A Word or Two from AKC President & CEO Dennis Sprung

A Word or Two from AKC President & CEO Dennis Sprung

I am excited to announce that the Danish-Swedish Farmdog has received full recognition and is the AKC’s 202nd breed. The Danish-Swedish Farmdog is eligible to compete in the Working Group. Of course, a breed that is newly recognized does not mean the breed is newly created. Breeds that gain full AKC recognition have existed for many decades, and some are ancient. Joining the Working Group, the Danish-Swedish Farmdog is a people-oriented, friendly, loving companion. The breed was originally known as the Danish Pinscher and could be found on farms in Denmark and Southern Sweden as a multi-purpose barnyard dog. The Danish-Swedish Farmdog performed a variety of jobs, but its specialty was vermin control. These compact dogs are versatile, love to work, and enjoy a challenge. They are agile and very fast, needing daily exercise. This breed is low maintenance when it comes to grooming, with occasional brushing and bathing being all that they need to look their best.

AKC recognition offers the breed the opportunity to compete in most AKC sports and events, as there are over 26,000 held each year. To become an AKC-recognized breed, there must be an active following and interest in the breed by owners in the US and an established breed club of responsible owners and breeders. There also must be a sufficient population of dogs in the United States, geographically distributed throughout the country. Breeds working towards full recognition are recorded in AKC’s Foundation Stock Service® (FSS®). Additional information on the process can be found at: www.akc.org

I congratulate the 2024 Breeder of the Year by Sport recipients. Through this award we acknowledge individuals who have excelled at breeding dogs that have proven to be outstanding in AKC sports over an extended period. The commitment to preserve, protect, and improve a breed represents the very essence of the AKC. The AKC Breeder of the Year by Sport Award is given to those who have dedicated themselves to improving the health, temperament, and performance of dogs in each sport.

The 2024 Breeder of the Year by Sport award recipients are:

• Pointing Breed Field Events: Calvin and Irene Palmer, GSP
• Retriever Field Events: David G. Aul, Labradors
• Spaniel Field Events: Kim and Bethann Wiley, E. Cocker Spaniels
• Hound Field Events: Travis Still, Beagles
• Herding: Alan and Marie Koebke, Border Collies
• Lure Coursing: Anne Midgarden, Borzoi
• Earthdog: Sandra Gillen, Border Terriers
• Coonhounds: Kolby and Robert Scarberry, B&T Coonhounds
• Agility: Estelle Kapsner, Poodles
• Obedience: Joyce Norris, Border Collies
• Rally: Jami Meath, GSP
• Tracking: Julie Richards, German Shepherds