Forming a UKC Club
1. Why form a club?
People who love dogs come from all walks of life, but their love of dogs gives them a strong common bond. Studies have shown that people who are actively involved with their dogs live longer, happier lives and take better care of their dogs, too. Clubs give dog lovers a place to get together, educate each other, and enjoy the company of their dogs.
2. Types Of Clubs.
UKC offers many types of clubs that reflect the diversity of our customers. We have divided our clubs between two departments: the Hunt department, which oversees clubs that offer hunting events in addition to bench shows, water races, and field trials, and the Dog Events department oversees clubs that offer Agility, Conformation, Obedience, Dog Sport, Weight Pull, Terrier Races, and Total Junior. Dog Events clubs can be either single-breed clubs (sometimes called "specialty" clubs) or all-breed clubs. Both types of clubs may be licensed for any single or multi-breed event offered by the Dog Events department.
3. National Clubs.
One specialty club for each breed may be designated as the UKC National Breed Association. The responsibilities of a National Breed Association include:
- Promoting and encouraging the breeding of better and finer purebred dogs by educating club members through a regular newsletter, seminars, internet web sites, etc. It also includes supporting health-related studies related to the club's breed.
- Promoting the breed and increasing its popularity in a responsible manner.
- Encouraging club members and breeders to accept the standard of the breed as established and approved by the United Kennel Club as the standard by which the breed shall be bred and judged.
- Educating and publicizing the high standard of excellence of UKC registered dogs of the club's breed.
- Conducting UKC-licensed events, including at least one conformation event every two years. (UKC National Breed Associations are strongly encouraged to host performance events in conjunction with conformation events.
- Promoting good sportsmanship in the training and exhibition of dogs.
- Supporting health-related studies related to the club's breed.
- Encouraging the formation of subordinate regional specialty clubs.
- Maintaining regular contact with members and UKC by means of a regular newsletter.
- Providing UKC with updated membership rosters each year, as well as updated lists of officers/directors following each election.
- Educating judges about the essential elements of the club's breed.
4. Things To Consider.
a. Geographic Area.
UKC recommends that you consider population density when determining the geographical area that your club will serve. If there is already a UKC club in your area, be sure that there are enough interested people to serve two clubs before you decide to form another. If your community is already well served by the club or clubs in existence, we recommend you join those clubs and work to improve them. Rare breeds will require fewer specialty clubs covering larger geographical areas, while popular breeds can often support a number of specialty clubs.
b. Activity.
If your geographical area is already served by a strong obedience club, and your group is interested in conformation, you may choose to form a separate club. However, it may be more beneficial to merge your two groups into a larger organization able to be licensed for both activities. UKC encourages our clubs to be as versatile as we want our dogs to be.
c. Number Of Members.
A small number of dedicated, hard-working club members can often do as much or more than a large club of uninvolved members. UKC has no hard and fast rule regarding the number of members, but prefer to see a club with at least twenty to twenty-five members as it is true that "many hands make light work."
d. Profits.
UKC allows clubs to choose between "for-profit" or "not-for-profit" status. "For-profit" clubs sometimes find it easier to get members to work in order to earn a share in the club profits. The downside of "for-profit" status is that it discourages the growth of the club. After, all more members means less profit per person. As a general rule, "not-for-profit" status is the surest road to club stability and success.
e. Clubs Affiliated With Other Registries.
Many clubs enjoy hosting events from more than one registry. Becoming a UKC-affiliated club is easy for a club that is already up and running. All you need to do is write a new Constitution and Bylaws in accordance with our format, give your new club a name, learn our UKC rules, and submit an application for UKC recognition.
5. Getting Started.
a. Before Contacting Ukc
Hold some preliminary meetings. Discuss the types of events you wish to hold and your profit status. You should have a list of possible sites for your events. It is best if you already have some leaders in place: a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, at a minimum.
b. New club packet.
Download the sample Constitution and Bylaws that fits your club. The fewer changes you make to the sample we provide, the more quickly your Constitution and Bylaws will be approved.
c. Code of Ethics.
It is not mandatory for a club to have a Code of Ethics but we recommend them, particularly for single-breed clubs. The purpose of a Code of Ethics is to set an ideal for breeders and exhibitors to live by. Do not try to make your ethical code so restrictive that your club spends all its time and resources on checking up on its members. Remember that people respond better to positive reinforcement from fellow club members than they do to being browbeaten. UKC must approve all Codes of Ethics prior to adoption by a club.
d. Membership List.
When you send in your proposed Constitution and Bylaws and Code of Ethics, you will need to send a list of members with names, addresses, daytime phone numbers and e-mail addresses. Although not required, it helps to include a short dog-related biography of your members: their background in purebred dogs, the breeds they have owned or trained, etc.
e. Club Resume.
A brief history detailing your club members' expertise in conducting fun matches and other similar activities. If you club wants to be licensed for more than one type of event, it is important to show that your club and its members have some experience with different events.
6. Recognition By UKC
Once your application has been approved by UKC, your club will be designated as a provisional UKC club.
7. Becoming Fully Licensed For Events.
a. Rules And Regulations Seminar.
Before a club can be licensed for an event, it must offer a Rules and Regulations seminar. This seminar is designed to familiarize club members with UKC rules and will be taught by a UKC-designated Field Representative. For example, a club that wishes to be licensed for obedience must host an obedience Rules and Regulations seminar. If a club wishes to be licensed for two types of events, it must host a seminar dealing with the rules for both types of events. Upon receipt of a recommendation for approval from the Field Representative, UKC may license the club to host all events for which the club is qualified.
b. Waiver Of Seminar.
Clubs with experienced members who are already quite familiar with UKC rules may request a waiver of the required seminar. When a waiver is granted, the club may hold a UKC-licensed event that must be supervised by a UKC Field Representative. If the Field Representative writes a favorable review of the club's performance, the club may then be granted full privileges to hold UKC-licensed events.
c. Special Requirements For Performance Clubs.
Clubs applying for licenses for performance events are required to provide proof that the equipment they intend to use for their events complies with UKC specifications and that the equipment is in good condition. UKC reserves the right at any time to inspect equipment used or intended for use in UKC performance events.
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Find out “who’s winning what” in all UKC Conformation Shows, Agility Trials, Dog Sport Events, Obedience Trials, Terrier Races and Weight Pulls; and where the UKC events are held.
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Recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1913, the American Eskimo is a member of the ancient and wide ranging Spitz family of dogs. White Spitzes were popular in Pomerania and in the coastal regions of Germany. Sailors traded the white dogs throughout Europe. When Queen Charlotte of England acquired several white Spitzes, the dogs became fashionable among British aristocrats. White Spitzes appear in several Gainsborough paintings. Known as the German Spitz in its homeland, the breed was renamed the American Eskimo in 1917. |
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Read more about UKC's many dog breeds here. |
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