The AKC works with several non-AKC service and sports organizations to recognize the titles that AKC-registered dogs earn in their programs. This includes the AKC Therapy Dog titling program and the AKC Search & Rescue title program. AKC also recognizes titles of the Barn Hunt Association (BHA); North American Diving Dogs (NADD); the North American Flyball […]

Meet Meghan Ponton: Meeting Agility Goals Name: Meghan Ponton Age: 16 Hometown: Fredericksburg, VA Grade: 11th Family: Parents, Steve and Becky Ponton Once Meghan Ponton began her dog training career with her family’s first dog, she never looked back. She improvised with what she found around the house to make jumps, and it wasn’t long before she built her own full-scale agility equipment. With Dash (Dash of Schooler’s Hill RN AX AXJ OF), she […]

In 1991, the Labrador Retriever began its uninterrupted reign as the most popular breed in the U.S., ending the Cocker Spaniel's 23 years in the top position. As the No. 1 breed of the 1940s, the Cocker Spaniel, enjoyed a renaissance in the ’80s, climbing back into the top spot from 1983–1990. That feat meant that […]

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, […]

There just seems to be no stopping the Labrador Retriever! For a record 29th year (2019), the versatile sporting breed reigns supreme on the American Kennel Club registry list, a run like no other breed has seen in the record books. Changes in the top ten Little changed in the top ten standings from 2018. Following […]

The American Kennel Club currently recognizes 196 breeds! With so many breeds to learn about, AKC Public Education has introduced a new program for children ages 8-13, however anyone is welcome to participate! AKC Breed of the Week for Kids provides participants with a new breed each week about which they can learn. Children navigate […]

Susan Kustrup, owner of Tallie Farms Beagles in Manahawkin, NJ, has lived in New Jersey all her life. She is an AKC Breeder of Merit, having bred and shown dogs since 1977, and has bred and shown Tallie Farms Beagles for the past 15 years. She is a past board member of the Central New Jersey Hound Association.   AKC: How did you get started in breeding dogs? Susan: I started […]

Dedicated dog lovers tend to be very kind people. We share our hearts and homes (and for some lucky pups, even the foot of our beds) with our canine pals. Surely there is nothing wrong with sharing our favorite people foods with our dogs too, right? Not necessarily. Many of the foods, such as fruits […]

In 2003, when their sister Carol was critically ill and in a coma, long-time Afghan Hound fanciers Francine and Honi Reisman entered her Manhattan hospital room to an unusual sight. Iris Love, the famous archaeologist and dog fancier, was lying face down on the floor, her arms stretched out at her sides. “She had covered […]

For Riley Capton, the best part of Junior Showmanship and the hardest part are the same. Riley loves her Russell Terrier — Indy — but she admits showing a terrier comes with some difficulties. “They're little, headstrong dogs and they know what they want, and they'll do what they want when they feel like it," […]