The Super Bowl and World Cup have referees. The World Series has umpires. When it comes to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show presented by Purina® Pro Plan®, the second-longest-running sporting event in the United States, there is a different type of officiating crew. Judges are given the difficult task of choosing the crème de […]

Photo Coverage Day 1 -- April 1, 2014 The first day of the Championship began under mainly cloudy skies and a very chilly 20 degrees. There was a strong north wind. As the day progressed the temperatures rose into the 50's, the skies cleared, and the winds diminished making for pleasant conditions. Humidity was very […]

Education is paramount to the AKC’s mission. Through education, we preserve history, stay relevant to the needs of today’s dog owners and fanciers, and invest in the future health and well-being of dogs, dog sports, and the human-canine relationship. The AKC recognizes and appreciates the enormous contributions that Parent and All-Breed Clubs give to the […]

Showing dogs is a fun sport where the thrill of competition is combined with the joy of seeing beautiful dogs. Dog shows, or conformation events, originated as a way for breeders to evaluate their breeding stock. While the purpose remains, dog shows are a great opportunity to socialize with people in your breed and develop […]

North Carolina legislators and staff were thrilled to once again welcome the American Kennel Club to the state capitol for the annual AKC Canines at the Capitol event.  The AKC invited them to “come hug a dog on your lunch break” and they did just that – posing for pictures with the dogs and cheering […]

When a dog visits my home, whether a puppy or a guest, I immediately go into pool safety training mode. It goes without saying that dogs should be supervised in the pool area at all times. But there’s always the possibility that they could get into the pool area undetected. Falling in the pool could […]

Much about dogs can translate from one breed to another. Soundness and basic structure is not that different among many breeds. Structural soundness in a Dalmatian is not that different from structural soundness in a German Shorthaired Pointer, for example. Type, outline, breed personality, and all of the little things that make each breed unique […]

In the last 27 years, things have changed dramatically. Facebook launched, Apple took over the mobile world, the United States has gone through four different presidents, and the AKC launched agility, Scent Work, Trick Dog, and more. One thing, however, has remained the same. Since 1991, the Labrador Retriever has been the most popular dog breed in […]

Labrador Retriever Leads the Pack as Most Popular for 27th Year - French Bulldog Leaps into Top Five, Knocking Out the Beagle - New York, NY – The Labrador Retriever continues to break records!  The American Kennel Club (AKC®) announced at a press conference today that the loveable Lab once again is the number one […]

Michel Berner, owner of Mira Vizslas, near Fairchild, Wis., moved from Milwaukee to the Eau Claire area a little more than 10 years ago. She is active regionally and nationally and has donated hundreds of hours to various Vizsla clubs, doing everything including serving as an officer and a director, judging hunt tests, editing newsletters, creating web […]