INTRODUCTION The American Kennel Club AKC is the world’s largest dog registry and the governing body for official canine sports recognized in the United States The AKC divides more than 200 registered breeds in one of seven groups Herding Hound Non-Sporting Sporting Terrier Toy and Working Recognized breeds are able to participate in more than 22,000 AKC-governed dog events each year These events include conformation obedience trials AKC Rally agility courses and lure coursing Conformation also called dog shows is an important tool used by the AKC to evaluate breeding stock The judges at these shows assess a dog’s qualities based on the breed’s official purebred standard The main considerations are overall appearance temperament and structure The highest awards a dog can win at these shows are Best in Breed First in Group or Best in Show Get ready to be introduced to each of the seven groups and learn all about each breed Discover each breed’s size and appearance personality breed history training recommendations and care tips You’ll be equipped with everything you need to know to become a successful dog owner and family member to your new pup
DRIVING DOGS The AKC’s Herding group is made up of 29 dog breeds Herding dogs are skilled and hardworking Herders were first developed to drive farm animals such as sheep and cattle The dogs worked with ranchers to move large flocks or herds from one area to another They would run frantically bark aggressively and nip at the animals heels to move them forward Many herding dogs have also become popular as pets These smart dogs enjoy being useful Whether they are competing in an organized activity or learning commands in their own backyard they take their jobs seriously Many breeds have a strong desire to please their owners
