Among the marvels of human ingenuity is the way various breeds of dog were developed, mentally and physically, to tackle specific jobs. Consider the farmer’s eternal war against rodents and other burrowing mammals that devastate grain stores, raid henhouses, tear up fields, dig away riverbanks, and carry disease. As their number-one weapon in subterranean warfare, […]

The AKC Museum of the Dog will open its doors on Feb. 8 at 101 Park Ave. in New York City. With hundreds of pieces of artwork and digital displays, there will be no shortage of dog-inspired artwork to admire. But if you want a place to start,  museum staff picked out their favorite must-see […]

The Virginia Senate will likely soon vote on a bill that could create a number of significant problems for dogs and dog owners in Virginia, including unreasonable tethering laws that could actually hurt dogs and a new provision that would allow local governments to pass new, stricter laws on basic standards of animal care including […]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panel for the 2019 AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15, 2019. The 2019 event will showcase the top national and international canine athletes […]

Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Visit the 2019 Legislation Tracking page and click on your state to get the latest updates on state bills monitored by the AKC. Idaho – Senate Bill 1312 would increase penalties for any person who purposely injures or harasses a service dog or a service […]

2018 was another busy year for AKC Government Relations, its state federations, and responsible dog owners and breeders advocating for dogs.  Over 2,100 bills impacting animals were monitored by AKC Government Relations department.  Several new laws impacting dog owners and breeders were enacted over the past year.  It is imperative for responsible owners to ensure […]

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 introduced in your city or county. We will provide you with resources and […]

Plump puppies may be cute, but when it comes to canine health, lean is better. Still, as is true with humans, too many dogs are overweight, according to the Association For Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). In its eighth annual survey of the girth of American pets, released in March 2015, the organization found that 53 […]

Manhattan to Missouri to Manhattan. Sounds like a Major League baseball double play, doesn’t it. In a nutshell, that’s the 37-year history of the AKC Museum of the Dog, which opens its doors — at 101 Park Ave. — Feb. 8, the outset of Westminster Weekend. Founded in 1982 in the New York Life Building […]

There are many types of nose work for dogs, from scent work to various sports like tracking, earthdog, search and rescue, or barn hunt.