The American Kennel Club

American Kennel Club

The American Kennel Club is a registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. Beyond maintaining its pedigree registry, this kennel club also promotes and sanctions events for purebred dogs, including the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, an annual event which predates the official...

has an 8 Group System. This is a system shared with many other non-Fédération Cynologique Internationale

Fédération Cynologique Internationale

Fédération Cynologique Internationale is an international federation of kennel clubs based in Thuin, Belgium. The English language translation, World Canine Organisation, is not often used.Its goals are described in Article 2 of their regulations:...

 Kennel Clubs

Kennel club

A kennel club is an organization for canine affairs that concerns itself with the breeding, showing and promotion of more than one breed of dog...

, however it adds an extra group. All of these groups but one have breeds with a common original purpose in.

8 Group System

The American Kennel Club's 8 Group System is shared with many other non-FCI members, but with one extra group. They all contain dogs that were bred for a specific purpose. These groups are a less broken down than the FCI. This is the hierarchy:

Example Breed: Norwegian Buhund

Norwegian Buhund

The Norwegian Buhund is a breed of dog of the spitz type. It is closely related to the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Jämthund. The name Buhund is derived from the Norwegian word "bu" which means farm, homestead or mountain hut, where the shepherd lived while looking after his herd in the summer...

• Group: Herding Group
  Herding Group
  Herding Group is the name of a breed Group of dogs, used by kennel clubs to classify a defined collection of dog breeds. It does not refer to one particular type of dog. How the Herding Group is defined varies among kennel clubs, and different kennel clubs may not include the same breeds in their...
  
  
• Breed: Norwegian Buhund
  Norwegian Buhund
  The Norwegian Buhund is a breed of dog of the spitz type. It is closely related to the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Jämthund. The name Buhund is derived from the Norwegian word "bu" which means farm, homestead or mountain hut, where the shepherd lived while looking after his herd in the summer...
  
  

Groups

The American Kennel Club Groups are as follows:

1. Hound Group
   Hound Group
   Hound Group is the name of a breed group of dogs, used by kennel clubs to classify a defined collection of dog breeds, and does not necessarily include all hound-type dogs...
   
   
2. Terrier Group
   Terrier Group
   Terrier Group is the name of a breed Group of dogs, used by kennel clubs to classify a defined collection of dog breeds. In general, a Terrier Group includes one particular type of dog, the Terrier, although other types may be included in a kennel club's Terrier Group...
   
   
3. Working Group
   Working Group (dogs)
   Working Group is the name of a breed Group of dogs, used by kennel clubs to classify a defined collection of dog breeds. Most major English-language kennel clubs include a Working Group, although different kennel clubs may not include the same breeds in their Working Group. Working Group does not...
   
   
4. Herding Group
   Herding Group
   Herding Group is the name of a breed Group of dogs, used by kennel clubs to classify a defined collection of dog breeds. It does not refer to one particular type of dog. How the Herding Group is defined varies among kennel clubs, and different kennel clubs may not include the same breeds in their...
   
   
5. Gundog Group
   Gundog Group
   thumb|Right|alt=A mostly white medium size dog with a brown spot on its back and brown ears. It stands in a field next to a woman wearing pastal green clothing.| A show champion Pointer competing for Best Gundog in a conformation show...
   
   
6. Non-Sporting Group
7. Toy Group
   Toy Group
   Toy Group is the name of a breed Group of the smallest kinds of dogs, used by kennel clubs to classify a defined collection of dog breeds. Toy Group does not necessarily refer to one particular type of dog. Most major English-language kennel clubs include a Toy Group although different kennel clubs...
   
   
8. Miscellaneous Class
   Miscellaneous Class
   The Miscellaneous Class is an American Kennel Club designation for certain dog breeds that are currently in the AKC Foundation Stock Service Program. The breeds have not been fully recognized and have not yet been assigned to a breed group. They do not appear in the official Stud Book as an AKC...
   
   

Realignment

In October of 2007, the AKC Board of Directors formed a committee to look at possibly expanding it groups to better serve the sport. An initial proposal by the realignment committee was made in 2009 for the March 2010 Delegate Meeting but was sent back to the Board by the committee before a vote was made on it. The Board then reformed the committee to study a new proposal based on new information. On November 14, 2011, the Board accepted a new proposal to be sent to the delegates for a vote in March 2012. Among the proposed changes are a split of the Sporting and Hound groups into two separate groups and the working into three separate groups.

See also

• The American Kennel Club
  American Kennel Club
  The American Kennel Club is a registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. Beyond maintaining its pedigree registry, this kennel club also promotes and sanctions events for purebred dogs, including the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, an annual event which predates the official...
  
  
• Fédération Cynologique Internationale Groups
  Fédération Cynologique Internationale Groups
  The Fédération Cynologique Internationale has a 10 Group System. This is a unique system. All of these groups have breeds with a common original purpose in.-10 Group System:...
  
  
• Kennel Club Groups
  Kennel Club Groups
  The Kennel Club in the United Kingdom has a 7 Group System. This is a system shared with many other non-Fédération Cynologique Internationale kennel clubs. All of these groups have breeds with a common original purpose in.-7 Group System:...
  
  
• Canadian Kennel Club Groups
  Canadian Kennel Club Groups
  The Canadian Kennel Club has an 7 Group System. This is a system shared with many other non-Fédération Cynologique Internationale Kennel Clubs, however it adds an extra group. All of these groups but one have breeds with a common original purpose in....