Everything about The American Kennel Club totally explained
The
American Kennel Club (or
AKC) is a
registry of
purebred dog pedigrees in the
United States. Beyond maintaining its pedigree registry, this
kennel club also promotes events for purebred dogs, including the
Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, an annual event which predates the official forming of the AKC, and the
AKC/Eukanuba National Championship. The AKC isn't part of the International Canine Organisation,
Fédération Cynologique Internationale, as most other countries' kennel clubs are.
Dog registration
The AKC isn't the only registry of purebred dogs, but it's the one with which most Americans are familiar. For a dog to be registered with the AKC, the dog's parents must be registered with the AKC as the same
breed, and the litter in which the dog is born must be registered with the AKC. Once these criteria are met, the dog can be registered as purebred by the AKC.
The top 5 dogs registered for 2007 are the same as 2006:
Registration indicates only that the dog's parents were registered as one recognized breed; it doesn't necessarily indicate that the dog comes from healthy or show-quality blood lines. Nor is registration necessarily a reflection on the quality of the breeder or how the puppy was raised. In 2006, the Board of Directors of the AKC signed a contract with
Petland pet stores to facilitate the registration of dogs sold by Petland and bred by the Hunte Corporation, the largest commercial dog breeder (sometimes referred to as a
puppy mill) in the U.S. After a brief flurry of controversy, the AKC rescinded the Petland contract, but as AKC Chairman Ron Menaker notes, the AKC has "been registering AKC eligible puppies from Petland, and every other company selling AKC registrable puppies" "for the past 122 years."
Registration is necessary only for breeders (so they can sell registered puppies) or for purebred
conformation show or purebred
dog sports participation.
(AKC), national organization in the United States devoted to the advancement and welfare of pure-bred dogs. It is comprised of approximately 500 autonomous clubs. A delegate represents each club in the AKC's legislative body, which votes on the rules and regulations that govern dog shows and obedience and field trials. The AKC keeps a registry of recognized breeds and records the ancestry of registered pure-bred dogs in its stud book. It also provides educational materials for dog owners and sponsors rescue groups for each breed.
See the official publications of the American Kennel Club, including The Complete Dog Book (18th ed. 1992).
AKC and health
Even though the AKC supports some canine health research and has recently been running advertising campaigns implying that the AKC is committed to healthy dogs, the AKC's role in furthering dog health is controversial. The AKC has no health standards for breeding. The only breeding restriction is age (a dog can be no younger than 8 months). Furthermore, the AKC prohibits member clubs from imposing stricter regulations, that is, an AKC breed club can't require a higher breeding age,
hip dysplasia ratings, genetic tests for inheritable diseases, or any other restrictions. (Member clubs do have the power to define the looks of the breed, or
breed standard.)
As a result, attention to health among breeders is purely voluntary. By contrast, many dog clubs outside the US do require health tests of breeding dogs. The
German Shepherd Club of Germany
, for example, requires hip and elbow X-rays in addition to other tests before a dog can be bred. Such breeding restrictions are not allowed in AKC member clubs. As a result, some US breeders have established parallel registries or health databases outside of the AKC; for example, the
Berner Garde established such a database in 1995 after genetic diseases reduced the average lifespan of a
Bernese Mountain Dog to 7 years. The Swiss Bernese Mountain Dog club introduced mandatory hip X-rays in 1971.
For these, and other reasons, a small number of breed clubs have not yet joined the AKC so they can maintain stringent health standards, but, in general, the breeders' desire to show their dogs at AKC shows such as the
Westminster Dog Show has won out over these concerns.
Contrary to most western nations organized under the International Kennel Federation (of which the AKC isn't a member), the AKC doesn't discourage
docked tails and cropped ears in its standards, a practice most countries now condemn outright.
Indefinite Listing Privilege Program / Purebred Alternative Listing Program
The Indefinite Listing Privilege Program (ILP) is an AKC program that provides purebred dogs who may not have been eligible for registration a chance to register "indefinitely". There are various reasons why a purebred dog might not be eligible for registration; for example, the dog may be the product of an unregistered litter, or have unregistered parents. Many dogs enrolled in the ILP program were adopted from animal shelters or rescue groups, in which case the status of the dog's parents is unknown. Dogs enrolled in ILP may participate in AKC companion and performance activities, but not conformation.
As of February 1, 2008, the name of the program will be changed to the Purebred Alternative Listing Program. Enrolees of the program will receive various new benefits, including a subscription to
Family Dog Magazine, a certificate for their dog's place in the PAL, and information about AKC Pet Healthcare and microchipping. Dogs currently in the ILP Program will keep their original numbers.
AKC National Championship
The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship is an annual event held in both Tampa, FL, and Long Beach, CA. The show is by invitation only. The dogs invited to the show have either finished their championship from the bred-by-exhibitor class or ranked in the Top 25 of their breed. Can often be seen on major t.v. stations when occuring.
Open foundation stock
The
Foundation Stock Service (FSS) is an AKC program for breeds not yet accepted by the AKC for full recognition, and not yet in the AKC's Miscellaneous class. The AKC FSS requires that at least the parents of the registered animal are known. The AKC won't grant championship points to dogs in these breeds until the stud book is closed and the breed is granted full recognition.
Activities
The AKC sanctions events in which dogs and handlers can compete. These are divided into three areas:
Conformation shows
Companion events, in which all registered and ILP dogs can compete. These include:
Performance events, which are limited to certain entrants; ILP dogs of the correct breed are usually eligible:
AKC policy toward working dog sport events that include protection phases, such as Schutzhund, has changed according to prevailing public sentiment in the United States. In 1990, as well-publicized dog attacks were driving public fear against many breeds, the AKC issued a ban on protection sports for all of its member clubs. After the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001, Americans began to take a more positive attitude toward well-trained protection dogs, and in July 2003 the AKC decided to allow member clubs to hold a limited number of protection events with prior written permission. In 2006 the AKC released rules for its own Working Dog Sport events, very similar to Schutzhund.
Recognized breeds
As of April 2007, the AKC fully recognizes 157 breeds with 4 additional breeds granted partial status in the Miscellaneous class. Another 58 rare breeds can be registered in its Foundation Stock Service.
The AKC divides dog breeds into seven groups, one class, and the Foundation Stock Service, consisting of the following (as of April 2007):
Sporting Group: 26 breeds developed as bird dogs. Includes Pointers, Retrievers, Setters, and Spaniels.
Hound Group: 23 breeds developed to hunt using sight (sighthounds) or scent (scent hounds). Includes Greyhounds and Beagles.
Working Group: 25 large breeds developed for a variety of jobs, including guarding property, guarding livestock, or pulling carts. Includes Siberian Huskys and Bernese Mountain Dogs.
Terrier Group: 27 feisty breeds some of which were developed to hunt vermin and to dig them from their burrows or lairs. Size ranges from the tiny Cairn Terrier to the large Airedale Terrier.
Toy Group: 21 small companion breeds Includes Toy Poodles and Pekineses.
Non-Sporting Group: 17 breeds that don't fit into any of the preceding categories, usually larger than Toy dogs. Includes Bichon Frises and Miniature Poodles.
Herding Group: 20 breeds developed to herd livestock. Includes Rough Collies and Belgian Shepherds.
[Bestin Show]:over 150 breeds [AllBreeds]
Miscellaneous Class: 5 breeds that have advanced from FSS but that are not yet fully recognized. After a period of time that ensures that good breeding practices are in effect and that the gene pool for the breed is ample, the breed is moved to one of the seven preceding groups.
Foundation Stock Service (FSS) Program: 57 breeds. This is a breed registry in which breeders of rare breeds can record the birth and parentage of a breed that they're trying to establish in the United States; these dogs provide the foundation stock from which eventually a fully recognized breed might result. These breeds can't participate in AKC events until at least 150 individual dogs are registered; thereafter, competition in various events is then provisional.
Other AKC programs
The AKC also offers the Canine Good Citizen program. This program tests dogs of any breed (including mixed breed) or type, registered or not, for basic behavior and temperament suitable for appearing in public and living at home.
The AKC also supports Canine Health with the Canine Health Foundation http://www.akcchf.org/
AKC and legislation
The AKC tracks all dog related legislation in the United States, lobbies lawmakers and issues legislative alerts on the internet asking for citizens to contact public officials. They are particularly active in combating breed-specific legislation such as bans on certain breeds considered dangerous.
Alleged Animal Rights Abuse
The AKC has been criticized by animal rights activists and organizations such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. They liken the AKC to the Ku Klux Klan due to its interest in breeding a "master race" of dogs. They also criticize the sale of dogs, especially in light of the current animal overpopulation crisis. During the 2008 Westminster Dog Show, they aired a public service announcement condemning the purchasing of dogs from breeders.
Further Information
Get more info on 'American Kennel Club'.
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