While all dogs should have a basic soundness, their construction varies depending on breed and purpose. Understanding a dog's conformation requires looking at the canine from all angles. Even though there is nothing you can do to change your current dog's genetics, you can prevent injury and work on strengthening weak areas. Let's be honest: […]

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. […]

Dogs bred and trained for hunting are driven by instinct to point. Non-hunting breeds may also lift a paw and point for a variety of reasons. Pointing helps dogs to work in tandem as a team with their handlers. You're out for a walk with your dog or perhaps just playing in the yard. Suddenly, […]

At AKC shows, dogs are organized into 7 groups: Hound, Working, Sporting, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding. Learn about what makes each group unique.

We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles in Agility, Coursing Ability, Rally, Obedience, Scent Work, Tracking and Trick Dog. Big congrats to the first All-American to earn the Scent Work Masters title and the seventh All-American to earn the Obedience Trial Championship! AGILITY Master Agility Championships (MACH)  Multiple Master Agility […]

The 2019 winners of the AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE) were announced September 23. This year's five winners include a Rottweiler who comforted survivors of mass shootings across the country, an Explosive Detection Dog (EDD) Labrador Retriever, a Doberman Pinscher who has participated in 29 missing person searches, a Dalmatian who doubles […]

The AKC® Humane Fund is proud to announce the winners of the 20th annual AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). These awards celebrate five loyal, hard-working dogs that have significantly improved the lives of their owners and communities. One award is presented in each of the following five categories: Uniformed Service K-9, Therapy, […]

Love dogs? Love stocking up on back-to-school essentials? Then this is the shopping list for you. From lunch bags and backpacks to pens and pencils, here are some of our favorite supplies perfect for letting your — or your child's — pet-loving personality shine. 1. “Best in Show” Pencils for Dog-Lovers U.S. Toy Dog Pencils […]

While the benefits of pet ownership far outweigh the costs, every responsible dog owner knows that along with love and companionship comes financial responsibility. An online survey of more than 1,000 visitors to www.akc.org determined what responsible owners can expect to pony-up for their pooch:  One-time costs such as a crate, spaying/neutering or emergency vet […]

The AKC currently registers 200 dog breeds. The chart below lists all AKC recognized breeds and the year they first became registrable with the AKC.  DATE – BREED 1878 – Pointer  1878 – Retriever (Chesapeake Bay)  1878 – Spaniel (Clumber)  1878 – Spaniel (Cocker)  1878 – Setter (English)  1878 – Setter (Gordon)  1878 – Setter […]