The AKC Breeder of Merit program celebrates your dedication to maintaining breed standards and ensuring your AKC-registrable puppies find loving homes. Your work as a breeder is vital to upholding AKC’s mission, and you play a crucial role in preserving the legacy of your beloved breed.
This is why, as a Breeder of Merit, your endorsement of the AKC purebred dog registration is so important. Make sure that all your buyers know that their puppies must be registered and that you can make the process easy for them. You should also let them know why registration has value to them.
There are five requirements for achieving AKC Breeder of Merit recognition:
- A history of at least five years’ involvement with AKC events
- Demonstrate a commitment to individually registering 100% of the puppies you have bred
- Have earned either AKC Conformation, Performance, or Companion event titles on at least four dogs from AKC litters you have bred or co-bred
- Be a member of an AKC breed club
- Can certify that applicable health tests are performed on your breeding stock, as recommended by the Parent Club. Health test requirements can be found here.
Ensuring that all your puppies are registered is the easiest requirement to fulfill, using the AKC Breeder Toolkit which provides a way to:
- Register puppies yourself with Prepaid Registration (at a discounted rate!)
- Transfer the registration to the new owner with ease
- Check the status of a registration at any time
As a Breeder of Merit, you get access to a host of exclusive benefits, including:
- Monthly credits for online reports in AKC Breeder Toolkit
- Free litter listings with priority placement and recognition badge on AKC Marketplace
- Discounts on AKC Reunite Microchips (up to 33% off)
- Free Duplicates, Leases and Revoke Limited
- A BOM-dedicated Customer Service department and a toll-free number
- Breed-specific web banners to proudly promote your involvement in the Program
- Special BOM designation and recognition levels printed on applications and registration certificates
- A 10% discount on annual pet insurance coverage for your puppies from AKC Pet Insurance
- Plus, a certificate of distinction, lapel pin, and access to the Inner Circle Newsletter!
Breeders of Merit show their commitment to their breeds and to AKC’s mission, while setting a strong example for breeders everywhere. To become an AKC Breeder of Merit, click here for applications.