The AKC Fit Dog Title is an official recognition from the American Kennel Club for dog owners who commit to keeping their dogs (and themselves) physically active. In 2023, the AKC introduced three Fit Dog titles – Bronze, Silver, and Gold – as part of its Fit Dog program to encourage healthy exercise habits. These titles are open to all dogs (purebred or mixed breed) and are earned by completing a series of fitness activities together with your dog. Once earned, the title becomes a suffix to your dog’s AKC name (for example: Fido, FITB for Bronze) and you’ll receive an official certificate.
The AKC Fit Dog title program provides a fun, structured way for owners and dogs to get moving, improve their health, and be rewarded for their efforts. It’s a non-competitive program, meaning you’re not competing against anyone else; you simply complete the requirements at your own pace and send in your documentation to earn the title.
Why did AKC create the Fit Dog program?
The main goal is to encourage regular exercise and strengthen the bond between dogs and their owners. With many pets (and people) being overweight, AKC saw a need for a structured fitness initiative. The Fit Dog program initially launched in 2018 as a way to get people and dogs active together. Early initiatives included community fun walks and even a free AKC Fit Dog Club magnet for owners who met certain walking goals. By 2023, AKC expanded the program to include official titles so you can earn recognition for maintaining a healthy lifestyle with your pup
Benefits for Dogs: Regular exercise helps dogs maintain a healthy weight, builds muscle tone, and improves cardiovascular health. It also provides mental stimulation and can reduce behavioral problems that stem from excess energy or boredom. A tired dog from a good long walk or play session is often a happier, calmer dog at home. The variety of activities encouraged by the program – from walks to swimming to agility – can also expose your dog to new experiences and skills, boosting their confidence.
Benefits for Owners: It’s not just the dogs who benefit – owners do too! Committing to the Fit Dog program gives you a reason to get outside and be active on a regular basis. Many participants report better personal fitness, more motivation to stick to an exercise routine, and the joy of bonding with their dogs through shared activities. Walking or jogging with your dog, for example, can improve your cardiovascular health and mood. The program can also be a social outlet, especially if you join community runs or group dog walks through an AKC Fit Dog club. You might meet fellow dog lovers and make new friends along the way.
Structured Motivation: Another big benefit of AKC Fit Dog titles is the structure and motivation they provide. It’s easy to say “I should exercise my dog more,” but having a clear checklist of goals (like walking X minutes per week for 8 weeks, or completing a 6-week fitness class) can keep you accountable. The titles serve as milestones to work toward.
Plus, at the end of the journey you’ll have a tangible reward – a title certificate and the pride of achieving Bronze, Silver, or Gold status.
AKC Fit Dog Title Levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold
The AKC Fit Dog titles come in three levels of achievement, progressing from easiest to most challenging. Each level has a set of requirements measured in “points”. To earn a title, you and your dog must accumulate a certain number of points by doing approved fitness activities. Here’s an overview of each level:
AKC Fit Dog Bronze Title (Novice Level)
The Bronze Fit Dog title is the entry-level (think of it as Level 1) in the Fit Dog series. It’s abbreviated FITB in AKC records. Bronze is open to any dog at least 6 months old, and it requires 5 points worth of activities completed from at least two different categories. In practical terms, this means you can’t earn all 5 points doing just one type of activity – you need a mix of exercises.
What does 5 points equate to? AKC has defined six categories of fitness activities (explained in the next section), each with point values. For Bronze, some examples of how you could reach 5 points are:
- Completing an AKC Fit Dog 6-week course (3 points) and going on a group walk event (3 points). That would give you 6 points total from 2 categories, which meets the requirement.
- OR committing to an independent walking regimen of at least 75 minutes per week for 8 weeks (3 points) and also doing one “unique” activity like a day of swimming with your dog (2 points). 3 + 2 = 5 points, across 2 categories.
- OR participating in a local 1-mile fun run or dog-friendly 5K event (3 points) and submitting proof that your dog earned a beginner-level AKC fitness-related title (like a novice agility title) during that time (2 points).
There are many possible combinations, which makes the Bronze title very achievable. The key is to include at least two categories of activity – for instance, you can’t just do two fun runs and nothing else. But you could do one fun run and one walking plan, or one course and one swim, etc.
Most Bronze participants choose the walking option as one of their categories, since it’s accessible to everyone. In fact, walking 75 minutes per week for 8 weeks is a common way to fulfill a big chunk of the Bronze requirements. That breaks down to roughly 10–11 minutes of walking per day – a great starting goal for a sedentary dog. Others might take an AKC Fit Dog class if one is offered in their area by an approved instructor. However you choose to do it, once you’ve earned 5 points and checked off activities in two or more categories, you’re ready to apply for the Bronze title!
AKC Fit Dog Silver Title (Intermediate Level)
The Silver Fit Dog title (abbreviated FITS) is the next step up. Important: You must have earned the Bronze title before you can get Silver. Silver requires 10 points from at least two categories. Essentially, it doubles the effort of Bronze and adds a bit more challenge.
For Silver, you’ll be building on what you did for Bronze. Many of the categories have “additional” requirements for the Silver level. For example, if you did the independent walking for Bronze (75 min/week for 8 weeks), to count walking again for Silver you need to do another 8 weeks of 150 minutes per week with your dog (so two more months of walks beyond Bronze). This ensures you continue the habit. Similarly, if you attended one group walk for Bronze, Silver might ask for two or more group walks beyond that. Participated in one community run for Bronze? For Silver you might need two additional organized runs completed. The program is designed this way to keep you progressing and not just repeating the exact same activities.
Some ways to earn 10 points for Silver could be:
- Take another AKC Fit Dog course (perhaps a more advanced Level 2 class) – that’s 6 points – and do a couple of extra community run/walk events – worth another 6 points. You’d end up with 12 points from 2 categories (more than the 10 required, which is fine).
- If you didn’t use the “AKC sports title” category before, you could now. Say your dog earns a higher-level agility or Fast CAT title – that can count for 4 points at Silver. Combine that with 6 points from completing the extended walking requirement, and you have 10.
- Alternatively, do the extended walking (6 points) plus a new “unique” activity that you and your dog try (4 points), such as taking up doggy parkour or skijoring for a season.
AKC Fit Dog Gold Title (Advanced Level)
The Gold Fit Dog title (abbreviated FITG) is the highest level of the program – the gold medal of canine fitness! To go for Gold, you must have completed Bronze and Silver first. Gold requires 20 points from at least two categories, which is double the Silver requirement. Earning this title demonstrates a long-term, consistent dedication to keeping your dog fit and active.
At the Gold level, the requirements build further upon Silver. Continuing the walking example: if you used independent walks as one of your categories, you’ll need to add another 8 weeks of 150 minutes/week beyond what you did for Silver (so essentially months 5 and 6 of regular walking). By the time you finish, you’d have logged 24 weeks (about 6 months) of steady walks with your pup – a wonderful achievement in itself. For group walks, you’d likewise do additional outings beyond the Silver level.
Other categories similarly expect more or higher accomplishments. Perhaps you’ll take an advanced AKC Fit Dog Level 3 course (if available) or even become involved enough to lead community walks. You might participate in several organized runs or dog 5Ks throughout the year. If your dog is a budding athlete, you could also earn more AKC performance titles (e.g. advanced agility, another Fast CAT, etc.) or a breed club working title like an advanced pack hiking title – each new title can contribute points.
Achieving the Gold AKC Fit Dog title is something to be very proud of. It represents many months (or even years) of effort. At this level, you and your dog have likely made fitness a permanent part of your lifestyle. Not only will your dog be healthier for it, but you’ll have a wonderful collection of memories – morning jogs, trail hikes, swim days, club meetups – that you shared together on the journey to Gold.
Activities That Qualify for AKC Fit Dog Titles
How exactly do you earn “points” toward a Fit Dog title? The AKC has outlined six categories of activities that count. You can pick and choose from these to reach your point total. Each category has a point value (or multiple levels of points) and specific guidelines. Here are the six categories of qualifying activities for AKC Fit Dog titles:
- AKC Fit Dog Course – These are organized fitness classes taught by an AKC Approved Fit Dog Instructor. A course typically runs for 6 weekly lessons and covers canine conditioning exercises (think stretching, balance, core strengthening, etc. for dogs). Completing a Level 1 Fit Dog course gives 3 points at Bronze. More advanced courses (Level 2, 3) can count for higher points in Silver and Gold. You can only count each course once per title level (so you can’t repeat the same class for additional points). If you don’t have an in-person class nearby, some instructors offer online courses as well – they’ll provide guidance and you report your progress. This category is great for learning proper dog fitness techniques and having an instructor ensure you and your dog exercise safely.
- Community Runs or Walks – This refers to any organized run/walk events in the community that you and your dog do together. Examples include 1-mile fun runs, 5K charity walks, “turkey trot” races around Thanksgiving, or AKC-hosted virtual races like the annual Turkey Trot and Spring Scurry. As long as the event is something you can run or walk with your dog, it can count. Typically, one event = 3 points (for Bronze), and doing additional events can yield more points at higher levels (for instance, two or more events beyond Bronze might give 6 points for Silver). To document a run, you would record the distance (at least 1 mile) and possibly time using a smartphone app or fitness tracker. Community runs are a fun way to stay active and often support good causes or foster a sense of community with fellow dog owners.
- Walks and Hikes (Independent or Group) – This is likely the core category for many people. It includes:
- Independent Walks/Hikes: the walks you do on your own with your dog, e.g. around your neighborhood or local park. The baseline requirement is 75 minutes per week for 8 weeks (for Bronze). You can spread that out however you like (e.g. 15 min, 5 days a week). For Silver and Gold, you extend this regimen for additional 8-week blocks (often upping to 150 min/week). In total, if you go through all levels, you might log over 6 months of regular walks – a fantastic habit for you both.
- Group Walks/Hikes: participating in organized group walks, such as those hosted by an AKC Fit Dog Club or a local dog walking meetup. For Bronze, attending at least one group walk (minimum ~1 mile) meets the requirement. For Silver and Gold, you’d do several more group walks beyond that. Group walks are a nice option if you enjoy socializing or if your dog benefits from the excitement of walking with other dogs.
- You can choose either independent or group walks for each title (or a mix of both), but you can’t double-dip the same points from both in the same level. Essentially, walking/hiking is one category – pick the style that suits you. This category gives 3 points at Bronze, and proportionally more at Silver (6 points) and Gold (likely 6 again) as you continue the routine. Note: Treadmill walks do not count for this category – the AKC wants you to be out and about with your dog, not just the dog trotting on a treadmill alone.
- “Unique to You and Your Dog” Activities – This is a catch-all category for any other physical activity you and your dog enjoy that doesn’t fall under the other categories. It could be swimming together, playing dog sports that aren’t specifically listed (like flying disc competitions, if not already counted elsewhere, or Canicross running), doing dog parkour (urban agility, which groups like IDPKA and All Dogs Parkour offer titling opportunities in), backpacking, skijoring, or even things like doga (dog yoga) if it’s active. Essentially, if it’s an exercise that’s special or unique to your routine, you can count it here. For Bronze, you can count one such activity for 2 points. At Silver and Gold, doing an additional unique activity could yield more points (4 points at Silver as per the checklist, likely 4 or more at Gold). The rule is generally one unique activity per title level – you can’t list five different “unique” things to rack up points in one go. This encourages you to try at least one new form of exercise with your dog at each stage.
- AKC Fitness-Related Title (Performance Sports) – If your dog has earned any AKC or AKC-recognized performance titles that involve physical activity, you can get credit in the Fit Dog program. Eligible titles include things like agility titles, AKC Fast CAT (a 100-yard dash for dogs), AKC CAT or lure coursing titles, dock diving titles (through North America Diving Dogs), flyball titles (through NAFA), herding trial titles, field trial or hunt test titles, obedience or rally titles, tracking titles, and even newer AKC programs like AKC Trick Dog or AKC Fetch It (as specified in the checklist). Essentially, any sport or activity that demonstrates your dog’s physical fitness can count. Only one title can be counted per level, and it has to be a title your dog hasn’t used for a previous Fit Dog level. For the Bronze title, if your dog has even a novice-level title in one of these sports, that’s worth 2 points. For Silver, another (or more advanced) title could count for around 4 points, and similarly for Gold (the points may depend on the level of the title). This is a great way to incorporate achievements you might already have – for example, if your dog got a Beginner Novice obedience title or a Dock Junior dock diving title during the time you’re working on Fit Dog, you get fitness points too. Even virtual titles (like AKC’s virtual titling options) are included, as long as they’re in the list of accepted ones.
- AKC Parent Club Performance Titles – Many AKC breed clubs offer their own working or performance titles to recognize the activities their breeds were developed for. For instance, some breed clubs have Pack Dog titles for dogs that complete certain hikes carrying a backpack, or Sled Dog titles for Nordic breeds that pull sleds, or carting/draft titles for working breeds. These are not AKC event titles, but the AKC recognizes them if approved by the Parent Club. In the Fit Dog program, one parent club title can be counted per level (if your dog’s breed has one and you’ve earned it). Examples: A Bernese Mountain Dog’s NDD (Novice Draft Dog) title or a Siberian Husky’s SD (Sled Dog) title would count here. Like the sports titles, each such title is typically worth 2 points at Bronze, and more (4 points, etc.) at higher levels as long as it wasn’t used before. You’ll need to provide a copy of the certificate as proof when you apply. This category is a neat way to integrate specialized activities you might do with a specific breed. If you have, say, a pack-hiking title on your German Shepherd or a coursing title from your Pharaoh Hound’s club, it can contribute to their Fit Dog accolades too.
In summary, you have a lot of flexibility in choosing activities. Some people might stick with just two or three categories throughout (like walking + running events + a sport title). Others might dabble in everything. The only rule is to use at least two categories for each title, and not reuse the exact same accomplishment for the next level. The program is meant to fit individual preferences – whether you’re a casual walker or an avid competitor, you can tailor the journey to you and your dog.
How to Earn an AKC Fit Dog Title
Earning an AKC Fit Dog title is simple and flexible. Here’s a streamlined guide to help you get started:
1. Make Sure Your Dog Is Eligible
Dogs must be at least 6 months old. Purebred dogs need to be AKC registered or have a PAL number. Mixed-breed dogs can participate through AKC Canine Partners.
2. Choose Your Title Level
Everyone starts with the Bronze title. Review the AKC FIT DOG checklist for the level you’re aiming for. Each level requires a certain number of points from at least two activity categories.
3. Complete the Required Activities
Pick qualifying activities like:
- Walking 75+ minutes/week for 8 weeks
- Attending group walks or community runs
- Taking a FIT DOG course
- Earning an AKC sport or parent club title
- Doing unique physical activities with your dog
Track your points using the checklist for Bronze (5 points), Silver (10), or Gold (20).
4. Track and Document Your Activities
Use photos, app screenshots, certificates, or AKC’s documentation form to verify what you’ve done. For walking, a weekly summary from a smartphone app or a handwritten log is enough.
5. Submit Your Application
Download the AKC FIT DOG Title Application form. Include:
- The completed checklist
- Proof of completed activities
- Your dog’s AKC number
- Submit online via the AKC Title Application Portal or by email/mail.
Once approved, AKC adds the title to your dog’s official record and sends a certificate.
