The AKC has undergone a great amount of growth and change
over the past century- from its first registered dog in 1885, to 1.2
million dogs and 555,000 litters in 1998; from a small office, to the
forefront for information about anything and everything concerning
purebred dogs. These are the most important developments in the history
of the AKC:
1884: The American Kennel Club was founded in a
meeting held at Madison Square Garden in New York City on October 22.
Major James M. Taylor became the AKC's first president. No official
headquarters were established. The organization would combine various
dog shows and field trials that had been held on local levels to create
a national "club of clubs."
1887: A small office was established at 44 Broadway
in New York City, sparsely furnished with a desk, a filing cabinet, and
a few chairs.
1889: A publication entitled the AKC Gazette,
sponsored by August Belmont, Jr .. the club's fourth president, made
its first appearance. More than a century later, it remains one of the
oldest dog magazines in existence.
1900: The AKC broke with the traditional dog show
scoring system established in England and a new point scale emerged. One
point would be awarded to a dog that won a competition in a show with
fewer than 250 dogs, up to a five-point maximum for a show of more than
1,000 dogs. A total of ten points became required for the title of
champion.
1908-1910: The AKC adopted a new constitution and
bylaws as well as new rules governing dog shows. The ten-point scoring
system gave way to a fifteen-point system and was to be scored by three
judges. In addition, a dog had to win at least three points at any given
show to be considered a candidate for a championship title.
1911-1917: Definite rules for classified and
unclassified special prizes were established. This led to the
establishment of the Best of Breed and Best in Show awards.
1920: AKC-approved competitions took place for the
first time.
1921: Comprehensive new rules for groups and Best in
Show judging were adopted. Breeds were separated into six groups -
sporting, hounds, working dogs, terriers, toy breeds, and non-sporting
breeds. Winners in each group would vie for the Best in Show title. The
Westminster Kennel Club was first to adopt this new format.
1930: The AKC began requiring exhibitors to have a
license, which led to the formation of the Professional Handlers
Association in 1931.
1932: The first book of AKC rules was published. 1936:
The AKC published the first official Regulations and Standard for
Obedience Test Field Trials.
1941-1945: Hardships during the Second World War led
the AKC to relax rules governing dog shows. Even the size of the AKC
Gazette was reduced in order to conserve paper for the war effort.
1947: A judges' directory entitled "Licensed Judges"
was issued.
1950: An attempt was made to seat female delegates,
but no one seconded the motion and it failed.
1951: A rule was established that limited judges to
judging twenty dogs per hour. This was later changed to twenty-five dogs
per hour; the total number of dogs a judge could see in a day was two
hundred.
1969: New streamlined obedience rules went into
effect, and an important new approach to approving conformation and
obedience judges was enacted a few months later. The Board of Directors
of the AKC also adopted a system that would be used in rating judges and
new applicants for judgeships.
1974: A motion to allow women to serve as delegates
was seconded and carried by a vote of 180 to 7. The first women
delegates were elected in June.
Mid-1970s: Due to gas shortages, cluster shows begin
to spring up, at which all breed clubs were able to hold their events at
the same time and place, making it more convenient for traveling
exhibitors.
1978: The AKC stops the practice of licensing
professional handlers. This change allows anyone to show a dog for a
set fee.
1982: The Dog Museum of America opens. The original
museum is located in New York City, but five years later it moves to its
permanent location in St. Louis. Missouri. The museum's name is changed
to the American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog.
1984: The American Kennel Club celebrates its one
hundredth anniversary at the Centennial Show in Philadelphia.
1985: Dr. Jacklyn Hungerland. the first female
director of the AKC, is elected.
The 1990s: The AKC establishes the Canine Health
Foundation and the Canine Good Citizen program. The Companion Animal
Recovery program is initiated in 1995.
1998: The AKC moves several of its departments from
the New York City office to Raleigh, North Carolina. The Raleigh
location is named the American Kennel Club Building.
1998: DNA testing becomes a recognized method of
insuring the integrity of the AKC's registry.
2004: Almost 2 million dogs are competing in more than
15.000 member licensed, and sanctioned events. Having registered more
than 1.2 million dogs and 550,000 litters, the AKC is recognized as the
top authority in American dogdom.
