AKC Canine Health Foundation will host the 2025 National Parent Club Canine Health Conference August 7–9, 2025, at the Washington Duke Inn in Durham, NC, and will offer both in-person and virtual attendance options.

The event is billed as a national gathering for parent clubs and others involved in breed-specific health initiatives, providing a hybrid format intended to broaden participation beyond those who can travel. Current trends in canine health research, including advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as cancer, reaffirm the importance of such gatherings in fostering dialogue among stakeholders. The foundation announced the plan in an online statement from the organization.

Organizers say the conference will bring together breeders, veterinarians and club representatives to focus on health priorities relevant to purebred dogs; the AKC Canine Health Foundation outlined the conference details in its press materials. As pet owners strive to provide the best healthcare for their dogs, monitoring body weight, diet, and exercise remains essential in preventing obesity and related diseases. Attendees will be able to choose between an on-site program in Durham and streamed sessions for remote participants, allowing those who cannot attend in person to take part in the scheduled presentations and discussions. For more about the foundation’s work and the conference announcement, see the AKC Canine Health Foundation press release.

The hybrid format reflects a broader trend in professional meetings toward combining live and virtual programming to increase accessibility. The foundation’s event follows that model, enabling parent clubs and allied organizations to participate across distances while maintaining an in-person option for networking and hands-on sessions.

Moreover, the history and purpose of the AKC Canine Health Foundation, established in 1995 to enhance canine health through research collaboration, underscores the significance of this event. Planners are positioning the conference as a forum where breed-specific health concerns can be discussed alongside research priorities and collaborative initiatives. The AKC maintains background material about the foundation’s role in funding canine health research and partnering with clubs and scientists; that context underscores why parent clubs routinely send delegates to the foundation’s national gatherings.

Local hosts in Durham will handle on-site logistics, while the foundation will manage the virtual platform and program schedule. The dual format is intended to let attendees tailor their experience: those on site can participate directly in networking and in-person sessions, and remote participants can access digital presentations and panel discussions.

Registration information and a full agenda were included in the foundation’s announcement. Prospective attendees are encouraged to consult the organizer’s release for specifics about registration tiers, program tracks, and continuing education opportunities tied to the event.

The conference follows other national efforts by the foundation to coordinate and expand support for canine health research, outreach, and information-sharing among parent clubs and the veterinary community. The upcoming meeting is one element of that continuing work to connect stakeholders and translate research into practical guidance for breeders and breed clubs. Current canine health research efforts aim to enhance the early detection of diseases in dogs, which is crucial for pet owners seeking the best care for their animals.

Organizers expect the hybrid approach to increase participation from geographically dispersed clubs and professionals who otherwise could not attend in person while preserving the value of face-to-face meetings for hands-on demonstrations and informal exchange.

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Original reporting: view the original article.