From March 16 through 19 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, top canine competitors from across the country will gather for the 2023 National Agility Championship at the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex at Expo Square. Many people may not be familiar with Agility competitions, where dogs navigate through an obstacle course while racing against the clock. Even […]

If you’ve ever watched an agility competition, you know it’s basically a canine obstacle course. The dog must run through tunnels, leap over jumps, and weave through poles. But the dog isn’t working alone – this is a sport of exquisite teamwork. A successful run requires taking each obstacle in a certain order, and the […]

Several extremely overreaching and punitive dog breeder bills have been filed in Florida. Senate Bill 1492 and House Bill 1581 define any unsterilized female dog over the age of 6 months as a “breeding female” and would require her owner to register with the state as a “breeder,” pay significant fees, and be inspected by […]

Friday, March 3, was the crossover deadline in the Montana Legislature for policy focused legislation, meaning bills that do not have a revenue component must have advanced out of their house of origin to remain eligible for advancement. Below is list of bills the AKC has been monitoring and their statuses. Bills in Montana State […]

Dog owners in Arkansas are urged to take action in support of House Bill 1519, a bill that seeks to prohibit a municipality or other political subdivision of the state from controlling or regulating dogs, cats, or other animals based on the specific breed or perceived breed of the animal. House Bill 1519 is on […]

AKC continues to monitor several bills impacting dog owners in Oregon. Below are the latest updates, along with contact information if you wish to comment on any of these measures. AKC GR will continue to provide individual updates and alerts when necessary. Bills in Oregon Legislature: Senate Bill 696 – Funding for State-Appointed Animal Cruelty-Focused […]

Wednesday, March 15, 2023, the Maine Committee on the Judiciary will accept public testimony on LD 888, to Allow Use of Courthouse Facility Dogs by Criminal Justice Agencies for Criminal Justice Purposes. The bill would (1) adopt definitions; (2) establish training requirements; and (3) authorize trained dogs to accompany a witness in courtroom appearances and […]

March 2023 The AKC Detection Dog Task Force (DDTF) has exciting plans for 2023! We are initiating a move into Phase 3 of the Patriotic Puppy Program. Phase 3 will include further recruitment of AKC hobby breeders, puppy raisers and trainers while extending new invitations to small and medium-size training kennels and a new division […]

On Tuesday, March 7, a number of bills are scheduled for hearings in Illinois impacting dog owners and all who breed dogs.  This includes a bill establishing mandatory genetic testing and sterilization of dogs with “genetic defects”, among other issues. Illinois residents can make a valuable difference today by filling out a simple online witness […]

The deadline has passed for bills to be introduced in the California state Legislature. AKC is monitoring several bills impacting dog owners in California. Below are a few highlights. To see the complete list visit the AKC legislative action center at www.akcgr.org  and/or the AKC legislative tracker.  AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) will continue to […]