The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is delighted to announce the judging panel for the 2016 AKC National Owner-Handled Series Finals (NOHS). The Finals will be held in December in Orlando, Florida as part of the AKC National Championship, hosted in partnership with Royal Canin. Breed and group judging will be held Friday, December 16th, with […]

Originally published in In Session, Summer 2016. Everyone loves a happy ending.  And some of the most heartwarming are those of lost dogs being reunited with their owners.  Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico knows this personally through the incredible story of her Shih Tzu “Kiwi” – a story she described as “a sad experience […]

Yesterday, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service launched a new web site intended to help international travelers easily determine travel requirements for pets.  The site, called APHIS Pet Travel, provides up-to-date information and import requirements for over 130 countries and territories, including required time frames for obtaining a health certificate, updating vaccinations, diagnostic testing, […]

Drafting, or carting, is a sport most commonly associated with large draft breeds like Bernese Mountain Dogs and Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs. But all breeds can compete in the sport – and many dogs enjoy pulling their own weight! Former shelter dog Dino, formally known as Woodacre’s Court Jester, recently added three more titles in […]

In late June, the AKC Government Relations team joined members of the New Jersey Federation of Dog Clubs (NJFDC) for their annual lobby day at the state capitol in Trenton.   A new video provides a glimpse into the message, hard work and accomplishments of that day. Federation members brought several dogs to help meet and […]

Loudon’s Maggie THDD CGC owned by Rennie Loudon of Warwick, RI Maggie is a Reading Education Assistance Dog.  The AKC Canine Partners member is certified with Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs and registered with R.E.A.D. Intermountain Therapy Animals and Cold Noses Warm Hearts. She recently was bestowed with the AKC Therapy Dog Distinguished title for […]

Members of the Quincy Kennel Club (QKC) recently supported the American Cancer Society by particpating in the Relay for Life of Adams County with their dogs.  Held July 8th at Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois, the event raised more than $30,000 for cancer research. Approximately 300 people attended to celebrate and remember those that have battled cancer.  QKC members […]

Water was a common theme among this year’s photo-contest winners—images of dogs on beaches, at dock diving competitions, and in snow. Others showcased canine beauty in nature, silhouetted against a blazing sunset or bright blue skies. Then there’s one that made us all smile—a gray-muzzled retriever and a gray-haired man exchanging a glance through a […]

The winners of this year’s photo contest created unforgettable images by placing their models in vivid landscapes. A red barn, for example, provides a perfect backdrop to show the range of Newfoundland colors. Seagrass complements the straight, coarse coat of a tiny brown dog. A German Shorthaired Pointer stands on a rock, staring out at […]

Every day K-9 officers and their handlers put their lives on the line to protect their communities. In New York City, the job is bigger than most, which is why the NYPD has five distinct K-9 units. The NYPD uses three breeds: the German Shepherd, the Belgian Malinois, and the Labrador Retriever. Learn more about […]