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American Kennel Club

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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 and sanctions events for purebred dogs, including the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, an annual event which predates the official forming of the AKC, the National Dog Show, and the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship. Unlike most other country's kennels clubs, the AKC is not part of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (World Canine Organization).

Dog registration

The AKC is not the only registry of purebred dogs, but it is the one with which most Americans are familiar[1]. An example of dogs registered elsewhere in the U.S. is the National Greyhound Association which registers racing greyhounds (which are legally not considered "pets").[2]

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. If the dog's parents are not registered with the AKC or the litter is not registered, special registry research by the AKC is necessary for the AKC to determine if the dog is eligible for AKC registration.[3] Once a determination of eligibility is met, either by litter application or registry research, the dog can be registered as purebred by the AKC. The top 6 dogs registered for 2007 are the same as 2006: [4]

Registration indicates only that the dog's parents were registered as one recognized breed; it does not 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. After a brief flurry of controversy, the AKC rescinded the Petland contract, but as AKC Chairman Ron Menaker notes, the AKC has "been registering AKC eligible puppies from Petland, and every other company selling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."[5]

Registration is necessary only for breeders (so they can sell registered puppies) or for purebred conformation show or purebred dog sports participation. Registration can be obtained by mail or online at their website.

AKC and health

Even though the AKC supports some canine health research and has run advertising campaigns implying that the AKC is committed to healthy dogs, the AKC's role in furthering dog health is controversial. Temple Grandin maintains that the AKC's standards only regulate physical appearance, not emotional or behavioral health.[6] The AKC has no health standards for breeding. The only breeding restriction is age (a dog can be no younger than 8 months.[7]) Furthermore, the AKC prohibits clubs from imposing stricter regulations, that is, an AKC breed club cannot require a higher breeding age, hip dysplasia ratings, genetic tests for inheritable diseases, or any other restrictions. Parent clubs do have the power to define the looks of the breed, or breed standard. Parent club may also restrict participation in non-regular events or classes such as Futurities or Maturities to only those dogs meeting their defined criteria. This enables those non-regular events to require health testing, DNA sampling, instinct/ability testing and other outlined requirements as established by the hosting club of the non-regular event.

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.[8] 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.[9]

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 is not a member), the AKC does not discourage docked tails and cropped ears in its standards[10], a practice most countries now condemn outright.

The Club has also been criticized for courting large scale commercial breeders.[11][12]

Purebred Alternative Listing Program / Indefinite Listing Privilege Program

The Purebred Alternative Listing Program (PAL), formerly 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 "alternatively" (formerly "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 unregisterable litter, or have unregisterable parents. Many dogs enrolled in the PAL and ILP programs were adopted from animal shelters or rescue groups, in which case the status of the dog's parents is unknown. Dogs enrolled in PAL/ILP may participate in AKC companion and performance activities, but not conformation. Enrollees of the program receive various 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 that were registered under the ILP program keep their original numbers.

AKC National Championship

Main article: 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. The show can often be seen on major television stations.[13]

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.[14] The AKC FSS requires that at least the parents of the registered animal are known. The AKC will not 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:

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.[15] In 2006 the AKC released rules [16]for its own Working Dog Sport events, very similar to Schutzhund.

In 2007, the American Kennel Club accepted an invitation from the Mexican Kennel Club to participate in the Fédération Cynologique Internationale World Dog Show in Mexico City.[17]

Recognized breeds

As of July 2009, the AKC fully recognizes 163 breeds with 12 additional breeds granted partial status in the Miscellaneous class. Another 63 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 July 2009):

  • Miscellaneous Class: 12 breeds[25] 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: 63 breeds.[26] This is a breed registry in which breeders of rare breeds can record the birth and parentage of a breed that they are trying to establish in the United States; these dogs provide the foundation stock from which eventually a fully recognized breed might result. These breeds cannot participate in AKC events until at least 150 individual dogs are registered; thereafter, competition in various events is then provisional.

The AKC Board of Directors appointed a committee in October, 2007, to evaluate the current alignment of breeds within the seven variety groups. Reasons for the action included the growing number of breeds in certain groups, and the make-up of breeds within certain groups. The number of groups and group make-up has been modified in the past, providing precedent for this action. The Group Realignment Committee completed their report in July, 2008.

The committee recommended that the seven variety groups be replaced with ten variety groups. If this proposal is approved, the Hound Group would be divided into “Scent Hounds” and “Sight Hounds”; the Sporting Group would be divided into “Sporting Group – Pointers and Setters” and “Sporting Group – Retrievers and Spaniels"; a new group called the “Northern Group” would be created; and the Non-Sporting Group would be renamed the “Companion Group”. The Northern Group would be populated by Northern/Spitz breeds, consisting of the Norwegian Elkhound, Akita, Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky, Samoyed, American Eskimo, Chinese Shar-Pei, Chow Chow, Finnish Spitz, Keeshond, Schipperke, Shiba Inu and Swedish Vallhund. In addition, the Italian Greyhound is proposed to be moved to the Sight Hound Group, and the Dalmatian is proposed to be moved to the Working Group. [27]

Other AKC programs

Main article: Canine Good Citizen

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/

The AKC also is an affiliate of AKC Companion Animal Recovery (AKC CAR) the nation's largest not-for-profit pet identification and 24/7 recovery service provider. AKC CAR works in conjunction with HelpMeFindMYPET, [28]an independent pet recovery service serving Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

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.

Notes

  1. ^ Michael D. Lemonick. "A Terrible Beauty". Retrieved 2007-10-04.
  2. ^ ngaregyhounds.com - Retrieved January 29, 2009
  3. ^ American Kennel Club, Dog Registration FAQ, http://www.akc.org/contact/answer_center/faq_dogreg.cfm Accessed 8 June 2009.
  4. ^ AKC Dog Registration Statistics
  5. ^ Sep2006_DelMinsWeb.qxd
  6. ^ Grandin, Temple (2005). Animals in Translation. New York, New York: Scribner. p. 82. ISBN 0743247698. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Rules Applying to Registration and Discipline
  8. ^ Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV) e.V.: Bekämpfung von HD + ED
  9. ^ KBS - 2. Massnahmen
  10. ^ "AKC Canine Legislation Position Statements". Retrieved 2007-10-10.
  11. ^ [1]
  12. ^ [2]
  13. ^ "AKC/Eukanuba National Championship". Retrieved 2007-10-04.
  14. ^ Foundation Stock Service Program
  15. ^ Board Policy Manual, Performance Events, web page accessed July 30, 2007
  16. ^ American Kennel Club, Working Dog Sport Regulations, Effective August 2006 [3]
  17. ^ Mexico World Dog Show 2007, including pictures
  18. ^ AKC Breeds by Group - Sporting Group
  19. ^ AKC Breeds by Group - Hound Group
  20. ^ AKC Breeds by Group - Working Group
  21. ^ AKC Breeds by Group - Terrier Group
  22. ^ AKC Breeds by Group - Toy Group
  23. ^ AKC Breeds by Group - Non-Sporting Group
  24. ^ AKC Breeds by Group - Herding Group
  25. ^ AKC Breeds by Group - Miscellaneous Class
  26. ^ American Kennel Club - List of FSS Breeds
  27. ^ Report of the AKC Group Realignment Committee, Attachment A http://www.akc.org/events/conformation/group_realignment.cfm
  28. ^ AKC CAR Lost Pet Alert Website

See also

Template:AKC groups

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