American Kennel Club (AKC): The United States’ National Kennel Club
On September 17, 1884, twelve sportsmen gathered in the rooms of the Philadelphia Kennel Club and founded what would become the world’s largest purebred dog registry: the American Kennel Club (AKC). Major James M. Taylor became its first president, and the organization itself was formed by 13 founding breed clubs — 10 American and 3 Canadian. For its first two years the AKC had no permanent headquarters, with meetings held in New York, Cincinnati, Boston, and Newark, New Jersey, before its first true office opened in 1886 in a modest 15-by-20-foot room at 44 Broadway in Manhattan.
More than a century later, the AKC’s headquarters moved from Madison Avenue to 101 Park Avenue in New York City in 2018, and the organization has grown into a nonprofit with more than 620 member clubs and roughly 5,000 affiliated clubs across the country.
The Role of the American Kennel Club
The AKC registers purebred dogs across approximately 200 breeds, organized into seven groups: sporting, hound, working, terrier, toy, non-sporting, and herding. It tracks pedigree and lineage, sets official breed standards, and sanctions some of the most prominent dog shows in the world, including the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and the AKC National Championship. Beyond conformation showing, the AKC oversees performance and companion events such as obedience, agility, and field trials, and its network of member and affiliated clubs gives American breeders and exhibitors a structured path from local competition to national recognition.
What the American Kennel Club Does
| Function | With AKC Registration | Without AKC Registration |
|---|---|---|
| Pedigree tracking | Dog’s lineage is documented across roughly 200 recognized breeds in seven official groups | No official pedigree recognized by the United States’ largest purebred registry |
| Show eligibility | Dog can enter AKC-sanctioned shows, including the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and AKC National Championship | Excluded from AKC-sanctioned conformation and performance events |
| Club network | Access to more than 620 member clubs and roughly 5,000 affiliated clubs nationwide | No structured local-to-national competition pathway |
| International cooperation | Benefits from formal cooperation agreements, such as the 2026 agreement with Dogs New Zealand | No structured international recognition through AKC channels |
3 Real-World Scenarios
- A breeder registering a litter through a local AKC member club: a breeder works with one of the AKC’s 620-plus member clubs to register a litter, connecting the dogs to a registry system dating back to 1884.
- An exhibitor entering the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show: an owner prepares a dog for one of the most storied AKC-sanctioned shows in the country, competing within one of the seven official breed groups.
- A handler competing in an AKC agility or obedience trial: a competitor enters a performance event sanctioned by the AKC, part of the organization’s broader mandate beyond conformation showing alone.
2 United States Kennel Facts
- The AKC was founded on September 17, 1884, by twelve sportsmen meeting at the Philadelphia Kennel Club, with 13 breed clubs — 10 American and 3 Canadian — forming its original membership base.
- The AKC’s very first office opened in 1886 in a 15-by-20-foot room at 44 Broadway in New York City; the organization’s headquarters have since grown considerably, relocating to 101 Park Avenue in 2018.
10 FAQs
What is the American Kennel Club?
When was the American Kennel Club founded?
Where is the AKC headquartered?
How many breeds does the AKC recognize?
How many clubs are affiliated with the AKC?
What shows does the AKC sanction?
Does the AKC oversee more than conformation shows?
Does the AKC cooperate with kennel clubs in other countries?
Who founded the American Kennel Club?
Where can I find official information about the AKC?
Dogs New Zealand: The Country’s National Kennel Club
Kennel Club de Chile (KCC): Chile’s National Kennel Club
