I’m sure you’ve heard of the American Kennel Club. It is one of the most popular Kennel clubs in the States and is often a starting point for determining the right measurements of purebred dogs, from large to toy breeds. Everyone who is a fan of purebred dogs and keeping the bloodline pure, turns to the numerous AKC breed clubs for registration and guidance. But, every coin has two sides, and so does the American Kennel Club.
The AKC – American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club is the most influential and the largest US-based non-profit purebred dog registry. It was formed in 1884 by 13 breed clubs – ten groups were American and three were Canadian breed clubs. Their goal was to not only keep the dog breeds purebred for the sake of work they were bred to do but for confirmation and exhibition.
The AKC is the most influential and the largest US-based purebred dog registry
Even though Canadian breed clubs formed the AKC, they soon left, in 1886, because they couldn’t see eye to eye on important matters. They formed the Canadian Kennel Club. It has the same abbreviation as Continental Kennel Club (CKC).
Although they couldn’t agree on everything, the AKC, Canadian KC, and the Royal Kennel Club of the UK agreed that all dogs are eligible for registration in all three clubs. To register a dog with the AKC, you have to prove or show that your dog’s parents are also registered with the AKC, and that the litter from which your dog came is also registered. There can be some exceptions when a dog can be registered even if they don’t come from a registered litter.
The AKC registry shows that a dog is purebred, but lacks information on the upbringing and health of the bloodline
It is important to note that while the AKC registry shows that a dog is purebred, it doesn’t show in any way that the dog comes from healthy bloodlines or that a dog had a good upbringing/training. The AKC registry shows, for example, that a Belgian Malinois is a purebred Belgian Malinois, but it doesn’t show whether a dog was socialized or went through habituation, whether they had proper living quarters or not, and so on.
Apart from registering your dog, you can also compete in various dog sports (competitions), such as flyball, obedience, herding, scent work trials, etc. There is also a Canine Good Citizen competition in which any dog can compete, regardless of whether they are registered or a mixed breed. The competition tests a dog’s behavior and temperament. It tests whether a dog is suitable for showing up in public spaces and living at home.
The AKC divides all breeds into 8 groups: hound, terrier, herding, working, non-sporting, miscellaneous, sporting, and toy. There is also a group called Foundation Stock Service containing all dog breeds that are not yet registered with AKC but are in the process.
The Other Side Of The Coin
Just like any other Kennel Club, the AKC has been criticized before. The main criticism relates to genetics and the desire to keep the bloodline “pure”. The AKC has no health standards for breeding, which places all the rules into the hands of the breeders, and not all breeders have high moral standards. A lot of people breed for the sake of making the best-purebred dog whatever it takes – issues with hips, elbows, or a spine? Doesn’t matter, the important thing is the dog has the “purest” looks of the breed.
The AKC registry document doesn’t prove the dog is healthy
The only restriction the AKC has is age, in other words, a dog has to be at least 8 months old to produce its first offspring. There are no other rules. The breed health standards are taken care of through the breed parent clubs, such as the Border Collie Society of America. They regulate the necessary health tests and breeding programs. However, if someone wants to register their dog with the AKC, the health tests are not mandatory.
Health tests are not mandatory to register a dog with the AKC which leads to a lot of controversial breeding programs
Because of this, many dog breed clubs don’t want to be associated with the AKC. They join forces to have a separate health database for some breeds to help purebred dogs stay healthy. One of the examples is the Berner Garde Foundation which aims to keep the Bernese Mountain Dogs healthy after the years of inadequate breeding led to a very short lifespan of the breed.
Puppy Mills
Another huge issue with the AKC standards (or the lack of) is their approval of large-scale commercial breeders or the so-called Puppy Mills. Of course, they don’t approve of it openly, but the ignorance and the lack of any investigation to check whether the dogs come from Puppy Mills or not is as good as saying “yes” to it.
A Puppy Mill is a facility for breeding dogs with horrible conditions, abusing dogs physically by lack of space (cramped in small spaces) and mentally (no socialization, no contact with people other than feeding)
The AKC inspectors have to approve every kennel and give the green light. However, there are numerous cases where a kennel has been approved but it turns out to be a puppy mill. Such an important organization such as the AKC should have better ways to stop the horrors of Puppy Mills. However, they either don’t try hard or they are hardly trying.
The AKC inspectors, whether knowingly or unknowingly, often give green light to kennels that turn out to be puppy mills
The other reason for the growing mistrust in the AKC is the fact that anyone can register their dog and sell it online claiming they have the AKC standards met. And they do, but those standards are not high. They’re not selling wooden chairs but living beings. It takes more than just having a purebred-looking GSD to say you are a dog breeder. That dog needs to be loved, well taken care of, and not just sold to the highest bidder.
Summary
Having an organization that will keep track of purebred dogs is useful and keeps the amazing various dog breeds alive. It gives information on the breed standard, from height and weight to social characteristics. However, they should do more, much more than they do now. The AKC should be more rigorous with who can register a dog. Currently, anyone can do it. They don’t have to screen-test their dogs and there are no restrictions other than breeding age. That needs to change, as well as the inspection rules. To allow a Puppy Mill Kennel to be registered is a big red flag to the way they conduct these inspections. So, the next time a dog breeder says their dogs are AKC-registered…think again – does that mean anything?
Read Next: What Is The (Royal) Kennel Club?
Cover Photo by Dmitry Ovsyannikov
