Educational event for responsible dog ownership is coming to New York City

Previous AKC Meet the Breeds event at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City. (Photo courtesy of The American Kennel Club and John Ricard)

The American Kennel Club (AKC), a nonprofit registry of purebred dogs in the United States, recently announced its upcoming annual AKC Meet the Breeds event, a canine showcase that will provide dog lovers with the opportunity to meet and interact with hundreds of dogs and puppies. The event will also give attendees valuable insights into responsible dog ownership and helps them understand which dog breeds might best suit their lifestyle, according to AKC.¹

The event, which is billed as “America’s largest educational dog extravaganza,”¹ will take place on January 25 and January 26, 2025, at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City. The event will be sponsored by Purina Pro Plan.

Gina DiNardo, AKC executive secretary, spoke on the organization’s 2023 Meet the Breeds event, in a news release. "Last year, more than 30,000 people came out to enjoy all that AKC Meet the Breeds has to offer," she said.¹ "We are thrilled to return to the Javits Center and again provide tri-state area dog lovers with the one-of-a-kind experience of meeting and playing with hundreds of dogs, learning directly from breed experts, and experiencing exciting demonstrations of canine training and athleticism."

According to AKC, the event will showcase many different dog breeds, from Affenpinschers to Yorkshire Terriers, and Dalmatians to Chow Chows. It will also give pet lovers the opportunity to¹:

• Meet and play with more than 100 different dog breeds
• Discover new breeds and talk to experts to determine which breeds work for their lifestyle
• Learn about responsible pet ownership
• See demonstrations of dog sports and working dogs exhibiting their skills
• Observe a demo ring, which will showcase dog sports, K-9 demonstrations, and other canine activities²
• Participate in family-friendly games and photo opportunities, including a Kid's Zone with crafts and games

For participating dogs, proof of current vaccinations is required. Additionally, dog restraint collars or training equipment, including prong collars, e-collars, and gentle leaders are prohibited. Puppies aged more than 4 months and adult dogs are encouraged to participate, with the AKC recommending at least 4 adults and 2 puppies.²

Dog ownership facts

A Forbes Advisor survey of 10,000 dog owners, with 200 owners surveyed from every US state set out to find out which state has the most responsible pet owners. The survey revealed that 45% of dog owners take their canine companions to the veterinarian more than once a year for check-ups and 43% take their dog to the veterinarian at least once a year. Additionally, according to the dog owners surveyed, 84% of dogs are up to date on their vaccinations.

The following were the top 10 states with the most responsible dog owners³:

1. Washington
2. New York
3. Maryland
4. Florida
5. Georgia
6. Vermont
7. Texas
8. New Hampshire
9. New Jersey
10. Alaska

The state with the least response dog owners, according to the survey, was Arizona, with a score of 0 out of 100. Closely following Arizona was Idaho, Oklahoma, Kentucky, and New Mexico.³

References

3. Horton C, Smith KA. States with the most responsible dog owners, ranked. Forbes. January 5, 2024. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/pet-insurance/states-with-most-responsible-dog-owners/