Non-AKC Events (March 2004 Delegates Meeting)
Reported at March 2004 Delegates Meeting to implement ARTICLE XV, SECTION 4 of the AKC Bylaws
Any Board approval for non-AKC events would be general, covering specific activities sponsored by specific organizations. The list of approved activities would appear on the AKC web site policy manual, so that individual clubs would not be required to seek AKC approval on an event-by-event basis. In considering approval, the Board would apply criteria including, but not limited to:
- AKC has no comparable event in place.
- While AKC has a program in place, AKC clubs had held events under the aegis of the other organization for years before the AKC program was initiated.
- The type of event is not or would not be perceived as being contrary to the best interest of AKC and the sport of purebred dogs.
- The event is a breed or type of breed-specific performance activity.
Any non-AKC events the Board does approve clubs to hold, must be held separate and apart from an AKC event and should not be included in any AKC event documents. This requirement may only be waived if AKC grants written approval for a special attraction in accordance with Chapter 11, Section 10 of the Rules Applying to Dog Shows.
AKC clubs have been holding the following activities that meet the above criteria, and with the adoption of the proposed amendment may continue to do so:
American Sighthound Field Association Coursing EventsOther activities could be added to the list as they are brought to AKC's attention and evaluated against the criteria.
American Working Terrier Association Earthdog Events
American Herding Breed Association Events
North American Versatility Dog Association Pointing Breed Hunting Tests
Large Gazehound Racing Association
American Field Pointing Breed Field Trials
United Kennel Club Coonhound Events
Professional Kennel Club Coonhound Events
Accelerated New Club Sanctioned Match Programs (Adopted November 1991; amended March 1997 and November 2005)
Performance clubs, which meet the usual AKC accreditation requirements and are comprised of a large percentage of members with extensive background (ten or more years) in the performance event the club was formed to serve, can have their match programs accelerated (March, 1997). Those clubs will also be able to hold a license performance event on a probationary basis (November, 2005) provided a letter is received from the directors of a license club in an adjacent area or a parent club agreeing to mentor the new club. The new club's members will be entirely responsible for all facets of the trial and an AKC field representative will observe the event, or if an AKC field representative is not in attendance, AKC will designate an official from the mentoring club to submit a report on the event.
Designate breed seminars approved by Parent Clubs as "Sanctioned Seminars," and list them accordingly in the AKC Events Calendar.
Breed Standard Format (July 1994 Board meeting, amended November 2006)
As long as no words are added, deleted or changed, a format change in a breed standard, based upon a vote of the respective Parent Club's board, may be approved by the AKC Board.
Format to be used for writing breed standards is Guidelines for Writing Breed Standards.
Breed Standard Moratorium (February 1994 Board meeting)
The Board adopted a policy implementing a five-year moratorium on breed standard revisions to apply from effective date to effective date.
Event Committee Legal Expenses (May 1985 Board Meeting)
It is the policy of the American Kennel Club to afford legal representation, upon request, to members of Bench Show, Obedience Trial, or Field Trial Committees who are sued for activity or actions within the scope of their duties on such committees.
Member Club Application Requirements (February 1949 Board meeting)
The club's Bylaws shall be in acceptable form.
• A non-profit membership type of organization.
• One type of membership in which all enjoy equal voting rights.
• Adequate protection of the individual against disciplinary measures.
• Assurance that club affairs cannot be arbitrarily managed by a few against the wishes of the members.
• Membership may be limited in number but membership limits shall not be set below fifty.
The club shall consist of a representative group... (SEE April 2008 Policy)
• For an all-breed club, membership shall not be largely representative of one breed or one group.
• A membership roster of less than 25 (not including husbands and wives) would not be favorably considered. An application from a densely populated area and "doggy" community which is not served by other clubs would be expected to show more than 25 members.
...residing within the territory which the club serves...
• Not all members need to reside in the club's territory, but a preponderance of them should.
• Definitely, the club's not to be controlled by non-resident officials or influential members.
...who have come together because of their common interest in dogs and dog events...
• Not a promotion of a superintendent or club organization.
• Not a group of people who have only a casual interest and have been banded together by ambitious people and used as scenery.
...to satisfy an existing and indicated future need in the general area of the club's location.
• Would not approve a club for a territory in which there exists a member club, unless such member club had not held a show during the preceding years.
• Would look with disfavor on an application from a metropolitan area which is already crowded with member clubs which have a satisfactory record of events.
Club Household Membership Requirements (April 2008 Board Meeting)
The Board reviewed the criteria used to accredit the various types of AKC clubs. Following a motion by Dr. Haines, seconded by Ms. Scully, the Board VOTED (affirmative: Dr. Haines, Ms. Scully, Mr. Menaker, Mr. Merriam, Mrs. Strand, Dr. Newman. Dr. Garvin, Dr. Davies, Mr. Marden, Mr. Gladstone; (abstaining: Mrs. Schaefer; absent: Dr. Battaglia and Mr. Goodman) to adopt the following policy, governing the basic membership criteria for applicants seeking member, licensed and sanctioned status, effective January 1, 2009:
Clubs applying for member, licensed or sanctioned status shall meet the following club membership requirements:
Show Territory (August 2002 Board Meeting)All-Breed, Group and Obedience Clubs 30 members /25 local
Specialty Clubs 20 members /12 local
Agility and Earth Dog 20 members /12 local
Field Trial Hunting, Coursing, Herding 20 members /12 local
Coonhound 15 members /8 local
Tracking 12 local members
Effective January 1, 2004, the Board interprets Chapter 2, Sections 2, 3, 5, and 6 to require a member club to hold a show in its territory at least once in every two consecutive calendar years to maintain the sole show privilege in that territory.
