The American Kennel Club doesn’t just put on dog shows — they also work to educate people about responsible dog ownership, canine safety, and more. A part of that educational effort comes in the form of Canine Ambassadors.
Canine Ambassadors are teams of dogs and owners who are members of AKC affiliated clubs. They visit schools and youth organizations — like Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups, local libraries, or the Boys and Girls Club — to make presentations. The Canine Ambassadors work closely with the club’s appointed Public Education Coordinator. Often, the PEC will help the Canine Ambassadors make presentations; the Public Education Coordinator may do the talking while the Canine Ambassadors do demonstrations.
The American Kennel Club provides lots of resources to help Canine Ambassadors make presentations. You can sign up for the bimonthly newsletter, download reproducible exercises and games for kids, and get assistance with contacting schools and youth organizations to set up presentations. The AKC also mails state-by-state directories of all Canine Ambassadors to teachers and educators upon request — so if you want to set up a demonstration, it is very easy to find a Canine Ambassador in your local area.
Interested in becoming an AKC Canine Ambassador? Visit www.akc.org to get started. You do need to be a member of an AKC affiliated club — as a Canine Ambassador, you represent your club and your breed. Keep in mind that not all dogs make good Canine Ambassadors. If your dog is uneasy around children, she might not be a good choice for the program.
Many AKC members find being a Canine Ambassador very rewarding. If you like to work with children, enjoy showing off your canine good citizen, and want to become involved with animal education, this is the perfect opportunity! Working as a Canine Ambassador is both rewarding and fun.