American Kennel Club

The American Kennel Club, a non-profit registry of purebred dogs in the United States, promotes purebred dog events including the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the National Dog Show, and the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship.

Founded in 1884, a group of dedicated dog sportsmen from numerous dog clubs came together and formed what became known as the American Kennel Club. One such member and founder was Major James M. Taylor who became the AKC’s first president. In 1887, the club rented a room in New York City, furnished it and Alfred P. Vrendenburgh who was the American Kennel Club’s Secretary at the time, occupied the room. By 1888, the fourth president, Alfred P. Vredenburgh was elected. Belmont and Vredenburgh held the title of president until an unspecified time in the twentieth century. During this period, the AKC developed what they call The American Kennel Club Stud Book to keep reliable records.

1889: The Gazette was first published in 1889 and has been published without interruption for over a century. It is one of the oldest dog magazines in existence. Early 1900: Until the early 1900’s, the AKC followed England’s rules for a championship title; these rules state that three first place wins in the Open Class were required, divided by sex. The AKC made changes to the rules by creating a point scale , ranging from one point to five points maximum, dependent upon the number of dogs entered at a show.

1908-1910: The American Kennel Club was granted its third article of incorporation and in 1910, new Rules Governing Dog Shows eliminated the Graduate Class. It was substituted with an American-Bred Class that changed the prerequisite for a championship title to fifteen points, under three different judges, and three points have to be won at one show.

1911: A rule pertaining to territorial protection went into effect which gave sole privilege to a member club that held the first show in the area. During the same year, rules for classified and unclassified special prizes were established.

1905: A rule was passed that “The Superintendent of any show cannot exhibit or officiate as a judge at that show.”

1917: A notice appeared in the Gazette stating “Applicants desiring to officiate as Judges and Superintendents at shows held under American Kennel Club Rules can now obtain at this office application forms to act in either capacity.” Before that date, all applications were approved by the License Committee.

1920: Sanctioned matches began to provide training exercises for formal events. This made dog owners more aware of correct show procedures.

1923: The AKC barred interbreed competition with the exception of the Miscellaneous Class.

1924: New rules and a new judging procedure were adopted. These new rules stated that all breeds (except for the Miscellaneous Competition) were to be separated into the following five groups:

• Group 1 – Sporting Dogs
• Group 2 – Working Dogs
• Group 3 – Terriers
• Group 4 – Toy Breeds
• Group 5 – Non-Sporting Breeds

Once each individual group competition had a winner, all the winning dogs from each group were then judged together to determine the best overall dog for that group, then all five group winners were judged together to get the best dog in the entire show.

1929: Pure Bred Dogs first edition was published.

1930’s: The American Kennel Club started charging a fee for owners to exhibit their dog(s).

1931: The Professional Handlers Association was formed.

1932: The first Childrens Handling Classes were held.

1934: The AKC established a library.

1935: Obedience tests were established by Helene Whitehouse Walker.

1936: The first Regulations and Standard for Obedience Test Field Trials was published.

1940’s: During the war years, the rules and regulations were somewhat relaxed to accommodate the difficulties that everyone was suffering through. The size of the Gazette was reduced to conserve paper per wartime regulations, and professional judges formed the Professional Dog Judges Association.

1947: a Licensed Judges directory was issued.

1950’s: The Bred-By-Exhibitor replaced the Limit Class which confined the entries of imported dogs into the Open Class.

1951: a new rule limiting judging of twenty dogs per hour only. Then it was increased t twenty-five with the total number not to exceed 200 per day. Years later, it was once again changed to 175 per day at an all-breed show and 200 per day at specialty shows.

1964: The offices moved from the location where it had been since 1919 to larger quarters where it occupied several floors.

1967: The Best of Breed/Variety breed replaced the independently judged Best of Winners class.

1969: New and improved obedience rules went into effect, and a new approach to conformation and obedience judging was enacted.

1974: The first women delegates were elected: Mrs Carol D. Duffy, Mrs. Gertrude Freedman, and Mrs. Julia Gasow became representatives of their respective areas.

1978: The AKC stopped issuing licenses to professional handlers.

1980: The Dog Museum of America was established; it opened its doors in 1982.

1983: The Working Group was split, and a new Herding Group was created.

1984: The American Kennel Club celebrated 100 years.

1985: Dr. Jacklyn Hungerland was elected as the first woman director of the AKC, and hunting tests were inaugurated.

1986: The rules and regulations for registered litters that were conceived by artificial insemination were established, and the Performance Events Division was formed.

1988: The Events calendar was separated from the Gazette.

1989: The Gazette celebrated 100 years.

1990’s: Herding tests and Lure Coursing began, agility came to the AKC, the Canine Health Foundation was established, and The Canine Good Citizen program was established.

1994: Earthdog tests began, and the AKC website was created.

1995: The Companion Animal Recovery program was initiated.

1998: The AKC offices completed the relocation from New York to Raleigh, North Carolina. http://www.akc.org/about/index.cfm?nav_area=about_akc http://www.akc.org/about/history.cfm http://clubs.akc.org/saints/Archives/historyoftheakc.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Kennel_Club

• ACE Awards: an award that is given for extraordinary canine-human bonds, and as an appreciation for the ways in which a dog contributes to our lives.
• Breeder of the Year: for outstanding work by a purebred dog breeder.
• Community Achievement Award: given to honor public education and government relations efforts.
• Lifetime Achievement Awards: celebrates individuals who have given many years of dedicated service that has led to significant contributions to dog sports at the national level.