Warrior Ancestors Many canine historians believe that huge, fierce Molossian dogs, kept by the Ancient Greeks, were brought to British shores by Phoenician traders in the sixth century BC and became the ancestors of the early mastiff-type dogs. These canine giants were used as dogs of war. Julius Caesar, in his account of the Roman […]

Beagle Field Trials, a sport found only in the United States and Canada, started with this announcement in the Sunday Boston Herald on October 26, 1890: "A group of Beagle Owners would hold a Beagle field trial in Hyannis, Massachusetts, in a fortnight." This Group called themselves the National Beagle Club of America, and the […]

AKC Obedience Trials owe their existence to a pioneer in the sport of purebred dogs, Mrs. Helen Whitehouse Walker. Helen was a breeder of Standard Poodles and the dogs of her Carillon Kennels were quickly gaining recognition as dogs with outstanding quality and character. Like many Poodle breeders, Helen had to fight the stereotype that […]

Agility is one of the fastest-growing dog sports in the country—and for good reason. It’s incredible exercise for both you and your dog, and it forges an even deeper relationship between you. Plus, it’s exhilarating to watch as your dog nimbly and quickly crawls through tunnels, weaves around poles, and leaps through tires! Here’s everything […]

Introduction Dear Student: This resource guide -- -- was created especially for you. Making a career choice that you will be happy with is not easy. There are many things to consider before you can really make the right choice for yourself. Of course there are practical matters, such as educational requirements, that should influence […]

The official term for dog shows is conformation -- as in, the act of conforming or producing conformity. While a dog show may look like a beauty pageant, it’s not. Dogs are not being compared to each other; they’re being measured by how closely they conform to the standard of their particular breed. Why? Because […]

Ready to register your mixed breed dog or other dog not eligible for AKC Purebred Registration in the AKC Canine Partners Program? It’s easy to enroll -- and before you know it, you and your dog will be able to participate in some of our most popular dog sports, earn title recognition, sign up for our […]

Tickets are on sale now for the 2017 AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin, which returns to the Orlando Orange County Convention Center’s North/South Building this December 16th and 17th. The all-day event pass includes daytime events, evening group finals and Best in Show (on Sunday). Daytime hours are 8am – 5pm, and doors […]

Seizure response dogs are invaluable assets. They assist their owners during frightening and dangerous events. Learn more about seizure dogs here.

Canine Extravaganza, the nation’s largest celebration of dogs, returns to Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center’s North/South Building this December 16 and 17 with exciting elements for all dog lovers.    Presented by the American Kennel Club® (AKC) and Royal Canin, a global dog food brand, this two-day event takes place on Saturday and Sunday from […]