National Kennel Club

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The National Kennel Club is an all-breed dog registry in the United States. It was founded in 1969. It has been criticized by many breeders as being a "paper mill"; that is, it will issue registration for any dog, for any breed, with no rigorous proof of ancestry or determination as to fitness for breeding. For example, a stray dog that looks at least something like a Shetland Sheepdog could be registered unconditionally as a Shetland Sheepdog.

The NKC might respond that other kennel clubs are too rigorous or arbitrary. For example, the American Kennel Club might allow such a dog to be registered conditionally; that is, it is allowed to compete in AKC dog sports. However, it could never legally be bred as a Sheltie, nor could its offspring; nor could it be shown in the conformation ring.

[edit] Controversy regarding the NKC, Puppy Mills, Puppy Brokers, Backyard Breeders, and Pet Stores

It's been alleged that many Puppy Mills, Puppy Brokers, Backyard Breeders, and Pet Stores use the NKC registration so they don't have to deal with the strict guidelines imposed by the AKC. It's also been alleged that the NKC will in fact register mixed breed dogs.

Unlike the AKC, the NKC does not require DNA from dogs that produce more than three litters in a year or seven litters in a lifetime. Without DNA there is no proof that NKC dogs are purebred or how many litters the dog is producing.

Others insist that the NKC and other Non-AKC clubs are not any more likely to be used by puppy mills to legitimize questionable dogs; they claim that the AKC registration and certification program is biased toward dogs that meet a beauty standard versus dogs that meet a behavior standard. As a result the AKC breeds are often being degredated from the purpose of the breed (behavior) to a standard that only consideres their appearance. Many working dog breeder associations resist the AKC designation because they are concerned that AKC acceptance will result in the dilution of the working characteristics of the breed, e.g. the Border Collie.