I’m not a fan of country music, but as I begin writing this column, from the radio in the next room the song “The Gambler” is crooning, “The secret to survivin’ is knowing what to throw away, and knowing what to keep.” Choosing a brood bitch is a bit of a gamble. Whether acquiring your […]

Looking for something fun to do this Labor Day weekend? Consider heading out to see beautiful and talented dogs of all kinds at a dog show, agility or obedience trial, herding test, lure coursing trial, earthdog test, or other canine event in your area. Below are just a few of the many AKC dog events […]

New York, NY – The American Kennel Club (AKC®) is pleased to announce the appointments of Mari-Beth O’Neill to Vice President of Sports Services and Keith Frazier to Vice President of Optimization and Support Services. “Through their years of dedication and demonstrated leadership they have helped us make strides in the sport and support services […]

Much has been written about the need for socializing puppies at an early age, but sometimes even an experienced breeder might forget about this necessity, especially if it's been a while since they raised a litter. One of the things I’ve learned during my almost 50-year involvement with Italian Greyhounds is that this breed is […]

For 54-year-old Army veteran Rob Shaw life is a rollercoaster of psychological turbulence triggered by PTSD, severe depression, and anxiety disorder. In other words, there is plenty of bite behind the bark. For the past three years, a dose of Pepper has been the best prescription medicine in his attempt to overcome the challenges, all […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC) is proud to announce the winners of the 2017 AKC® Lifetime Achievement Awards: Patricia W. Laurans (Conformation), Elizabeth (Tibby) Chase (Companion Events) and Jim Campbell (Performance). The Awards, created by AKC President Dennis Sprung, are presented in recognition of exceptional participation and achievement within the dog fancy. The finalists and […]

Watching a dog show can be confusing—albeit, still entertaining—if you're not in the fancy. We prepared a glossary of common dog show terms. Study up now, and be ready to sound like a pro when Westminster rolls around. Bait A bite-size treat, perhaps a bit of liver or cheese, used by a handler to get […]

Want to get away from the cold winter weather as the holidays approach? Planning a trip to warm and sunny Orlando, Fla.? Or maybe you live in "The City Beautiful," and are looking for new and fun activities for your weekend. No matter what your situation, we've got just the thing to do in Orlando […]

Conformation, agility, dock diving, and more. If you're a dog lover, you need to be at the 2016 AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin. This event is the nexus of all things dog: you'll see and learn everything there is to know about the dog world and leave wanting more. Here's why YOU need to […]

With a registered name like DC Jewels Peridot & Pearls MLC SAR-W, the dog you'd expect to see might be a prissy homebody that lavishes attention on people and strolls about in elegant attire. Not this little blonde dynamo, believed to be the first of her breed to earn an AKC search and rescue (SAR) […]