The American Kennel Club: The American Kennel Club, founded in 1884, is the largest canine organization in the United States and registers more than one million purebred dogs annually. The AKC sponsors more than 22,000 sanctioned events each year for purebred and mixed-breed dogs, including dog shows, agility and obedience trials, hunting and field competitions, and more. Special programs dedicated to training dogs, including the AKC Canine Good Citizen program and the S.T.A.R. Puppy program, help dogs to become well-behaved companions for their responsible, caring owners. Additionally, the AKC dedicates itself to promoting responsible ownership and advancing canine health and well-being for all dogs (www.akc.org).