Veterinarians recommend that all dogs receive preventative health care measures, such as core vaccinations, heartworm and tick-borne disease testing, and deworming for intestinal parasites. There are considerations for these diseases and their prevention strategies that are specific breeding dogs, as we strive to keep them safe through pregnancy and produce healthy puppies. Core vaccinations Distemper […]

The story of “Woodbine, the Pandemic Puppy” starts with Christmas 2019 when James Canavan surprised his wife, Breedette Hayes, with a gift book, “The Curious History of Irish Dogs,” by David Blake Knox. “We live in New York City but are originally from Ireland, so we were keen to learn more about native breeds,” says […]

Happy New Year! As we move into 2022, we are pausing to reflect on all that happened in canine legislation in 2021 and looking ahead to what that means for purebred dog owners and breeders in 2022. Things were not entirely back to pre-COVID times last year, but it didn’t stop the Government Relations department […]

News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Arizona – House Bill 2323 states that for the purposes of homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, the breed of dog may not be considered for underwriting or determining risk or loss, questionnaires or surveys regarding the presence of a […]

There are two kinds of pointers at dog shows. The first type is the Pointer, an elegant dog with a dished face, tail shaped like a bee stinger, and the hard-wired instinct to signal the location of camouflaged birds with the slow-motion lift of a front paw. The other pointers, by contrast, are found in […]

Mudi and Russian Toy Bring Recognized Breeds to 199 The American Kennel Club (AKC®), the world’s largest purebred dog registry and leading advocate for dogs, announced today that the Mudi and Russian Toy have received full recognition, and are eligible to compete in the Herding Group and Toy Group, respectively. These additions bring the number […]

The Mudi (pronounced "MOO-dee"), one of two newly-recognized American Kennel Club breeds gaining full recognition January 1, brings a little bit of everything to the table. But make no mistake about it, this herding breed with Hungarian origin comes with a few caveats. “If not mentally and physically challenged, the Mudi can be barky and […]

News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Connecticut – Deputy Speaker Mushinsky has met with two state agencies regarding legislation for therapy dog recognition. A bill is expected to be re-drafted and re-filed for next year. Connecticut – In an October 28 Connecticut Post opinion, […]

Issues at the City, County, and Metropolitan Levels, and in US Territories The AKC Government Relations Department is pleased to assist dog owners with canine legislation issues in their local communities, but we can’t help unless we are aware of the proposal. Please contact us at (919) 816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org when new laws are discussed or introduced […]

The following list highlights some of the AKC Government Relations’ (AKC GR) legislative successes through July 12, 2024.  These and other victories have been won in cooperation with AKC federations, clubs, and responsible dog owners and breeders around the country who continue to work tirelessly to promote positive canine legislation in their state and community. […]