For much of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show’s 142-year existence, winning the country’s most famous dog show meant the fast track to retirement. Sure, sometimes a plucky soul returned the following year for another grab at the brass ring: After all, the very first Westminster Best in Show winner, the Smooth Fox Terrier Ch. […]

The AKC GoodDog!SM Helpline team is here to help you get the most out of your relationship with your canine companion. Our staff has decades of experience in training dogs and helping their owners foster and build a long-lasting bond. The AKC GoodDog!SM Helpline trainers are passionate about what they do, and committed to your success in […]

National Champion Beats Dogs from 49 States and 21 Countries GCHP CH Pinnacle Tennessee Whiskey, a Whippet known as “Whiskey,” triumphed over more than 5,000 entries to earn a $50,000 cash prize and the title of Best in Show at the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin, held December 15-16, 2018 in Orlando, Fla. […]

Whiskey is typically an acquired taste. But at the largest-ever AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin on December 15 and 16, judges and spectators alike toasted a 3-year-old Whippet by that name who went all the way to Best in Show under judge Elliott B. Weiss. The First Whippet Winner Platinum Grand Champion Pinnacle […]

At a recent dog show, a dog of another toy breed entered the ring, and he had a very obvious marking that his breed standard calls an “extremely serious fault.”  A very longtime breeder of this breed was showing him. What was the breeder thinking?  Was he making points? Was he hoping the judge didn’t […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®) honored recipients of the AKC® Lifetime Achievement Awards at the annual Delegates Meeting Luncheon, in conjunction with the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship. The winners received an engraved silver Revere bowl. A larger Tiffany and Co. bowl, engraved with the names of all recipients past and present, will remain on permanent display […]

Rescue Pup Uses Her Nose to Keep America Safe  Beagle-mix Millie was seeking a new home through a rescue group when the US Customs and Border Patrol found the energetic pup and put her to work with its Beagle Brigade. Now Millie is employed at the Miami (FL) International Airport, stopping contraband from entering the country. Read on to […]

The following breeders have met the requirements for the Breed and Levels recorded at the time of the application. The American Kennel Club is pleased to recognize these breeders for their contribution to the sport and maintaining the tenets of the Breeder of Merit program. (current as of  7/15/24, last updated 7/17/24) [accordion] [accordion_panel title="Platinum"] […]

Donna Elizares is 88, yet she still embraces the mental and physical dynamics of dog-ring challenges. Since 1946, when she was a 16-year-old showing a Pekingese in conformation, Elizares, of Damascus, Ore., has competed in American Kennel Club (AKC) sports. She was inducted into the Papillon Club of America Hall of Fame in 2017 and […]

Commercial Filming at Events Contractual Policy (April 2005 Board meeting, amended August 2016, November 2017 & October 2020) Effective December 1, 2017 All rights to the commercial filming, electronic transmission, broadcast, distribution of images and exploitation of all events held under AKC rules are owned by AKC (“commercial filming and/or electronic transmission”).  AKC has the […]