United Kennel Club
Encyclopedia
The United Kennel Club is the second oldest all-breed registry
of purebred
dog
pedigrees in the United States
and the second largest in the world. According to the website, the club records 250,000 registrations annually. The UKC is not part of the International Canine Organisation, Fédération Cynologique Internationale
, as most other countries' kennel clubs are. The UKC was founded by Chauncey Z. Bennett in 1898. The UKC states that Bennett formed the club in order to provide a registry for working dog
s as opposed to the American Kennel Club
's emphasis on dog conformation shows
. Some UKC detractors claim that the club was originally formed so that the founder could register his American Pit Bull Terrier
, Bennett's Ring.
Bennett conceived and promoted the concept of the "total" dog, that is, a dog that performs as well as it looks; in which intelligence and working ability was as important as conformation to the show bench standard
. Bennett found a niche among the owners of herding
and hunting
dogs. The UKC was innovative in the establishment of competitions and the use of DNA testing to establish parentage. Eventually the club expanded into other areas, including dog sports and more recently conformation, and today sponsors a variety of conformation
, obedience
, hunting
, and agility
shows and trials.
The current president of the UKC, Wayne Cavanaugh, is a former
Vice President of AKC. In a 2000 interview with BJ Andrews for thedogplace.com, Cavanaugh defined the UKC as "a performance dog registry" and advocated cooperation rather than competition between the two clubs.
There are three ways to register a dog with the UKC:
Top 5 Registered Breeds:
Breed registry
A breed registry, also known as a stud book or register, in animal husbandry and the hobby of animal fancy, is an official list of animals within a specific breed whose parents are known. Animals are usually registered by their breeders when they are still young...
of purebred
Purebred
Purebreds, also called purebreeds, are cultivated varieties or cultivars of an animal species, achieved through the process of selective breeding...
dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
pedigrees in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the second largest in the world. According to the website, the club records 250,000 registrations annually. The UKC is not part of the International Canine Organisation, 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:...
, as most other countries' kennel clubs are. The UKC was founded by Chauncey Z. Bennett in 1898. The UKC states that Bennett formed the club in order to provide a registry for working dog
Working dog
A working dog refers to a canine working animal, i.e., a type of dog that is not merely a pet but learns and performs tasks to assist and/or entertain its human companions, or a breed of such origin...
s as opposed to 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...
's emphasis on dog conformation shows
Conformation show
Conformation shows, also referred to as breed shows, are a kind of dog show in which a judge familiar with a specific dog breed evaluates individual purebred dogs for how well the dogs conform to the established breed type for their breed, as described in a breed's individual breed standard.A...
. Some UKC detractors claim that the club was originally formed so that the founder could register his American Pit Bull Terrier
American Pit Bull Terrier
The American Pit Bull Terrier is a medium-sized, solidly built, short haired dog whose early ancestors came from England and Ireland...
, Bennett's Ring.
Bennett conceived and promoted the concept of the "total" dog, that is, a dog that performs as well as it looks; in which intelligence and working ability was as important as conformation to the show bench standard
Breed standard
A breed standard in animal fancy and animal husbandry is a set of guidelines which is used to ensure that the animals produced by a breeder or breeding facility conform to the specifics of the breed....
. Bennett found a niche among the owners of herding
Herding dog
A herding dog, also known as a stock dog or working dog, is a type of pastoral dog that either has been trained in herding or belongs to breeds developed for herding...
and hunting
Hunting dog
A hunting dog refers to any dog who assists humans in hunting. There are several types of hunting dogs developed for various tasks. The major categories of hunting dogs include hounds, terriers, dachshunds, cur type dogs, and gun dogs...
dogs. The UKC was innovative in the establishment of competitions and the use of DNA testing to establish parentage. Eventually the club expanded into other areas, including dog sports and more recently conformation, and today sponsors a variety of conformation
Conformation show
Conformation shows, also referred to as breed shows, are a kind of dog show in which a judge familiar with a specific dog breed evaluates individual purebred dogs for how well the dogs conform to the established breed type for their breed, as described in a breed's individual breed standard.A...
, obedience
Obedience trial
An obedience trial is a dog sport in which a dog must perfectly execute a predefined set of tasks when directed to do so by his handler. According the American Kennel Club obedience regulations...
, hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
, and agility
Dog agility
Dog agility is a dog sport in which a handler directs a dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. Dogs run off-leash with no food or toys as incentives, and the handler can touch neither dog nor obstacles...
shows and trials.
The current president of the UKC, Wayne Cavanaugh, is a former
Vice President of AKC. In a 2000 interview with BJ Andrews for thedogplace.com, Cavanaugh defined the UKC as "a performance dog registry" and advocated cooperation rather than competition between the two clubs.
There are three ways to register a dog with the UKC:
- Single Registration is for dogs whose parents are not UKC registered, but are registered by another approved entity.
- Limited Privilege allows purebred dogs of unknown pedigree, and mixed breedMixed-breed dogA mixed-breed dog, also known as a mutt or mongrel, is a dog whose ancestry is generally unknown and that has characteristics of two or more types of breeds. A mixed-breed may be a cross-breed dog, a random-bred dog, or a descendant of feral or pariah dog populations...
dogs, to participate in obedienceObedience trialAn obedience trial is a dog sport in which a dog must perfectly execute a predefined set of tasks when directed to do so by his handler. According the American Kennel Club obedience regulations...
and agilityDog agilityDog agility is a dog sport in which a handler directs a dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. Dogs run off-leash with no food or toys as incentives, and the handler can touch neither dog nor obstacles...
. - Litter Registration is for puppies whose parents are both UKC registered dogs.
Top 5 Registered Breeds:
- Treeing Walker CoonhoundTreeing Walker CoonhoundThe Treeing Walker Coonhound is a breed of dog descended from the English Foxhound, first recognized as a separate breed in 1945. The breed began when a stolen dog of unknown origin, known as "Tennessee Lead", was crossed into the Walker Hound in the 19th century...
- American Pit Bull TerrierAmerican Pit Bull TerrierThe American Pit Bull Terrier is a medium-sized, solidly built, short haired dog whose early ancestors came from England and Ireland...
- Bluetick CoonhoundBluetick CoonhoundThe Bluetick Coonhound is a breed of dog. It is a type of coonhound and typically bred in the southern United States.- Appearance :The overall body style of the Bluetick Coonhound is muscular and speedy, not chunky or clumsily built. The head is carried well up and the tail carried over the back,...
- English CoonhoundEnglish CoonhoundThe English Coonhound, sometimes referred to as the "Redtick Coonhound", is a breed of dog. It is a type of coonhound that is typically bred in the southern United States.-Coloration:...
- Black and Tan CoonhoundBlack and Tan CoonhoundThe Black and Tan Coonhound is a breed of dog used principally for trailing and treeing raccoon. It's a cross between the Bloodhound, and the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound. The Black and Tan Coonhound runs its game entirely by scent...