AKC Mission Statement

The American Kennel Club Mission Statement changes as focus shifts to the bottom line, mixed-breed dogs and events, canine health, and responsible ownership. We present multiple changes starting 2005 through 2017.

This was the AKC Mission Statement as provided in our Feb 2005 Election coverage.

• Maintain a registry for purebred dogs and preserve its integrity.

• Sanction dog events that promote interest in, and sustain the process of, breeding for type and function of purebred dogs.

• Take whatever actions are necessary to protect and assure the continuation of the sport of purebred dogs.

The American Kennel Club adopted a new Mission Statement in August 2005:

• The American Kennel Club is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its Registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. Founded in 1884, the AKC and its affiliated organizations advocate for the purebred dog as a family companion, advance canine health and well-being, work to protect the rights of all dog owners and promote responsible dog ownership.

Words have meaning.  Puzzling is the change from preserving to upholding. Troubling is deletion of the declarative statement "Take whatever actions are necessary to protect and assure the continuation of the sport of purebred dogs."   Is "protecting" the same as "promoting"?

AKC's expanded Mission Statement as of January 2011:

The American Kennel Club is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its Registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. Founded in 1884, the AKC® and its affiliated organizations advocate for the purebred dog as a family companion, advance canine health and well-being, work to protect the rights of all dog owners and promote responsible dog ownership.

AKC’s Objective:

• Advance the study, breeding, exhibiting, running and maintenance of purebred dogs.

AKC's Core Values:

• We love purebred dogs

• We are committed to advancing the sport of the purebred dog

• We are dedicated to maintaining the integrity of our Registry

• We protect the health and well-being of all dogs

• We cherish dogs as companions

• We are committed to the interests of dog owners

• We uphold high standards for the administration and operation of the AKC

• We recognize the critical importance of our clubs and volunteers

Indeed the "sport of purebred dogs" has welcomed and provided competitions for non-purebred dogs; Obedience, Agility, Rally, etc. including having adopted UKC and other popular events such as Flyball, Dock Diving, Barn Hunts, etc.  Welcoming "Mixed Breed" dogs to those events was a positive step on behalf of all dogs but we must never lose sight of the fact that the American Kennel Club was formed to assess the type and function of the pure bred dog.

Note: In the online AKC Mission Statement accessed June 2016, the last paragraph is no longer included.

AKC Mission Statement as of December 2017: