American Kennel Club facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | AKC |
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| Formation | 1884 |
| Type | Kennel club |
| Headquarters | New York City |
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Region served
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United States |
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Official language
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English |
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a special group in the United States that keeps records of purebred dogs. Think of it like a family tree for dogs! Besides keeping these records, the AKC also organizes and supports many fun events for purebred dogs. These events include famous shows like the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the National Dog Show, and the AKC National Championship. The AKC works with other dog organizations around the world. As of 2025, the AKC officially recognizes 202 different dog breeds.
Contents
History
How it Started
In the early 1800s, people in England started caring a lot about how beautiful dogs looked, not just what they could do. This idea became popular in North America too. In 1877, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show began. Soon, people realized they needed a group to set rules for dog shows.
A group called the National American Kennel Club started in 1876. They began publishing a book of dog pedigrees in 1879. However, this group was more interested in dog field trials (where dogs show off hunting skills) than in conformation shows (where dogs are judged on their looks). So, they changed their name and stopped hosting conformation shows.
Growing and Changing
In 1884, 13 different dog clubs came together to create the American Kennel Club. Ten of these clubs were from America, and three were from Canada. They promised to help study, breed, show, and keep purebred dogs healthy.
The AKC was different from The Kennel Club in England. In the AKC, individual people couldn't join directly. Instead, they joined smaller dog clubs for specific breeds, and those smaller clubs were members of the AKC. In 1886, some disagreements started between the American and Canadian clubs. Two years later, the Canadian clubs left and started their own group, the Canadian Kennel Club.
By 1894, the AKC decided that Canadian dogs without an American pedigree couldn't join their shows. This was similar to rules for purebred cattle at the time. In 1906, the U.S. government said that imported dogs not registered with the AKC would have to pay a special fee. This rule changed in 1911, allowing any dog registered in its home country to enter the U.S. without a fee. Soon after, the AKC, CKC, and KC (the English Kennel Club) made agreements. This meant a dog registered with one club could also be registered with the others. In 1909, the AKC moved to New York City and became an official corporation.
More recently, on July 1, 2012, the AKC started to recognize certain awards from the North American Flyball Association. These awards include Flyball Champion (FDCh), Flyball Master (FM), and the ONYX title.
Registering Dogs
The AKC is the biggest group in the U.S. that registers purebred dogs. It's also the only one that is not-for-profit, meaning it doesn't aim to make money. It's very well-known and important in the dog world.
What is AKC Registration?
For a purebred dog to be registered with the AKC, both of its parents must already be registered with the AKC as the same breed. Also, the group of puppies born at the same time (called a litter) must be registered with the AKC.
Sometimes, if a dog's parents or litter aren't registered, the AKC might make an exception. They can do special research to see if the dog is still eligible. Once a dog is found to be eligible, it can be registered as purebred by the AKC.
It's important to know that registration only means the dog's parents were registered as a recognized breed. It doesn't mean the dog is super healthy or will win dog shows. It also doesn't necessarily say anything about how good the breeder was or how the puppy was raised.
Helping New Breeds
The AKC has a special service called the Foundation Stock Service. This is an optional program for new purebred dog breeds that have come to the U.S. but are not yet fully recognized by the AKC. It helps these new breeds get started and keep their records.
Fun Activities and Programs
The AKC organizes many events where dogs and their handlers (the people working with them) can compete.
Dog Competitions
Conformation Shows
In AKC conformation shows, dogs compete in different groups based on their breed and whether they are male or female. Breeds are divided into groups like hounds, terriers, working dogs, herding dogs, sporting dogs, non-sporting dogs, toy dogs, and a miscellaneous group. The most famous AKC conformation shows are the Westminster Dog Show and the AKC National Championship.
Dog Agility
The AKC also holds dog agility competitions. In these events, dogs run through obstacle courses, jumping over hurdles, weaving through poles, and going through tunnels. Any AKC-registered dog over 12 months old can join.
Obedience Trials
The AKC organizes obedience trials. Here, dogs show how well they can follow commands from their handlers. Any AKC-registered dog over 6 months old can take part.
Other Dog Sports
The AKC offers many other field competitions, which they call performance dog sports. These include:
- Herding and farm dog trials: Dogs show their natural ability to herd animals.
- Scent work trials: Dogs use their amazing sense of smell to find hidden scents.
- Earthdog trials: Small dogs go into tunnels to find "prey" (usually rats in a safe cage).
- Lure coursing trials: Dogs chase a fake lure across an open field.
- Field trials: These are for specific breeds like Bassets, Beagles, coonhounds, Dachshunds, pointing dogs, retrievers, and spaniels, where they show off their hunting skills.
Other Helpful Programs
The AKC also has other important programs:
- Canine Good Citizen: This program tests dogs of any breed (even mixed breeds) to see if they have good basic behavior and a calm personality. It helps make sure dogs are well-behaved in public and at home.
- AKC Reunite: This group helps find lost pets. It's North America's largest not-for-profit pet ID and recovery service.
- AKC Humane Fund: This fund helps groups that rescue specific dog breeds. It also helps shelters that allow victims of domestic violence to bring their pets. Plus, it teaches dog lovers about being responsible pet owners.
- Therapy Dogs: The AKC gives special titles to therapy dogs. These dogs must be certified by AKC-recognized therapy dog groups and have made a certain number of visits to people who need comfort.
- Canine Partners: This program is for mixed-breed dogs. It allows their owners to register them to compete in sports and events. It also gives them access to pet insurance, AKC Reunite, and a free vet visit through the AKC Veterinary Network.
See also
In Spanish: American Kennel Club para niños
- List of dog breeds
- List of kennel clubs
- United Kennel Club
- Dogs in the United States
- Dogs portal
