So after the months of preparation in organizing and testing before the breeding, praying and crossing fingers that your girl “took,” fretting before, during and after the whelping, the constant vigil for weeks after the whelping, the 24/7 care of your girl and the litter, the vet visits, testing and evaluating your pick, it is time […]

United States Senator Debbie Stabenow (Michigan) was honored with an AKC Legislator of the Year Award during her visit to the Detroit Kennel Club (DKC) show on June 20.  Senator Stabenow, who visited the show with members of her family, toured the event with DKC Show Chair Chris Berg, chatted with constituent dog enthusiasts and […]

June 17, 2015 AKC has learned that these ordinances have been pulled from the June 23rd agenda. The Washoe County Commission has directed animal services to return to the drafting board and has indicated that they do not want ordinances that will negatively impact responsible breeders or animal oriented businesses in a negative manner. AKC […]

Golden Retrievers — We now have the benefit of “clearance” testing and the mapped canine genome that could help guide intelligent crossbreeding decisions and the possibility that new breeds might eventually be developed. In the 19th century, as gentleman farmers and sportsmen kept breeding records of their canines and began to exhibit the best of their […]

Multiple-sire litters are not new to breeders, yet they represent less than 1 percent of AKC registration statistics. But why? The practice is rooted in science, and with DNA testing being commonplace, why not hedge your bets? Still, historically, breeders have shied away from the practice, which, while appealing, is not without controversy. Accidental breedings […]

ASK AKC Dear AKC: My Bulldog will soon be having her first litter. What should be included in a puppy kit for the new owners? -- Novice Breeder Needs Dear Novice: A great way to insure a new puppy's continued success with their new family is to provide an abundance of resources for each new owner. As a longtime […]

ASK AKC  Dear AKC: My question regards breeding. I have a young male Beagle, about a year and a half, and I'd like to breed him with another beagle. I am told by my veterinarian, who has bred beagles extensively in the past that it is next to impossible for a breeder to accept my dog […]

Approximately 40 legislative liaisons, federation leaders, and dog owners and advocates from across the country travelled to Alexandria, Virginia, and Washington DC this past weekend to attend the AKC Government Relations team’s second regional legislative conference of the year. The purpose of these conferences is to empower club members, dog fanciers, and leaders with the […]

At some point, every dog owner is faced with the question: To breed or not to breed? If you are considering becoming a breeder, please keep the following in mind. Responsible breeders embrace the belief that each new litter should represent an improvement over the last. Responsible breeders are aware that each breed has an […]

When kids go on a campaign to get a dog, they’re in it to win it. They’re not going to let up until they’re zooming around the back yard or curled up on a club chair with a furry four-legged fido. So you may come to realize that it’s time to add a canine to the […]