposals AKC has tracked […]

On December 20, the Council of the District of Columbia are expected to consider final passage of amendments to the District’s Animal Care and Control Act. Among other provisions, B24-0560 addresses the issue of animals that are seized and the costs of their care during impoundment (Bond for Care).  Additionally, this proposal contains language that […]

A bill is pending on the New York governor’s desk that, if signed, will prohibit retail pet stores from selling any dogs or cats.  Instead, they would only be allowed to “showcase” animals available for adoption from a shelter, rescue, or adoption agency that has no affiliation with breeders. New York residents are strongly encouraged […]

The AKC Government Relations Department (GR) is dedicated to protecting the rights of all dog owners, promoting responsible dog ownership and ensuring that laws governing dog ownership and breeding are reasonable, enforceable and non-discriminatory. The Government Relations department leads the AKC’s legislative efforts and identifies its goals as “working to protect the rights of all […]

Issues at the City, County, and Metropolitan Levels, and in US Territories The AKC Government Relations Department is pleased to assist dog owners with canine legislation issues in their local communities, but we can’t help unless we are aware of the proposal. Please contact us at (919) 816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org when new laws are discussed or introduced […]