Upcoming Programs

Enjoy the final day of our special exhibition, Identity & Restraint: Art of the Dog Collar. The Museum will be closed until Thursday, September 7th at 11am to prepare for the opening of our next special exhibition, Fashionable Dogs. We apologize for any inconvenience. 

Invited guests and Members at the Individual level and above are welcome to attend the opening reception for Fashionable Dogs on September 6. Join as a Member today to attend!

Identity & Restraint: Art of the Dog Collar was organized in partnership between the National Sporting Library & Museum and the American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog and was made possible through the generosity of Dr. and Mrs. Timothy J. Greenan, Garth Greenan Gallery, and Mark Anstine and Marianna Lancaster.

Identity & Restraint: Art of the Dog Collar and Fashionable Dogs are made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

The Museum is closed for installation of our next exhibition, Fashionable Dogs.

We will be open on Thursday, September 7th at 11am. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Join us for the opening reception for Fashionable Dogs! Fashionable Dogs chronicles the rise and fall of fashionable dog breeds throughout history through paintings, photography, and fashion items. 

Invitation to all exhibition opening receptions is a benefit of Membership at the Individual level and above. Not a Member? Join by August 31 at the Individual level and up for an invitation to attend.  

Individual Members and above may RSVP for up to two people. Light refreshments will be provided and festive or business casual attire is encouraged. Please note that while we love our dogs, they are not invited to this opening reception. 

For questions, please email membership@museumofthedog.org. 

Fashionable Dogs opens to the public!

Over centuries, specific breeds of dog have gone in and out of fashion as the ultimate accessory from nobility to the runway. Through paintings, fashion photography, and accessories this exhibition chronicles the rise and fall of dogs in fashion. Fashionable Dogs tracks the arc of popularity of several breeds through recent history, diving deep into the rise and fall of such breeds as the Borzoi, Greyhound, Poodle, Pekingese, Japanese Chin, French Bulldog, and Great Dane. 

Here’s your chance to visit the AKC MoD with your favorite furry friends! But, get your tickets early! These events typically sell out and we cannot guarantee there will be space the day of the event.

Roam the galleries with fellow dog owners and lovers during our pet friendly hours.
Free for Members at the Individual level and above; Non-Members $20 Humans, $5 Dogs. 

*If you will be attending with your dog(s), you will be required to sign a waiver upon entry.

Special for September 8th: Fashionable Dogs

Enjoy our new special exhibition, Fashionable Dogs! There will be fun photo ops and the debut of our newest special exhibition scavenger hunt.

Calling all storybook lovers and their stuffy friends!

Join us for a storytime program on Thursday after school at the AKC Museum of the Dog. Bring your favorite stuffed dog along for a fun adventure listening to a dog themed story, learning about different dog breeds, and completing a dog related art activity.

This program is included with general admission and free for Members. We welcome all who are interested to attend but the program is designed for 2-8 year olds and an adult learning partner.

It's a paws-itively good time!

Food and drink is not permitted in the gallery space. Please enjoy snacks before or after the program.

Due to impending inclement weather, the Museum and Bryant Park have made the difficult decision to CANCEL Paws on Parade scheduled for Saturday, September 23rd. We are sorry for any inconvenience.

Everyone’s invited to bark in Bryant Park for the second annual Paws on Parade: A Celebration for Dogs and Dog Lovers!

The AKC Museum of the Dog is excited to work in collaboration with Bryant Park to bring the dogs of NYC together for a tail-wagging good time. The event will feature collective art making, lively performers, fun photo-ops, adorable dog awards, delicious food and drink vendors, and a celebratory prance around the park. And—for one day only—leashed dogs will be invited to join their people on the lawn to sit, stay, and lounge. Spectators are encouraged to play “Dog Bingo” to see how many different kinds of dogs they can track throughout the event. Bingo cards will be available at the AKC MOD booth and can be submitted into a drawing for prizes including membership to the AKC MOD and Museum swag bags.

In order to participate in the parade, you must register your pup. All registrants will receive a special item for their dog from the AKC MOD and the first 100 registrants to check in at the event will receive some extra swag from our partners. Please see the schedule below for some of the details. More will be added as we get closer to the event!

11:00am Food and Drink Vendors open
11:30am Author/Illustrator Erin McGill will read her book, We Also Served: True Stories of Brave Animals in the Military & Other Heroic Tales in the children's area
12:00pm AKC Museum of the Dog Check In Table opens on the upper terrace
12:30pm Author/Illustrator Doug Salati will read his book, Hot Dog in the children's area
1:30pm Pup Parade around the park! We will do 3 laps totalling about 20 minutes of parade walking
2:30pm K9 Presentation in the Reading Room

This event is free and open to everyone. We hope to see everyone—dog owners and dog lovers—there to cheer on the parading pups!

Rain Date: Sunday, September 24th

Due to impending inclement weather, the Museum and Bryant Park have made the difficult decision to CANCEL Paws on Parade scheduled for Saturday, September 23rd. We are sorry for any inconvenience.

As part of Paws on Parade, join the NYPD K9 Transit Bureau for presentation on how the K9 officer and handler teams work to keep New York City safe. This talk will take place in the Reading Room section of Bryant Park (under the yellow and white umbrellas on the 42nd street side) at 2:30pm. Spectators are encouraged to bring their questions for the officers!

Calling all storybook lovers and their stuffy friends!

Join us for a storytime program on Thursday after school at the AKC Museum of the Dog. Bring your favorite stuffed dog along for a fun adventure listening to a dog themed story, learning about different dog breeds, and completing a dog related art activity.

This program is included with general admission and free for Members. We welcome all who are interested to attend but the program is designed for 2-8 year olds and an adult learning partner.

It's a paws-itively good time!

Food and drink is not permitted in the gallery space. Please enjoy snacks before or after the program.

Join the New York Adventure Club for an exclusive after-hours pastel painting workshop at the AKC Museum of the Dog! 

Led by award-winning artist Karen Miura and her dog, Lucy, our fun and relaxed artistic experience will include:

• Private access to the AKC Museum after the doors close to the public

• A step-by-step demonstration on pastel painting dogs — bring a photo of your pet, or use Lucy as your muse!

• A chance afterward to play with Lucy and browse the museum’s collection that commemorates, signifies, and celebrates the human-canine relationship through fine art and artifacts, and dynamic exhibits and activities

• An opportunity to visit the museum's gift shop before heading out

All painting supplies will be provided, and all art can be taken home!

*Please bring a 5x7 or 6x8 color image of your pet, along with a black and white photocopy of that photo. (Let us know at check in if you need to print yours on-site)

**Pets are not allowed for this class

***All interested are welcome, no painting experience is required

Get to know a dog breed at the AKC Museum of the Dog!
 
Each month we are highlighting one of the 200 recognized breeds in the American Kennel Club. You’ll learn the history of the breed as well as key characteristics of their anatomy and coat that help them meet the standard. Activities include art-making, stories and books, a collectable breed fact sheet, and an opportunity to meet a live dog. 

September's Breed Spotlight: Great Dane

With their imposing size, Great Danes are highly regarded, gorgeous dogs. These powerful giants are the picture of elegance and balance, with the smooth and easy stride of born noblemen. They are people pleasers who make friends easily, but are also fantastic alert dogs full of strength and courage.

This event is free for Members and included with General Admission.