How a Breed Becomes a Breed

In 2013, three new lovable breeds (Chinook, Rat Terrier and Portuguese Podengo Pequeno) became eligible to compete at the upcoming National Dog Show and next February's renowned Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. This is not unusual. Each year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) determines the eligibility of newcomers who hope to contend for the blue ribbon.

In the United States, the AKC is responsible for acknowledging and substantiating the existence of breeds in general, usually making two to six official each year. Currently, they recognize 175 breeds. “The AKC has been recognizing breeds since it was founded in 1884,” says AKC spokeswoman Lisa Peterson. “The process has evolved with us.”

Though the organization’s verification system is clearly delineated, it differs in certain ways from the dictated tenets of parallel entities in countries like Canada and the United Kingdom. As it turns out, what renders a breed official in the U.S. may not necessarily hold in the land of royals or maple leaves, and vice versa.

Breeds Born in the USA

In the U.S., the first step in submitting a breed for recognition is to join the AKC’s Foundation Stock Service (FSS), a recordkeeping program for purebred breeders that aims to help support pedigree claims down the line. (This requires filling out a questionnaire, documenting the history of the breed and laying out standards for that breed that conform to specific guidelines, among other things — "rare" breeds from the combination of two AKC-recognized breeds are not considered.) Often these breeds are imported from other countries and must have proof of an acceptable registry.

Breeds are broken down into categories by group: Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, Herding and Miscellaneous Class. The next step in having a breed recognized is to have it admitted into that last category.

The AKC recommends various strategies for shepherding a breed into contention: You can form a national club — which can qualify once it includes roughly 100 active households — or a rescue or health committee that puts out a quarterly newsletter and maybe even its own shows. You should encourage fellow lovers of the breed to record their dogs with the FSS, as there must be 150 to 200 dogs registered with complete three-generation pedigrees to be approved.

Dogs generally remain in the Miscellaneous category for one to three years. Full registration depends on consistent enrollment of more dogs of that breed in FSS, unless there are already 1,000 or more dogs enrolled. In that case, the situation is reviewed within six months by the AKC board of directors.

It might sound like a lot, but it’s worth the work. “Once a breed is fully recognized, they’re eligible to earn AKC conformation championship titles, as well as being able to compete in group competition,” Peterson says.

Oh, Canada

While the uninitiated might associate Canada primarily with only Newfoundlands and sleigh dogs, the country has much going on in the canine realm. Like the American Kennel Club, the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) — founded in 1888 thanks to the proliferation of Canadian purebred dog shows previously overseen by the AKC — currently recognizes 175 breeds, just like the AKC. Despite the obvious similarities, they go about that recognition slightly differently.

The first step is still to apply for a spot on their Miscellaneous List, which allows event participation and eventual recognition as a breed. That’s accomplished via a written application, a certificate of registration from another Animal Pedigree Act-approved kennel club, breed standards from the country of origin (in writing, with illustrations) and three-generation pedigree documentation, plus a fee. Once all that information is confirmed with the head office, the breed is presented to the board of directors for approval and for membership polling.

Once approved for a Miscellaneous certification number, the breed may be considered for recognition after three years minimum. At that time, a notice is published asking other breeders to come forward, and assuming all is in order and most are in favor, a new breed may be recognized. (An application must be submitted to Agriculture Canada by CKC to amend the articles of incorporation.)

The biggest difference, though, is that there is no minimum requirement for the number of dogs or importers when the board considers recognition. While the U.S. has certain quantities that must be met, in Canada, that number can vary greatly.

Dogs Across the Pond

Before His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge arrived on the scene, Kate Middleton and Prince William were parents to Lupo, a beloved black Cocker Spaniel.

Of course, that breed has long been acknowledged by the U.K. Kennel Club, and there are 24 enthusiast Cocker Spaniel breed clubs around the country. But for new breeds hoping to forge their way to recognition in the U.K., there are specific application guidelines, the paperwork for which is ultimately reviewed by the Kennel Club General Committee.

The U.K. Kennel Club was founded before the U.S. and Canadian versions, back in 1873. Thus far, 210 breeds have been recognized in seven categories: Hounds, Gundogs, Terriers, Utility, Working, Pastoral and Toys.

The application must include names and addresses of U.K. owners and importers (and at least 20 — preferably unrelated — members of the breed should reside in the U.S.). Once again, copies of pedigrees going back three generations are required, as are recognition status and statistics in the country of origin. Details of any inherited conditions that are common to the breed must also be listed, plus a brief history with photographs and standards from the country of origin.

As a spokesperson for the organization says, the checks and balances in recognizing breeds are important “mainly for the health and welfare of the breed, sound development in the U.K. and making sure there is a good gene pool.”

Though in 2013 the Turkish Kangal Dog and Portuguese Pointer were recognized, in recent years no new breeds have been added. It goes to show that no matter what country you hail from, if you’re looking for easy recognition, you’re barking up the wrong tree.