The American Kennel Club Celebrates 135th Anniversary

NEW YORK, Sept. 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 17, 1884, a group of 12 dedicated sportsmen from local dog clubs convened to form the American Kennel Club^® (AKC^®).  135 years later, the AKC has grown into the world's largest not-for-profit dog registry and is the second oldest amateur sport-governing body in the country. 

The AKC is the premier destination for all things dog and continues to promote canine health and well-being and responsible dog ownership, throughout the years. Through public education programs, legislative and advocacy efforts, advancing canine health and working to protect the rights of all dog owners, the AKC provides the highest level of guidance to over 5,000 clubs and affiliated organizations nationally.

"The AKC has evolved tremendously throughout the course of its 135-year history," said AKC President and CEO Dennis Sprung. "As a club of clubs, with Board leadership, breeders, exhibitors, delegates and judges, we are as focused as ever on our mission and continue to respect our traditions while looking for more ways to promote responsible dog ownership, bring new people to our sports, and protect the welfare of every dog and their owners."

The 135^th year brought many exciting things.  In addition to the success of our conformation, companion and performance events, the AKC recognized its 193^rd breed, the Azawakh, in January. Litter and individual registrations continue to increase. The AKC Museum of the Dog returned to New York City in February to rave reviews and thousands of visitors in its opening months.  February also marked the 10^th annual AKC Meet the Breeds^®, the wildly popular educational initiative that gives attendees the unique opportunity to meet and play with hundreds of dog and cat breeds while learning about responsible ownership from Parent Club experts. A brand-new competition, the AKC Agility Premier Cup presented by EEM, debuted on April 25^th and was held in conjunction with the Longines Masters of New York. The event marked the first time that AKC Agility was held at an Equestrian event.  In August, AKC celebrated the milestone of one million dogs having passed the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test.  The CGC program continues to thrive and is in its 30^th year. 

Additionally, the Public Education department rolled out two new programs this year which further promote the importance of the human-canine bond.  The AKC B.A.R.K (Be A Reading Kid) Program is a program designed to get children excited about reading, where they will read to a dog of their choosing and a parent or guardian will assist them in logging their hours on the AKC website  After reaching certain milestones, children will receive incentives for the hours they have read.  Dogs participating in the program will be acknowledged with a certificate for their volunteerism.  Most recently, the AKC PupPals Program was launched and provides dog owners a unique opportunity to uplift a child who is seeking the comfort only a dog can provide.  Dog owners who sign up for this program submit a photo of their dog and information about it.  The AKC Public Education Department will use this to create a card and personalized letter for the child in need, enhancing the human-canine bond.

For more information on the American Kennel Club and all its programs and work, visit www.akc.org.

About the American Kennel Club
Founded in 1884, the American Kennel Club is a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function.  Along with its more than 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. More than 22,000 competitions for AKC-registered purebred dogs are held under AKC rules and regulations each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, herding, lure coursing, coonhound events, hunt tests, field and earthdog tests. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Reunite and the AKC Museum of the Dog.  For more information, visit www.akc.org.

AKC, American Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club seal and design, and all associated marks and logos are trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks of The American Kennel Club, Inc.

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SOURCE American Kennel Club

Related Links

www.akc.org