Foundation Stock Service® Program

The American Kennel Club created the Foundation Stock Service® (FSS®) to answer the needs of today's rare breed fanciers. The Foundation Stock Service® is an optional record-keeping service for all purebred breeds not currently registrable with the American Kennel Club.

Goals of the Foundation Stock Service®

The AKC is committed to taking the necessary action to ensure the continuation of purebred dogs. In accord with this objective, the AKC created the FSS® record-keeping service to allow rare breed fanciers to continue their commitment to the improvement of their breed.

One of the most serious concerns for any breed is the integrity of its pedigree and ownership records. For many fanciers, the ultimate goal is full AKC recognition. There are several criteria that must be met in order to achieve this plateau. Often, the biggest hurdle is creating and maintaining accurate records.

With the FSS®, the AKC staff of experts will maintain the pedigree and ownership records in addition to a stud book. The AKC has more than 100 years of experience protecting the integrity of registries for purebred dogs.

Fanciers who record their dogs with the FSS® can rest assured that the AKC will maintain quality stud books for their breeds.

The Benefits of Enrolling in FSS®

The Foundation Stock Service® allows purebred rare breeds to continue to develop while providing them with the security of a reliable and reputable avenue to maintain their records.

Foundation Stock Service® is a requirement for fanciers of a breed who want to achieve full AKC recognition.

FSS® breeds may now compete in Companion Events and in Performance Events that AKC determines to be applicable. Breeds must have dogs with three-generation pedigrees recorded in the FSS®, a breed standard, and an active breed club in order to compete. Recording your dog in FSS® can help catapult your breed into AKC competition.

While the recording of a dog in FSS® does not guarantee eventual full AKC registration, it does provide the avenue to compete in the exciting world of Companion and Performance Events.

Eligibility for Performance Events is subject to approval by the Performance Events Department upon review of the historical function of the breed or involvement in like events.

How Breeds Enter the FSS®

The American Kennel Club considers requests to enter FSS® from breed clubs or individual fanciers of a breed. Those wishing to pursue recording with FSS® must:

  • Fill out a questionnaire for new breeds.  Email: fss@akc.org for questionnaire.
  • Provide a written breed history documenting the distinct breed over a period of many decades. This should include details on any foreign and/or domestic organizations that register the breed. The source of the historical information must also be provided.
  • Provide an official written breed standard, indicating the origin of that standard. If the standard differs from the official breed standard in the breed country of origin please specify those differences.
  • Provide photographs of the breed, including puppies and adults, as well as both dogs and bitches. If there are different accepted types in the breed, photographs of each type should be included and labeled as such.

The AKC only considers adding new breeds to the FSS® or its registry upon request. The breed must be recognized by an acceptable foreign or domestic registry.

The FSS® is not open to "rare" breeds that are a variation of an AKC-registrable breed or the result of a combination of two AKC-recognized breeds. This includes and is not limited to differences such as size (over and under), coat type, coat colors, and coat colors and/or types that are disqualifications from Conformation Events by AKC breed standards

What is next? Guidelines For Registering a New Breed

If the goal for your breed is AKC recognition please consider the action items below after your breed is in the FSS®. The recognition process begins with admission of the breed to the Miscellaneous Class.

  • Form a strong national breed club and encourage fanciers nationwide to join and get involved. A national breed club with representative membership of about 100 active households is expected for a breed to be placed in the Miscellaneous Class. The amount of active households needed can vary depending on the number of dogs recorded in the FSS®.
  • Form some active committees such as a rescue committee or a health committee, put on shows, and publish a quarterly newsletter. A committed AKC liaison is also keeping AKC updated on the club's various activities provides documentation of the fanciers' dedication to full AKC recognition. Current officer and membership lists must be on file with the AKC.
  • Encourage other fanciers to record their dogs with FSS®. A minimum of 150-200 dogs with complete three-generation pedigrees, owned by many different individuals residing in various parts of the nation, must be recorded as part of the criteria for approval to move to the Miscellaneous Class. A club representing the breed must be in existence to request eligibility for the Miscellaneous Class. The more dogs you record with the FSS®, the more committed AKC believes the fanciers are to achieving full recognition. If the breed club has not submitted its breed registry for entry into FSS®, the club is required to do so when moving to the Miscellaneous Class. If more than one club exists, the selection of the Parent Club will occur prior to the breed being eligible for full recognition at which time the breed standard will be finalized.
  • A Parent Club has been selected to represent the breed.
  • A dog must be enrolled in the AKC FSS® with a three-generation pedigree to be eligible to be entered and compete in the Miscellaneous Class.
  • Stay in contact. The AKC moves forward with recognition of breeds whose fanciers want the breed to be recognized. The Parent Club must maintain a minimum of annual contact with the AKC providing updated membership lists, documentation of club business and activities.  The breeders and exhibitors are to demonstrate ongoing interest and responsible breeding practices.
  • Normally breeds remain in the Miscellaneous Class one to three years. Advancement to full registration will be contingent on growth in enrollment of dogs in FSS and participation in AKC events. However breeds with 1,000 or more dogs enrolled in FSS® may be evaluated after six months in Miscellaneous, these breeds will remain in the Miscellaneous Class a minimum of 18 months. Breeds with less than 1,000 dogs will be evaluated at the end of each year in Miscellaneous When all criteria are met the information is presented to the AKC Board of Directors for approval to move to full AKC recognition and breed conformation competition.

Request for Regular status will be contingent upon the following:

  • The Breed Standard has been revised in accordance with the AKC Breed Standard Guidelines.
  • A minimum of one year has elapsed since entering the Miscellaneous Class unless the breed has over 1,000 three generation dogs when entering the Miscellaneous Class, then the club may request full recognition after six months.
  • The Parent Club has maintained contact with AKC Staff and documented the conducting of club business and activities.
  • Continuous enrollment of litters and dogs in the AKC Foundation Stock Service reflecting ongoing interest in the breed.