American Kennel Club

For more than 130 years, the American Kennel Club has been the country’s leading authority on all things dogs, acting as the premier resource for dog lovers, from the fancier to the everyday owner. Along with our affiliated organizations, we encourage dogs as family companions; advance canine health and well-being; advocate for dog owner rights; and educate the public about responsible dog ownership. We are passionate about everything related to dogs, and we celebrate the joy they bring to our lives every single day. Being a dog lover is not a pastime; it’s a way of life – and we make every moment count.

At our core, in our heart of hearts, our values are ever constant. An exhibitor will always beam with pride as she stacks her dog for a big win shot. A good retrieve has always been a good retrieve, and the soulful gaze of a trusty hunting dog will always be the sportsman’s sweetest reward. The deep satisfaction handlers derive from a flawless obedience routine is the same as it was in the early 1930s. Of course, the point of it all—past and present—has been to produce good dogs, of sound mind and body. This will always be so. We remain true to our core mission set forth by our founders which was well put by William E. Buckley, an AKC President in the mid-20th century, who once assembled the staff to remind them, “Always remember: We are a service organization. The dogs are not here for us, we are here for the dogs.”