The Kennel Club facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | KC |
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| Formation | 4 April 1873 |
| Type | Kennel club |
| Headquarters | London, W1 |
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Region served
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United Kingdom |
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Official language
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English |
| Affiliations | The Kennel Club Charitable Trust |
The Kennel Club (KC) is the main club for dogs in the United Kingdom. It is the oldest club of its kind in the world. The Kennel Club helps with many dog activities. These include dog shows, dog agility contests, and working trials.
It also keeps a list of all pedigree dogs in the UK. The club works to protect dogs and their owners in the UK. In 2023, King Charles III said the club could use 'royal' in its name. This was to celebrate its 150th birthday. But the club members still need to vote on this change.
The Kennel Club has four main places where it works. Its main office is in London. This place has a club for members, meeting rooms, an art gallery, and a library. Another office in Aylesbury handles daily tasks and the charity work.
A third place is at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire. It has a restaurant and a learning center. The fourth place is the Emblehope and Burngrange Estate. It is near Hexham and is a huge area for training working dogs. It has farms, moors, and woods. Dogs like gun dogs and sheepdogs can train there.
The Kennel Club sorts dogs into seven main groups. These are the Hound group, Working group, Terrier group, Gundog group, Pastoral group, Utility group, and Toy group. In 2021, the Kennel Club recognized 222 different dog breeds.
The Kennel Club gives permission for dog shows all over the UK. But it only runs one show itself, which is Crufts. Crufts has been held since 1928. Dogs from all over the world come to compete. It happens every March in Birmingham. Crufts also has a fun show called Scruffts for crossbreed and mixed-breed dogs. The Kennel Club also holds the Discover Dogs event in London each autumn.
Contents
History of the Kennel Club
The Kennel Club started on April 4, 1873. A man named Sewallis E. Shirley was tired of dog shows having different rules. Dog shows had become very popular since 1859. Shirley showed Fox Terriers at a dog show in 1865.
He and other dog lovers held a big dog show in 1870. It was at The Crystal Palace. But the show lost money. This made Shirley want to create a club with clear rules. So, in 1873, he met with 12 other people. They agreed to start the Kennel Club.
Their first office was a small flat in London. In 1877, they moved to a bigger place. The club decided to publish a "Stud Book." This book listed the family trees of dogs that competed in shows. The first book came out in 1874. It also had rules for dog shows.
Sewallis Shirley became the first chairman of the Kennel Club in 1874. Later, John MacDougall was chairman from 1981 to 1996. He made many changes. He helped create a group for young people interested in dog shows. He also started the club's library and charity. During his time, dog registration became computerized.
Crufts Dog Show
The first big dog show for all breeds was in 1891. It was started by Charles Cruft. He ran the Crufts dog show for 45 years. After he died in 1938, his wife Emma continued the show for a few years.
Then, she sold it to the Kennel Club. She wanted her husband's show to continue. No shows were held during the Second World War. The Kennel Club held its first Crufts show in 1948. The show was first shown on TV in 1950. The 1954 show was cancelled due to a strike.
Crufts moved to Earls Court in 1979. In 1991, it moved to the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. It is still held there today. Crufts used to be only for purebred dogs. Now, it includes many other dog activities. These include Obedience, Agility, and Flyball.
Discover Dogs Event
The Discover Dogs event used to be part of Crufts. But it became so popular that it became its own event. It started in 1996. This event lets people meet many different dog breeds. You can talk to experts about which breed might be a good pet.
Until 2014, this event was held in London in November. Since 2015, it has been held in October at the ExCeL Centre. The event has contests for young pedigree dogs. It also has agility competitions and shows by police dog teams. Many shops also set up stalls there. Over 30,000 people came to the event in 2012.
From 2000 to 2012, Discover Dogs also hosted the finals of the Scruffts competition. This competition is for mixed-breed dogs. Since 2013, the Scruffts final has been held at the main Crufts show.
Kennel Club Charitable Trust
The Kennel Club Charitable Trust is a charity for dogs. It works to improve the health and well-being of dogs. The charity helps fund research into dog diseases. It also supports dog welfare groups. And it helps promote service dogs.
The Trust started in 1987. The Duchess of Cornwall became its first patron in 2007. The Kennel Club gives a lot of money to good causes. By 2020, it had given over £10 million. The Animal Health Trust (AHT) often gets money from the Kennel Club.
In 2012, the AHT received a large loan to build a new animal cancer center. The AHT also gets money for its Genetics Centre. This center works with the Kennel Club. In 2010, the Kennel Club Charitable Trust gave nearly £800,000 to help both pedigree and non-pedigree dog groups.
The Trust also paid for a new building at Stoneleigh Park. This building is used for dog competitions, training, and charity events.
Kennel Club Dog Art Gallery
The Kennel Club Dog Art Gallery is in London. It is at the club's main office. The gallery shows beautiful art about dogs. It has special shows and a collection that is always there. Famous artists like Maud Earl and Richard Ansdell have work in the gallery. You need to make an appointment to visit the gallery.
The art gallery opened in 2003. It was the idea of a former chairman, John McDougall. The Kennel Club had collected many dog artworks. This included paintings, drawings, and sculptures. The collection is still growing. The gallery holds shows about different dog breeds. It also shows its art at other art fairs.
A former chairman, Ronnie Irving, said the gallery helps people learn about both art and dogs.
Assured Breeder Scheme
The Assured Breeder Scheme (ABS) started in 2004. It was created to help people find good dog breeders. The scheme grew, and advisors were hired. They visit breeders to make sure they meet good standards. In 2010, new rules were added for specific dog breeds.
Some people have said the scheme has problems. The Dogs Trust charity said it has "pitfalls." A report said that some breeders in the scheme might not have high standards. This could make people think a puppy from them will be perfectly healthy. The report asked for more checks on breeders. It also said the word 'pedigree' should mean high health standards for all dogs registered with the KC.
The report warned that if the Kennel Club's health efforts fail, the government might need to step in. The Kennel Club responded to the report. But some people felt the Kennel Club was not taking the criticism seriously enough.
In 2013, the ABS scheme got special recognition from UKAS. This meant the scheme was checked by an independent group. To get this, all new members' places had to be inspected. Also, existing members had to be checked within three years.
Other Programmes
In 2013, the Kennel Club started a programme called "Get Fit With Fido." This programme encouraged dog owners to exercise with their dogs. It helped both people and dogs stay healthy.
Pedigree Dogs Exposed
In 2008, a BBC TV show called Pedigree Dogs Exposed criticized the Kennel Club. The show said that some breed standards and breeding practices hurt the health of purebred dogs. Because of this show, some sponsors stopped supporting Crufts. The BBC also stopped showing Crufts in 2009.
The Kennel Club first said the show was unfair. They complained to the TV watchdog, Ofcom. Ofcom said the BBC did not give the Kennel Club a fair chance to respond to some claims.
Because many people were upset, the Kennel Club started new health plans. They reviewed the standards for every dog breed. Show judges were told to choose only healthy dogs. New breed standards were announced in 2009. Also, breeding very closely related dogs was banned.
See also
In Spanish: The Kennel Club para niños
