This dog tip is by Dr. Alvin Grossman, an international dog show judge. He is considered one of the foremost authorities on the American Cocker Spaniel. His books on breeding, dog showing, and the American Cocker Spaniel can be found here on our web page.

What is the AKC and its role in the governance of the sport of showing dogs?

The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a quasi-private corporation with a multi-million dollar annual budget. It is run by delegates who are chosen by their local dog clubs. The delegates, in turn, elect a board of directors from their own ranks.

Besides policy formulation and other standard business functions, the board hires a president, who functions as the chief executive officer, directing the staff and carrying out the policies of the board.

The major functions of the AKC:

registering purebred dogs

publishing the monthly litters produced that month

publishing a monthly journal, the American Kennel Gazette, which lists championship points by each dog, offers a wide variety of statistics about the status of the dog show game, month-by-month, and provides informative articles

authorizing dog clubs as show-giving entities

educating the public about purebred dogs

sponsoring medical research about purebred dogs

sanctioning dog shows and approving dates and locations of shows

approving dog show judges

overseeing dog shows

representing the United States at international meetings and seminars

To contact the AKC write:

For registration information:

How do I register my puppy with the AKC?

The procedure is simple. The breeder will give you registration papers for the puppy you have purchased, these need to be completed and mailed along with a check in the prescribed amount, to the AKC at the then receive a registration certificate from the American Kennel Club verifying that your dog is a purebred. This is an important document--you must use the registration number to enter your dog in an AKC show. This number will also be used to identify your dog in all subsequent breedings.