10 Fun Facts About the United Kennel Club

If you are a dog breeder or you show your pet in dog competitions, then it is likely that you will know about the United Kennel Club. On the other hand, if you are not a dog owner, it is possible that you may never have heard of this organization. Regardless of whether you have heard of them or not, there are still many fascinating pieces of information of which you may be unaware. Here are ten interesting facts about the United Kennel Club.

It Was Founded in 1898

The United Kennel Club has a long history as it was founded in 1898 by Chauncey Zachariah Bennett. When he founded the organization, his focus was on the working dog. For many years, the United Kennel Club was operated from Bennett’s home and he ran the operation entirely in his free time. As the organization grew, he separated off a section of his home to use as a home office. It then became necessary for him to hire some help.

It Is a Register for 26 Countries

Although the United Kennel Club is based in the United States and includes all 50 states, it is an international organisation. In fact, there are 25 other countries around the world that are a part of the United Kennel Club. It hosts over 13,000 licensed events each year in various parts of the world.

The First Dog Registered was an American Pitbull Terrier

The first registration with the United Kennel Club was an American Pitbull Terrier called Bennett’s ring. This dog was owned by Chauncey Bennett, the founder of the United Kennel Club. This dog was allocated registration number one.

They Have a Magazine Called Bloodlines

The United Kennel Club have their own magazine which is called ‘Bloodlines’. This was initially launched as a journal in 1905 and consisted of just four pages. The name of the publication was chosen by Mrs. Bennett. Originally, the magazine cost 10 cents per copy. Alternatively, people could subscribe to the magazine for a year for the princely sum of $1. The UKC magazine was then split and ‘Coonhound Bloodlines’ was launched as a sister publication in 1973. Until 2015, both publications were released monthly. However, the original ‘Bloodlines’ was then discontinued and the club now only publishes ‘Coonhound Bloodlines’ monthly.

The First UKC Nite Hunt was in 1953

The very first official Nite Hunt that followed the United Kennel Club rules was held in 1953 September 18 to 19 in Ingraham, Illinois. The winner of the event was a Plott Hound called CH Overbeck’s Lucky, which was owned by Elwood Overbeck from Jackson, Missouri.

The United Kennel Club Became Computerized in 1973

For many years, all the registrations in the United Kennel Club were done manually. In an attempt to move with the times and simplify the registration process, they adopted a computerized system in 1973. As the registration process was largely number-based, they were able to utilize the numerical system invented by Chauncey Bennett.

Its Obedience Program Started in 1979

The Obedience Program is now an important part of the United Kennel Club events. However, this program was not established until 1979. This led to them introducing their own Obedience Program rules and standards in the same year and these were published for the first time in ‘Bloodlines’.

The Agility Program Began in 1995

Another popular event in the United Kennel Club events is the Agility Program. This has a surprisingly short history in the club as it was not established until 1995. It was a long-standing ambition of the club to get involved in dog agility events.

They Launched a UKC Junior Program in 2004

In 2004, the United Kennel Club launched its UKC Junior Program. The aim of this program is to encourage young handlers to become more involved in the world of dogs. This includes dog breeding, promoting responsible ownership, performance events, and conformation. Despite only starting this program in 2004, young people have been included in many events prior to this date.

They Have a Total Dog Philosophy

One of the distinctive features of the United Kennel Club that makes it stand apart from similar organizations is its Total Dog philosophy. What they describe as a ‘Total Dog’ is one that displays good temperament, structure, and function. The first Total Dog Confirmation Best in Show was in 2009.