If you’re looking for a Maltese, Coton de Tulear, or Havanese puppy, you’ve likely seen the phrase AKC Registered breeder or the American Kennel Club a few times.
But what is the American Kennel Club (AKC) and why should a prospective puppy parent seek out an AKC-approved breeder? There are a variety of reasons why you should look for an AKC breeder, ranging from the confidence you can have in your pup’s health to the support you’ll receive throughout your dog’s life. Let’s learn more about the American Kennel Club, AKC Registered puppies, and the value that it adds to your puppy parenthood.
What’s the AKC?
The American Kennel Club (AKC) helps breeders around the world by providing up-to-date information and ongoing educational programs on how to best care for and raise puppies and dogs. Founded in 1884, the AKC advocates for purebred dogs, helps advance dog health and well-being, works to protect the rights of owners, and promotes responsible dog ownership. The organization also hosts the popular AKC Rally National Championship.
Your puppy’s health and well-being
Choosing a breeder is as important as selecting your furry family member.
Breeders that register their puppies and have a membership with the American Kennel Club are held to a high standard, as the AKC is the only purebred registry in the U.S. and operates an ongoing kennel inspection program. Since 2000, AKC field agents have conducted over 70,000 kennel inspections nationwide. Check out this helpful article from the AKC on how to find and work with a responsible breeder. AKC breeders also are typically highly-responsible breeders that deeply care for the health and well-being of their puppies, dams, and sires. In short, an AKC Registered breeder can help offer puppy parents some peace of mind.
Services and educational programs
If your puppy is registered with the AKC it will benefit from a lifetime of access to helpful information, services, discounts, and other premium service options. When you register your purebred puppy, you’ll receive:
A frameable AKC Registration Certificate and your dog’s name recorded in the AKC Registry.
30 days of pet insurance coverage with AKC Pet Insurance for newly registered puppies.
A certificate for a complimentary first veterinary office visit.
Eligibility to participate in AKC events, including agility, obedience, tracking, dog shows, and others.
The AKC GoodDog! Training Membership provides access to a professional trainer that can answer training and behavior questions.
In addition to these perks, the AKC offers such educational initiatives and services as the AKC Family Dog program, the AKC Rescue Network, the AKC S.A.F.E Grooming program, the Breeder of Merit program, and many others.
The AKC supports dogs
By supporting AKC breeders, you are in turn supporting the American Kennel Club’s wide array of efforts that help dogs around the U.S. For example, the AKC Canine Health Foundation works to improve the quality of life for dogs and owners by funding research projects focusing on the genetics of disease, the canine genome map, and clinical studies. AKC efforts also have raised nearly $3 million for the support of canine search-and-rescue organizations throughout America. The group also works with educators, schools, libraries, and government organizations to educate people about dogs, issues they face, their health, and safety.
Have more questions?
Welcoming a puppy into your family is a big decision and we’re happy to help. If you have any more questions, please e-mail us at [email protected] or call us at 918-456-6731. You can view Jaco Kennel’s available puppies here.
