How to Search for Dog Events on the American Kennel Club Website

Updated

The American Kennel Club (AKC) website at akc.org provides an Event Search tool that lets you look up dog events such as conformation shows, performance trials, and other AKC-sanctioned activities. You can reach it from the main navigation on the homepage, where "Event Search" appears alongside other primary links like "Find a Puppy," "Register," and "Shop." The search is useful whether you want to enter a dog in an event, plan to attend as a spectator, or check what's happening in a particular area.

Where to Find Event Search

On the AKC homepage, the primary navigation includes a set of top-level links. According to the site's own navigation, these include:

  • Event Search
  • Find a Puppy
  • Register
  • Shop
  • AKC TV
  • Sign In

Event Search is the entry point for locating upcoming or past AKC events. Selecting it takes you to a search interface rather than a static list, so you can narrow results by your own criteria instead of browsing everything.

What You Can Search For

The AKC sanctions a broad range of events, and the Event Search tool is designed to cover them. Typical categories include:

Category Examples
Conformation Breed judging shows where dogs are evaluated against breed standards
Performance Obedience, rally, agility, tracking, herding, and similar titling events
Companion Events such as Canine Good Citizen testing and trick dog titles

The exact filter labels and available event types are set by the AKC and may change, so treat the categories above as the general scope rather than a fixed menu.

How to Narrow Results by Location or Date

Event Search is built around filtering, which is what makes it practical when there are hundreds of events nationwide. In general you can:

  1. Set a location — enter a state, region, or search radius so results are limited to events you can realistically attend.
  2. Choose a date range — look at a specific weekend, a month, or an upcoming window.
  3. Select an event type — filter to conformation, performance, or another category if you already know what you want.
  4. Open an event listing — each result typically shows the event name, dates, location, and the organizing club, with further details on the event page.

The expected result is a shortlist of events that match your filters, each linking to more information such as the premium list, entry deadlines, and the club running the event.

Why the Event Information Matters

For exhibitors, the event listing is where you confirm dates, location, and the club contact before entering — entry deadlines and eligibility rules are set per event, so the listing is the authoritative starting point. For spectators, the same listings tell you when and where to show up, and many events are open to the public at no cost, though this varies by event and is not guaranteed by the listing alone.

If you are new to AKC events, a practical first step is to search your own state for an upcoming conformation or performance event, open the listing, and read the club's details before deciding whether to enter or attend.

Common Points to Check

  • Entry vs. attendance — a listing being public does not automatically mean you can enter a dog; entry usually requires an AKC-registered or eligible dog and adherence to the event's closing date.
  • Event type terminology — "conformation," "performance," and "companion" are distinct tracks with different rules, so pick the filter that matches your goal.
  • Location accuracy — searching by state or radius is more reliable than searching by a city name that may not match the event's official location.

For breed-specific questions, the site also offers a breed selector and breed pages, but those are separate from Event Search and serve a different purpose.