When you’re in the market of adopting or selling purebred puppies, you’re bound to hear of registries like the American Kennel Club (AKC). But what exactly is the AKC, how did it begin, and how are puppies registered? Learn all you need to know about the AKC.
What is the American Kennel Club?
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to “advocate for the purebred dog as a family companion, advance canine health and well-being, work to protect the rights of all dog owners and promote responsible dog ownership.” They are recognized as experts in the breeding, health, and training of purebred dogs. The AKC has a purebred dog registry and hosts various competitions across the country. AKC registration is considered the most prestigious registries with long pedigrees for all of their members.
How Did the AKC Start?
The American Kennel Club started in 1884 when a group of sportsmen gathered in Philadelphia as representatives from their local dog clubs. They created the first national dog club in the U.S. without any official headquarters and continued to gather over the next 3 years in various cities.
In 1887, the organization rented a room in New York and officially had an office. They soon after published a stud book. In 1889, the club started publishing the Gazette, a dog magazine, which has been published without interruption for over a century.
In 1905, the AKC created a points-based system for dog shows and continued to refine their comprehensive rules in the early 20th century. The middle of the century saw the last major rules updates with limiting judges to reviewing 20 dogs per hour. The organization continued to expand and recognize many other aspects of excellent dog ownership with various awards. They’ve even created the AKC Museum of the Dog to highlight the history of dog breeding.
How are Puppies Registered with the AKC?
Puppies are registered with the AKC much like many dog clubs register their members. As a seller, you’re able to register your litter if both the dam and sire are registered with the AKC. This guarantees the pedigree of each puppy in the litter, ensuring they are 100% purebred. Breeders can register their litters online or complete an application and mail it in. On the application, they’ll need to list the AKC numbers for the sire and dam, and how many male and female puppies were in the litter. The breeder can also pre-pay for the owners at this point, if desired. Then the AKC mails registration forms for each puppy with its unique AKC number.
As a buyer, you’ll receive the paper registration form from the breeder. Using this paper form, you are able to mail in the registration or register your puppy online. This will let the club know that your puppy has a new owner and they’ll update their database. You’ll receive a certificate and you will have access to your pup’s pedigree.
If you are a breeder of non-purebreds or do not have AKC-registered dams and sires, you are still able to register your litter with the AKC under a different status. Mixed puppies can be registered under the Canine Partners program. Paperless purebred puppies can be registered under the Purebred Alternative Listing program. Using one of these registrations will still be a valuable service for potential buyers, as it will allow them to participate in AKC events.
List Your Litters Online
If you are a breeder of puppies, whether they are AKC-registered or not, create an account with Lancaster Puppies today and list your litter for sale. We connect potential buyers with breeders all across the country. Likewise, if you’re interested in adopting a purebred puppy, there are many reputable breeders already on Lancaster Puppies, including AKC breeders. Browse the new arrivals today!