Meet d’Art (just call me Dart), a beguiling little character whose story has more twists and turns than a foot-long pretzel. Everything points to a Pyrenean Shepherd competing at the AKC Agility Premier Cup in Ocala, Florida, on May 15 as a rarity. When it comes to sheer numbers that would be correct. There are 92 […]

If you haven’t yet microchipped your dog, hear us out. There’s a reason this process, which involves implanting a rice-sized chip between a pet’s shoulder blades, is so popular and highly recommended by veterinarians, breeders, and animal-rescue organizations. In fact, it’s even become law in Ireland, England, and Scotland for all dogs to be microchipped. […]

  Finding a quality Golden Retriever puppy can be a daunting task. Experienced Golden owners will agree on the two most important elements in searching for a pup: a reputable breeder, and a quality pedigree. Good breeders understand the importance of pedigree. They select their breeding stock using dogs with parents, grandparents, and other ancestors who […]

Below is a list of our top 150 puppy names, inspired by the thousands of dogs that have participated in AKC sports and events over the years. We hope one of these names helps you get off to the perfect start with your new pup! Good dog names are hard to come by. In the popular television series […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®) honored recipients of the AKC® Lifetime Achievement Awards at the annual Delegates Meeting Luncheon, in conjunction with the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship. The winners received an engraved silver Revere bowl. A larger Tiffany and Co. bowl, engraved with the names of all recipients past and present, will remain on permanent display […]

Puppies' eyes open at 14-21 days old, but their sight is still limited Hearing is the last sense that puppies fully develop — they can't hear until about three weeks old Puppies navigate by smell from the moment they are born — it is their strongest sense Puppies come tumbling into our lives full of […]

Warrior Ancestors Many canine historians believe that huge, fierce Molossian dogs, kept by the Ancient Greeks, were brought to British shores by Phoenician traders in the sixth century BC and became the ancestors of the early mastiff-type dogs. These canine giants were used as dogs of war. Julius Caesar, in his account of the Roman […]

The AKC Raccoon Hound Events Program consists of Nite Hunts, Hunt Tests, Field Trials, Water Races and Bench Shows.  Nite Hunts are the most popular of the events and are one of the only competitive sports where dogs hunt in natural areas where native game must be trailed and tracked and has not been planted. […]

In 1991, the Labrador Retriever began its uninterrupted reign as the most popular breed in the U.S., ending the Cocker Spaniel's 23 years in the top position. As the No. 1 breed of the 1940s, the Cocker Spaniel, enjoyed a renaissance in the ’80s, climbing back into the top spot from 1983–1990. That feat meant that […]

AKC Gazette breed column—Anti-breeding ways of thinking distract people from remembering that it's through the breeding of good dogs that the breed exists and continues. In the 1970s the Doberman Pinscher was among the top five breeds in popularity. At that time, most specialty shows had well over 100 Doberman entries, with some shows having […]