Created in approximately 1888, the CKC, or Canadian Kennel Club, strives to help maintain the integrity of dog breeds across the Canadian borders. Like other dog clubs, the CKC works hard to set guidelines for breed qualifications as well as to preserve the registrations of dogs in the country and provinces. As a national club, the Canadian Kennel Club is a non-profit organization and is incorporated under the Animal Pedigree Act of Canada. By providing registration for 174 recognized dog breeds, the CKC lets members know about the latest news in the dog world, about other members and their particular dog breeds, as well as helping to continue clean lines of breeding.

The History of the CKC

Dog shows are not a new development in Canada, if the history books are to be believed. Since the late 1880s, dog shows have grown in number, necessitating a way to provide guidelines for what was considered in terms of a purebred dog. From Montreal to Manitoba, dog shows were beginning to emerge as a national pastime, rather than simply a selective hobby. With the formation of the American Kennel Club in 1884, Canada was beginning to see a set of standards in America that helped to make dog shows more consistent in terms of the judging. Since Canada wanted to begin its own dog show circuit as well, it began the process of creating the Canadian Kennel Club in 1887.

The Purpose of the CKC

The main purpose of the Canadian Kennel Club is to provide promotion for the breeding and the showing of purebred dogs. By establishing clear guidelines, owners could register their dogs with the club, and the memberships grew dramatically within the first few years, from about 14 members to over 350. To help spread the word about the breeds, the Canadian Kennel Club founded the magazine Gazette and Stud Book (now the Kennel and Bench) in 1889, and allowed women to participate in general meetings soon after in 1903.

By working with the American Kennel Club, the CKC hopes to promote the breeds in its register as well as to help members have access to resources to help them in their quest to breed and show their prized dogs.

What Registration Provides the Owner

It should be noted that being a part of the registration does not necessarily guarantee that the dog is from champion dog lines, but rather that the dog is of a particular and recognized breed within the Canadian Kennel Club. This registration also allows for tracking of a particular breed so that blood lines can be explored as needed. Registration is necessary when you want to show your dog in purebred conformation shows or when you want to use your dog for breeding purposes. Even if a dog is not show quality, breeders may want to register their dogs as this can increase the value of the dogs to prospective buyers and owners.

The Canadian Kennel Club continues to grow and flourish as more dogs are registered each year, making for healthier dogs and a better breeding experience.