There are a number of dog registries in the United States. A few of these register only purebred dogs, and a few log in all breeds of dogs. The two clubs that engage in the registration of dogs are the National Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club.
Summary
AKC vs NKC
The main difference between AKC and NKC is that the National Kennel Club registers all breeds of dogs. On the other hand, the American Kennel Club only registers purebred dogs.
The American Kennel Club [AKC] is a dog registry that only registers pure breeds of dogs in the United States. The club also plays a role in promoting and sanctioning events for purebred dogs.
The National Kennel Club [NKC], on the other hand, registers all kinds of dogs and is not that strict in terms of the breeds of dogs registered under it.
Comparison Table Between AKC and NKC
| Parameters of Comparison | American Kennel Club | National Kennel Club |
| Definition | AKC is an American registry that only registers purebred dogs. | NKC is a registry-based in the United States that registers all breeds of dogs. |
| Year of Establishment | It was founded in 1884 | It was founded in 1969 |
| Adherence to policies | It is very strict in terms of its policies of registration of dogs | It is not very strict in terms of its policy of registration of dogs |
| Ancestry | It is checked and is validated | It is not checked and not validated |
| Authenticity | Dogs registered under AKC are authentic | Dogs registered under NKC are not authentic |
What is AKC?
The American Kennel Club or AKC is a dog registry that only registers purebred dogs. The authenticity of the dogs registered under the American Kennel Club is comparatively more than the National Kennel Club.
It was founded in 1884. The registration done under the American Kennel Club is only for purebred dogs. The club is particular about the evidence stating that the dog belongs to a specific breed. The club is also the world’s largest non-profit club for purebred dogs.
The American Kennel Club registers each dog’s parents. The dogs are also registered as genuine purebreds. Hence, the offspring of the dogs will also get registered under the AKC. This would be because they would be guaranteed to be purebred due to their parents being a part of the AKC.
Although AKC is not a member of the World Canine Organisation, it still organises one of the United States’ best dog shows – the annual dog show. Other dog shows organized by the club are Eukanuba National Championship and the National Dog show. These shows aim to provide families with a purebred dog companion.
The shows also help uplift the health of canines. They aid in protecting the rights of the dogs and their owners. Additionally, the shows help improve the responsibility and accountability of the owners toward their dogs.
What is NKC?
NKC or the National Kennel Club is a registry in the United States that registers all dogs’ breeds. The Club was founded in 1969 and was named the ‘paper mill’ dog registry.
The dogs registered under NKC are not very genuine since there is a low strictness level maintained while the registration of dogs takes place. The NKC registers any breed of a dog, due to which it is pretty uncommon to find dogs registered under NKC at the dog shows organised by AKC. The parents of the dogs are also registered under the NKC.
The dogs at the NKC are not tested for their DNA’s authenticity. Additionally, there is no verification done to check on the dog’s ancestry. Since the authenticity of the dogs registered under the NKC is low, it registers dogs belonging to any breed.
The NKC is impartial to all breeds of dogs and their owners. The rare breeds and the common breeds are provided equal status. The NKC licenses events for Beagles, squirrel dogs, bird dogs, Licensed Dog Kennels, dog shows, and various dog-related events.
Main Differences Between AKC and NKC
- The American Kennel Club is a registry that registers only purebred dogs. On the other hand, the National Kennel Club registers all breeds of dogs.
- The AKC was established in 1884, whereas the NKC was established in 1969.
- The AKC is stringent in terms of its policies of registration of dogs. On the other hand, the NKC is not very strict in terms of its policy of registration of dogs.
- The AKC is particular about checking and validating the ancestry of dogs. On the other hand, the NKC is not thorough about checking and validating the dogs’ ancestry registered under it.
- The dogs registered under the AKC are authentic. On the other hand, the dogs registered under the NKC are not genuine.
Conclusion
The American Kennel Club [AKC] and the National Club [NKC] are two of the most well-known dog registries in the United States. The two differ in the way they register the dogs.
The main difference between the two is that the AKC registers only purebred dogs, whereas the NKC registers all breeds of dogs. Some other distinctions to note are the dogs’ authenticity, validity, and ancestry.
Due to such differences, it is difficult for dogs registered under the NKC to join the dog shows organised by the AKC.
The shows organised by the AKC are the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show (done annually), the Eukanuba National Championship, and the National Dog Show. On the other hand, the NKC licenses events for Beagles, squirrel dogs, bird dogs, Licensed Dog Kennels, dog shows, and various dog-related events.
Lastly, the AKC registers the purebred dogs’ parents, and the NKC registers the parents of any breeds under it. The NKC is impartial to all breeds of dogs and their owners. The rare and common breeds are provided equal status, whereas the AKC is pretty stringent about the breed.