Lisa Gaertner of Pinecliff Cockers is a lifelong New Jersey resident and has owned Cocker Spaniels for the past 30 years. She is an AKC Breeder of Merit, member of the American Spaniel Club, treasurer of the Keystone Cocker Spaniel Club, and board member of the Cocker Spaniel Club of New Jersey. In addition to […]

Just like the beauty-pageant queen who is a member of Mensa, the Poodle sometimes gets swept away in an unfair stereotype: These perfectly coiffed show dogs are also amazingly smart and versatile. Nicole Sugai of Targa Poodles in Saline, Michigan, knows that firsthand: A second-generation Poodle breeder together with her mom Patti Jason and sister […]

Molly and Michael Nye, of M&M Bloodhounds, live just outside of Charlotte, N.C. Bloodhound fanciers for close to 20 years, they are members of the American Bloodhound Club, regional Bloodhound clubs, and local all-breed and obedience clubs. They are AKC Breeders of Merit, American Bloodhound Club Breeders of Merit, and they both hold offices and […]

The AKC Breeder of Merit program was introduced in October 2010. Since that time, more than 13,000 breeders have been enrolled. The program was developed to recognize those breeders that are the foundation of our sport through their participation in various AKC events and dedication to selective breeding of healthy purpose-bred purebred dogs. The Basic […]

Each month, the American Kennel Club (AKC) profiles breeders to hear how they got started and learn about their breeding program and experience with AKC Marketplace. We recently spoke with Cathy Lewandowski of SoftMaple Curly-Coated Retrievers in Croghan, N.Y. Lewandowski is an AKC Breeder of Merit who has produced versatile, top-winning dogs. Lewandowski's love for […]

The American Kennel Club, the world’s largest purebred dog registry and leading advocate for dogs, is pleased to announce that Royal Canin®, a global pet nutrition brand known worldwide for feeding champion dogs for 50 years, will be the new sponsor of the AKC Registered Handlers Program (RHP). The RHP strives to maintain high standards […]

Below are some frequently asked questions about finding information on the new AKC.org website. If you have a moment, we encourage you to read the step-by-step instructions or watch the video to familiarize yourself with the structure of the new site to help you during future visits. Select your device: Desktop Instructions Mobile Instructions Full Video Webinar […]

As a Breeder of Merit, you have demonstrated your commitment to the AKC community, to dedication to your breed(s), and to ensuring that 100% of your puppies are individually registered with the AKC. To help you achieve your puppy registration goal, we offer multiple registration options. Which option is right for you? If you prefer […]

If you're a musician, there's the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. If you're an actor, there are the Oscars. And if you're a dog breeder, the maraschino cherry atop a lifetime of hard work is to be named an American Kennel Club Breeder of the Year. After all, anyone can have a one-hit wonder, […]

  The American Kennel Club created the Foundation Stock Service® (FSS®) to answer the needs of today's rare breed fanciers. The Foundation Stock Service® is an optional record-keeping service for all purebred breeds not currently registrable with the American Kennel Club. Originally the Foundation Stock Service (FSS) program was used to bring in breeds such […]