Two canine officers were recognized for their work March 26 in Raleigh, North Carolina as part of AKC's new Canine Officer Program, which honors dogs who work in a public service role for government agencies. The two K-9s are the first dogs recognized by the new program that was introduced Feb. 16. Sig, a German […]

Each year during the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, magnificent show dogs are recognized for their adherence to the breed standard, and well-trained purebreds and mixed breeds alike show off their skills in obedience and agility competitions. But this year, during the final day of the annual dog show, the American Kennel Club is shining […]

Temperament Testing is an important characteristic for any breed.  There are several AKC Parent Clubs which are currently participating in having the AKC recognize their breed as having passed a temperament test or certification. Some Parent Clubs have their testing administered by the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) and some conduct their own testing.  AKC […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®), the world's largest dog registry and leading industry authority and advocate for dogs, is pleased to announce that 23 exceptional students from 16 states have been awarded the American Kennel Club (AKC®) Junior Scholarship for 2018. The scholarships are offered to high school, college and graduate school students, and range […]

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 […]

Every day, thousands of pets are imported into the continental United States for the purpose of sale or transfer in retail or retail rescue markets. According to the American Pet Product Distributors Association (APPA) annual survey, Americans currently own approximately 80 million dogs, and acquire approximately 8 million dogs per year.  Even if the per […]

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 […]

Yesterday the Michigan Senate passed Senate Bill 741, which will prohibit municipalities from enacting breed-specific policies. AKC supports this bill, which protects dog owners while still allowing communities to enact laws that hold all dog owners accountable. Scroll down to the sixth page of the Senate Journal (page 532) to see the official vote for […]

The AKC Club Development Department supports AKC clubs. Our dedicated team has extensive dog sport and club experience and acts as a resource for clubs to tap into to receive guidance on holding successful events and growing membership.  Whether through sharing best practices and educational materials, providing event planning support or directing clubs to AKC […]

The Michigan Senate will likely be voting soon on a bill that seeks to protect the rights of responsible dog owners in the state by prohibiting municipalities from enacting breed-specific policies. Municipalities would still be permitted to enact other policies and regulations on dog owners, so long as these laws do not target specific breeds. […]