The American Kennel Club (AKC®) is pleased to announce that Clifford W. Steele and Jeffrey Wright have been hired as Executive Field Representatives in Conformation, with Mr. Steele covering the New England area, and Mr. Wright covering the Midwest. Both started their positions in July 2021. “Both Clifford and Jeffrey have been handling dogs for […]

Dog Breed Health Testing Requirements Listed below are all AKC breeds and their health testing requirements. A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z Affenpinscher Ophthalmologist Evaluation Patella Evaluation Afghan Hound Hip Evaluation Ophthalmologist Evaluation Thyroid Evaluation Airedale Terrier Hip Evaluation Cardiac Exam Renal Disease DNA Test Ophthalmologist Evaluation Akita Hip Evaluation Ophthalmologist Evaluation Alaskan Malamute Hip Evaluation Ophthalmologist Evaluation Polyneuropathy DNA test American […]

AKC registration continues to expand for the sixth year in a row. The most popular dog breeds of 2018 were released on March 20, 2019, according to AKC registration statistics. Registration is not only beneficial for your dog, but for dogs everywhere. The American Kennel Club and its affiliates have donated over $38 million to canine […]

Wondering how popular your pooch really is? Now you can find out. The most popular dog breeds of 2019 were released on May 1, 2020 (also National Purebred Dog Day) based on 2019 AKC registration statistics. It may come as no surprise that the Labrador Retriever takes the top spot for the 29th year in a row, […]

The adorable Bichon Frise is among the canine kingdom’s great survivors, relying on charm and intelligence to weather history’s ups and downs. Bichons Frises have withstood world wars, revolutions, and the fall of empires by eagerly adapting to whatever challenge fate has sent their way. Early Beginnings as a Noble Companion The informal grouping of what […]

Hoping to meet a specific dog breed (or cat breed), or do you just want to meet all 150+ breeds? Find your favorites on our list of breeds so you won't miss a single wag, whisker, or woof! They'll all be there to meet you at the January 25-26, 2020 AKC Meet the Breeds event. […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panels for the 2021 National Owner-Handled Series (NOHS) Finals and the AKC Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida in conjunction with the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin. The […]

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 […]

Health is always a key concern for a new puppy owner. Your puppy buyers look to you as a trustworthy source of information when it comes to their new pet and might have questions ranging from puppy-proofing their home to general health. Here are a few common questions puppy buyers might have, as well as some advice that might come in handy for first-time […]

For purposes of imposing a consistent format at dog shows, the AKC family of breeds is divided into seven groups. The hounds, terriers, and toy dogs each have their own group. The herding dogs that move livestock are grouped together, and so are the big working dogs that pull, protect, patrol, and do other heavy work. Likewise, sporting dogs, […]