In 1939, a million Americans a year paid admission to attend AKC shows exhibiting over 100,000 dogs across the country. The mightiest events, Westminster and Morris & Essex, reported record-setting entry numbers during the 1930s that have still never been topped. Savvy publicity efforts and new AKC publications brought the formerly closed-circuit world of purebred dog breeding and exhibition to the American public, who clamored for more. […]

September 16, 2019 An overreaching animal ordinance is back on the agenda for 9/17/19 in Hattiesburg, MS.  The ordinance has been minimally amended, and additional amendments might be added.   However, as of the time of this message, many provisions of concern remain in Draft #3 of the ordinance, and new problematic provisions have been added. […]

--Family-Friendly and Educational Event Returns for its 17th Year-- The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) invites you to celebrate the human-canine bond this September 28th in Raleigh, NC at the 17th annual flagship AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day, sponsored by AKC Pet Insurance. Owning a dog has endless pleasures and rewards, but it’s important to be […]

Polly the Saint Bernard is both a service dog and an AKC sports champion “She's responsible for me being alive," says Polly's owner, Allison, who at one point lost her memory from Lupus complications Polly has learned to differentiate between her Service Dog work with Allison as her handler and her dog sports work with […]

September 5, 2019 The Hamilton County Commission has scheduled a public hearing for Monday, September 9, to obtain input on numerous proposed changes to the animal control code, including further regulations of hobby breeders and troublesome new definitions of “backyard breeder” and “puppy mill”. Those who reside or participate in events in Hamilton County are […]

Local/Other: Issues at the City, County, and Metropolitan Levels, and in U.S. Territories The AKC Government Relations Department is pleased to assist dog owners with canine legislation issues in their local communities, but we can't help unless we are aware of the proposal. Please contact us at (919) 816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org when new laws are discussed or […]

This summer and fall, hundreds of clubs and dog organizations around the country, along with other pet-related organizations, will host Responsible Dog Ownership Days to help educate the public in their communities about the responsibilities of dog ownership and help current owners enhance their relationships with their pets. These events consist of educational booths, action-packed […]

From Our Nation's Capitol The AKC Government Relations team continues to monitor Congress for issues of interest to dog owners. Visit our 2019 Legislation Tracking page and click on “US Fed” on the map to get the latest updates on federal bills currently being monitored by the AKCThe AKC Government Relations team continues to monitor Congress for […]

Disappointment at some point or another is inevitable in Conformation Knowing the right way to deal with setbacks is the key to success and enjoyment in the sport Be aware of your show dogs, your breeding dogs, and your relationships with other competitors. Trust your instinct and know when to end a dog's show career […]

Tuesday, August 20, 2019 The American Kennel Club’s Government Relations Department (AKC GR) has learned that the Legislation and Rules Committee of Stamford, Connecticut’s Board of Representatives is scheduled to consider an ordinance proposal tonight that seeks to limit consumer choice by requiring pet shops in the city that sell dogs and cats to source […]