The Major League Baseball season has officially begun and stadiums are pretty much at full capacity. What better way to celebrate than by planning to take your pup to the park to catch a game? Believe it or not, many of the MLB teams sponsor dog-friendly nights so that you can enjoy watching your favorite […]

Does your dog have a fitness routine? When I started training in dog agility in the 1990s most competitors didn't know very much about canine sports medicine. It wasn't uncommon to take dogs directly from being crated at a show to quickly go run a full course—no warm-up whatsoever. Thankfully, over the last two decades, […]

Accidents happen, but as a dog owner, there are two things that no one likes to witness. First, immediately after an outdoor bathroom break, your dog comes into the house and dribbles urine across the floor. Or, worse, your adult canine looks you squarely in the eye and urinates in front of you. These could […]

Stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) is a popular summer activity that you can actually do with your dog. It combines surfing and paddling into a full-body workout. With some patience and the right equipment, you can teach your dog to ride on the board while you push merrily along. Here's what you need to know before […]

Editor’s Note: The American Kennel Club has had a long history of inclusion across our sport for exhibitors and spectators from all walks of life. We are sharing the stories and voices of LGBTQ community members. Here, Sassafras Lowrey shares tips on how to be more inclusive as dog owners and handlers. You can read […]

Having a dog door seems like it would make life so much easier. These secured entrances are built into existing doors and allow dogs to let themselves in and out of the house without you needing to do so yourself. It gives those with a fenced-in yard quick access to relieve themselves—but using one is not […]

AKC Government Relations continues to monitor Congress for issues of interest to dog owners. Visit our 2022 Legislation Tracking map and click on “Federal Bills” on the map to get the latest updates on federal bills currently being monitored by the AKC. Highlights of issues we are currently addressing on the federal level include:  U.S. Congress – […]

Loyal, athletic, vocal, and affectionate, the Swedish Vallhund is an ancient spitz breed that dates back over 1,000 years to the time of the Vikings, hence its sobriquet-Vikingarnas Dog-the Viking Dog. A small dog, the Swedish Vallhund measures about 12-13 inches for dogs and 11-12 inches for bitches at the withers. Although they may be […]

Fifteen-year-old Reagan Wallace from St. Peters, Missouri got involved with training dogs during the pandemic. Now, she’s an active dog Agility competitor, placing third at the AKC Junior Agility Championship. In addition to Agility, Wallace and her dogs now participate in a variety of AKC sports, including Rally, Fast CAT, and Obedience. Wallace competes with […]

Our dogs are extremely important parts of our daily lives. They follow our commands, work with us in various capacities, and act as faithful companions. Studies have shown that dogs provide health benefits. Service dogs have these abilities, combined with training to perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities.  During the last decade, the use of service dogs has rapidly expanded. However, more […]