AKC=AmericanKennelClub=American Kennel Club The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the purebred dog industry, founded in 1884, composed of more than 530 independent dog clubs across the United States. In addition, about 3800 affiliate clubs participate in AKC activities, using AKC regulations to conduct dog shows, enforce relevant matters, education programs, hold training classes, and health clinics.

Golden Retriever (Detailed Introduction)

In 1997, there were 15,738 AKC-approved events held nationwide, including 3,289 dog shows, 2,561 obedience and tracking training sessions, and 3,305 performance events.

One representative is selected every minute to exercise their voting rights, but only dog clubs may become AKC members. These representatives form the legislative body of the AKC, setting the rules for activities and electing the 21 directors.

The directors are responsible for managing the AKC, electing AKC officers, and formulating policies and rules based on principles determined by the representatives. The AKC organization is divided between its New York headquarters and the planning and execution division in the capital of North Carolina. All registration functions are managed by North Carolina.

The AKC records parentage information for more than 1.3 million dogs annually but does not engage in the buying or selling of dogs and therefore cannot guarantee the health or quality of registered dogs. Some staff members, including AKC local representatives and dog inspectors, work outdoors and periodically return to headquarters to report to their department supervisors. The functions of the AKC include

--Issuing pedigree certificates for purebred dogs.

--Monthly records of stud dog breedings and litter registrations.

--Monthly publications, such as the American Kennel Magazine, which specifically records points earned by each champion dog, dog show reports, and published results.

--Authorization to conduct dog shows.

--Educating the public about what constitutes a purebred dog.

--Sponsoring medical research for dogs.

--Scheduling dates and venues for dog competitions.

--Issuing judging licenses.

--Supervising dog shows.

--Representing the United States in international dog competitions to promote purebred dogs.

AKC's Breed Clubs - when you join a local dog club, you become a member of dog shows in various places, meeting many peers and maintaining contact with breeders and competitors around you. You also have the opportunity to learn how to distinguish ordinary dogs from specialized breeds. Moreover, you might even have the chance to organize a dog show in your area!

- Local dog clubs are the primary organizations responsible for holding dog shows in the dog community, mainly aiming to educate members and the public and sponsor AKC-approved dog shows. Sponsoring these events requires AKC approval and adherence to AKC's competition rules. Judges for dog shows must be selected from the AKC-approved judges list. - Local dog clubs are divided into two types: all-breed clubs and single-breed clubs.

- Single-breed clubs include: the Sheepdog Club, the Pug Club. Therefore, joining a single-breed club within your area is also a good plan.

- All local single-breed clubs are governed by the AKC, including their parent clubs. For example, the Southern Spanish Dog Club is governed by the American Spanish Dog Club, which in turn is supervised by the AKC. Parent clubs are responsible for maintaining the official breed standards; any changes to a breed’s standard must be approved by the parent club and then submitted to the AKC for final confirmation.