Introduction to the United Kennel Club (UKC)

The United Kennel Club (UKC) is the second oldest all-breed registry of purebred dogs in the USA and the second largest in the world. The club records around 250,000 registrations annually. In comparison, the American Kennel Club registered just over 900,000 dogs in 2003.

History and Foundation

The UKC was founded by Chauncey Z. Bennett in 1898. Bennett formed the club to provide a registry for working dogs, contrasting with the AKC’s emphasis on dog conformation. Some detractors claim that the club was originally formed so that Bennett could register his American Pit Bull Terrier, Bennett’s Ring.

The Concept of the “Total” Dog

Bennett conceived and promoted the concept of the “total” dog, a dog that performs as well as it looks, where intelligence and working ability are as important as conformation to the show bench standard. This idea found a niche among owners of herding and hunting dogs. The UKC was innovative in establishing competitions and using DNA testing to establish parentage.

Expansion and Activities

The UKC later expanded into other areas, including dog sports and, more recently, conformation. Today, the club sponsors a variety of conformation, obedience, hunting, and agility shows and trials. This expansion into diverse activities has proved to be a significant challenge to the AKC’s market share, prompting the AKC to expand its own offerings.

Current Leadership and Philosophy

Wayne Cavanaugh, the current president of the UKC, is a former Vice President of the AKC. In a 2000 interview with BJ Andrews for thedogplace.com, Cavanaugh described the UKC as “a performance dog registry” and advocated cooperation rather than competition between the two clubs.

Registration Types with the UKC

There are three ways to register a dog with the UKC:

  • Single Registration: 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 breed dogs to participate in obedience and agility.
  • Litter Registration: For puppies whose parents are both UKC registered dogs.

For more information, visit the UKC’s official website.

http://www.ukcdogs.com/