The English Kennel Club is the largest organization in the United Kingdom that places great emphasis on the health of dogs, their status in families, and their training. The goal is to ensure that dogs live a happy and healthy life with responsible owners.
The Kennel Club operates the country's largest registration database both for purebred and crossbred dogs.
The Kennel Club runs a database called Petlog, which contains the data of animals marked with microchips.
The Kennel Club, the only organization accredited by the UKAS>> in the country, monitors the protection of animal welfare in a regulated breeder system from puppies through to breeding bitches.
The Kennel Club developed the largest dog training program in the United Kingdom, the Dog Citizen training system offers extensive opportunities for clubs within the dog training framework.
How it all began…
The Kennel Club was founded in 1873 after Sewallis E. Shirley attempted to organize a show but was disappointed. The proper regulations were still to be developed at that time.
Since the first show was held in 1859, the exhibition became increasingly popular already during the Victorian era. In 1865, Shirley appeared as an exhibitor at the Fox Terrier Show held in Birmingham. Then in 1870, together with a group of gentlemen dog owners, he organized the dog show called the “First Grand Exhibition of Sporting and Other Dogs” at the London Crystal Palace>> in June 1870. The show was not a financial success and the committee, made up of gentlemen, had to cover the losses.
It seems the clever Shirley convened a meeting with 12 other gentlemen, who had deep-rooted interests in the exhibition assessment of purebred dogs. The meeting took place in a small apartment on Victoria Street in London, which then became the venue for all business meetings until May 1877.
The gentlemen responsibly decided to establish the studbook database and so in 1877 the first volume was ready to receive registrations. It contained the studbook data of dogs competing in shows from 1859 and also included the studbook and show regulations.
At the Kennel Club's first annual general meeting – on December 1, 1874 – Shirley was appointed president. In the following 138 years, 14 presidents have held the same role.
The Kennel Club underwent significant change during the period between 1981 and 1996 under the presidency of John MacDougall. Among the most notable changes during this time were the modernization of the club’s regulations and the introduction of the Junior Organization, which encouraged young people to participate in dog exhibitions, such as sporting dog programs. Additionally, he established the Kennel Club library and a charitable foundation. During his presidency, the entire registration system was computerized.
Four years after the death of Charles Cruft, the Crufts Dog Show came under the ownership of the Kennel Club, as widow Emma Cruft could not devote enough time to organizing and managing the event, so she sold the rights to the Kennel Club. The Crufts Dog Show was not held during World War II. The first Crufts Dog Show organized by the Kennel Club took place in 1948 at the Olympia venue in London.
The Show was first broadcast by BBC television in 1950. In 1979 the Show moved to the Earls Court Exhibition Centre. The Kennel Club started its Junior Organization. The Organization is called the Young Kennel Club, abbreviated YKC. The Young Kennel Club appears at the show with its own stand and participates in various competitions over all four days. The YKC’s competitions are an important part of today’s Crufts Show.
As the Show grew, in 1991 the Centenary Crufts Dog Show was held at a new and larger venue, the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. The originally purebred dog exhibition has expanded over the years and now includes most branches of canine sports, such as Obedience, Agility, and Flyball.
The Kennel Club classifies dogs into seven groups in its registration system according to their traits. Most recognized breeds are united in clubs, where people who breed or like the same breeds meet driven by their love of the breed. Many clubs offer special activities or seminars for breeders, and organize social gatherings which breed lovers and their dogs equally enjoy. The Kennel Club has classified the different breeds into seven groups by type. The groups are as follows:
Gundog Group: Within the breed clubs this group includes dogs originally trained for finding live game and/or shot and wounded game. This group can be further divided into four categories, which are Retrievers, Spaniels, dogs trained to find wounded game, and Pointers and Setters – although many breeds can perform the same work within the subgroups. These dogs, thanks to their temperament, can be ideal and versatile companions in the family. View breeds belonging to the group>>.
Hound Group: Within the breed clubs these breeds were also originally used for hunting, based on their excellent sense of smell or notable speed. Hunting dogs working by scent include the Beagle and Bloodhound, while hounds hunting by notable speed include the Greyhounds and Whippets. Many of them enjoy and appreciate significant physical exercise, and can also be dignified, reserved, and reliable companions to people. View breeds belonging to the group>>.
Pastoral Group: Within the breed clubs this group consists of herding dogs whose work is related to herding cattle, sheep, reindeer, and other cloven-hoofed animals. These types of dogs generally have a weather-resistant double coat that serves to protect dogs working in extreme weather conditions from the elements. Some breeds in this group include the Collie family, the Old English Sheepdog, and the Samoyeds, who have worked in reindeer herding for centuries. View breeds belonging to the group>>.
Terrier Group: Within the breed clubs these are dogs originally bred and still used for pest control. The word “Terrier” comes from the Latin word “Terra,” meaning “Earth.” These bold dogs were selectively bred to keep only very brave and tough individuals working against foxes, badgers, rats, and otters (to name just a few) both above and below ground. Terrier-type dogs have been known since ancient times; painters and writers have eagerly depicted these dogs in paintings and stories from the Middle Ages, recounting their work. View breeds belonging to the group>>.
Toy Group: Within the breed clubs, Toy breeds are small-sized dogs or lapdogs. Some Toy breeds were bred specifically for these purposes, although some were included in this group mainly because of their small size. These breeds should have friendly personalities and attentive affection towards their owners. They do not require much exercise, and some of them are quite selective when it comes to food. Breeds belonging to the group can be viewed>>.
Utility Group: Within the breed clubs, this group consists of various breeds originally not bred for sporting purposes, such as the Bulldog, Dalmatian, Akita, and Poodle. The name of the group, "Utility," essentially means usable for a purpose, which is why this group comprises very mixed and diverse breeds. Most breeds in this group were selectively bred for a special function (which is neither sport nor work). Some breeds in the group are among the oldest documented breeds in the world. Breeds belonging to the group can be viewed>>.
Working Group: Within the breed clubs, dogs belonging to this group were selectively bred to become good search and rescue dogs. The working group undoubtedly consists of some very heroic dog breeds that assist people in many areas of life, including the Boxer, Great Dane, and Saint Bernard. This group consists of true specialists who excel in their field. Breeds belonging to the group can be viewed>>.
The Kennel Club’s Creed
The Kennel Club is the United Kingdom’s largest organization prioritizing the welfare and health of dogs. The Club’s goal is to encourage the overall improvement of dogs in every possible way, and to achieve this, the Kennel Club team works hard behind the scenes, inspiring breeders to breed healthy dogs of various breeds.
In today’s times, the Kennel Club’s most important task is to promote the protection and general welfare of dogs. To this end, they support dog owners across the United Kingdom with various interesting programs in education, investments, and initiatives in healthcare.
The Kennel Club is committed to advising and educating puppy buyers so that the breeds they purchase from responsible breeders can enjoy a suitable lifestyle within families. The Kennel Club initiative called Discover Dogs is for those who love dogs but cannot decide which breed to choose; at the Discover Dogs event, you can get advice and answers related to this issue. The Discover Dogs event is held every autumn at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London. Here you can find everything you need to know about nearly 200 different breeds. You can talk with knowledgeable owners and breeders about various breeds. You can receive first-hand advice on grooming, training, and the breed. You can be sure that with the help of this advice, you will find the ideal companion for yourself and your family. And of course, every dog can be cuddled in the hall.
More information can be viewed on the Official Discover Dogs website>>.
The Kennel Club, within the entertaining framework of the Discover Dogs event, helps people and families in every way to understand responsible pet ownership so they can live with healthy, happy dogs for many years.
Official website of The Kennel Club>>.
The Kennel Club’s Facebook page>>.
YKC Young Kennel Club website can be viewed>>.
YKC Young Kennel Club Facebook page can be viewed>>.
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