A Look At Dog Breed Types by AKC

When you start your quest to adopt or purchase a new dog, you'll no doubt want to know what options abound. Right now there are hundreds if not thousands of breeds that you can choose from, and each one of them have their own special traits. If you look online for dogs and puppies for sale, you're going to get hit with a lot of information, and it can be a bit confusing. That's why many look beyond that, and instead focus on listings from kennel clubs around the world. There are several organizations that work within the kennel clubs, as they provide with classifications, and breed information about every dog type. One such option is that of the American Kennel Club.

The Founding of AKC

The AKC or American Kennel Club was founded in 1884 and it is a premier registry for purebred dogs of certain pedigree in the United States. It keeps records for ancestry, and much more in regards to canines. They are part of the larger World Canine Organization which is out of Belgium. Under their classifications, many show dogs are allowed to move forward with full recognition. Early on, before shifting gears, the kennel club focused on Greyhound breeding, specifically for racing. However, that shifted when the Westminster Kennel Club Show started to take off at the turn of the 20th century.

The Groupings

As with other kennels, the American Club only recognizes a certain number of breeds throughout their listings. As of this writing, they only cover 187 breeds and they are classified into several different groups. Each one with their own characteristics. While there may be changes to the classifications, and list, it doesn't usually get a lot of change. Out of the 187 breeds, the following groupings are focused upon.

Sporting Group 

Hound Group 

Working Group 

Terrier Group 

Toy Group 

Herding Group 

Non-Sporting Group 

Miscellaneous Class 

Foundation Stock Service (FSS) Program

The groupings mentioned above have not been changed since 2011. However, it is not uncommon for new options to be founded within decades of one another.

Health Elements

One note of interest in regards to the American Club is the frequency of health issues found within the breeds. Pure bred dogs within the classifications of this kennel have 25% more issues with health and genetic problems inherited from their ancestry. This has drawn a lot of criticism as other kennel clubs around the world don't really have the same sort of issues.

AKC And The Law

Another great element of note is in regards to the legislation in the United States. You'll find that the kennel club lobbies lawmakers to help curtail selling online, illegal breeding, and much more. They have worked to stop puppy-mills, and much more, and continue to lobby for the sake of dogs, not just purebreds, but all dogs that are adopted, bred, sold, and put in shows in the United States. The American Kennel Club truly focuses on the wellbeing of all dog breeds across several different areas, not just show dogs, which is definitely a plus.

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