Editorial: October 18, 2024
From the American Kennel Club’s October Secretary’s Page, some interesting proposed changes ...
A class dog that places second, third or fourth in a variety group will be awarded the highest point count from in its variety group except for the breeds that placed before it. A class dog that wins the breed and group from the classes will be awarded the highest point count from the entire show entry. A class dog that wins Reserve Best in Show will receive the highest point count from the entry of the entire show.
Some statistics that are interesting: Litter registrations totaled 129,214, which was a 17 percent drop from the same period in 2023. Dog registrations of 285,785 were down 14 percent from the same period in 2023. As of June 2024, there have been 14,678 dog events, which resulted in an increase of 11 percent from the same period in 2023, and the total entry of 1,894,320 is a 4 percent increase from the same period in 2023. However, with that entry total there was no breakdown of conformation, agility, rally, etc. When it comes to the vast wealth of the kennel club, for the first six months of 2024 ending on June 30, operating expenses were $46.8 million; that is a 3 percent increase from the same time last year. Staff expenses were $23.7 million, which represents 51 percent of the total operating budget. Professional fees and fulfillment totaled $15 million. There was no breakdown of who these professional fees and fulfillments are paid to.
The American Hairless Terrier Club of America has applied for membership, and the Big Apple Working Group Club was elected as a new member club of the American Kennel Club.
Random thoughts on the 12 different show venues for this weekend: Of those dozen events, only two sets of shows drew at least 1,000 entries. In California, Skyline and Del Valle’s largest entry of the four days was the Saturday entry of 1,250, and the three days of Albany and Troy kennel club shows in New York drew 1,000 on Saturday.
Entries at the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin are now open. Tickets for two more big events are also on sale: January’s Meet The Breeds and the breed judging of the Westminster Kennel Club held in February are now available. Both events are held at the Javits Center in Manhattan. That’s three major events in a span of just a few weeks.
In the coming weeks, the ever-growing Kennel Club of Philadelphia will be held, followed by a national television airing on Thanksgiving Day. Without exception, it is the largest public viewing opportunity for the public to see purebred dogs at their very best.