"U.K.C. is just three little letters..."

UKC Turns 125

February 10, 2023

Did you know?

UKC was founded on February 10, 1898 by then 23-year-old Chauncey Z. Bennett.

The UKC 125th anniversary is here. We are proud to celebrate this milestone achievement!

UKC shouldered its way onto the scene in the late 1890's with tenacity, expert record-keeping processes, a focus on the all-around dog, and a savvy evaluation of what to offer based on what was missing. UKC's initial landing was not gentle. Bennett pushed for relevancy and fought to keep it. He took great pride in the fact that anyone would take the time to write him and sternly question who he thought he was to create a dog registry in a small Michigan town (and many did). Kalamazoo is not New York (or Chicago!), after all. In 1927, he wrote in BLOODLINES, "UKC is just three little letters, yet nine tenths of the arguing...today is over [us]."

Fanciers and competitors alike took note. UKC was here, and here to stay. Those three little letters are more than mere marks - they are an idea, a mission and a passion that expanded rapidly through the twentieth century.

We'd have to imagine Bennett would be proud of where UKC sits 125 years later, as a world-leading dog sport organization, not to mention be wowed by the historic 2021 acquisition of American Field Publishing Co./Field Dog Stud Book - your beloved Field Trial universe, whose development pre-dates Bennett's birth by one year.

Field Dog Stud Book records go back to 1874 and original publisher, American Field Publishing Co., had stewarded and safeguarded the sport and studbook for nearly a century and a half before joining the UKC family. Though in this sense the UKC studbook might be the "younger brother" to FDSB, the accuracy and longevity of sporting dog pedigrees is a core value shared by all members of the family.

So while we (UKC) continue to dive deep into the American Field world of field trialing to offer you the best and supplement sport growth, know that we do it from an unshakable foundation and with a 125-year-old history in place.

There's a feeling that comes from watching a well-bred pup lock on point for the first time, unexplainable to many. These are the moments in life that hook the heart and soul and propel the lifestyle forward.

Thank you for being part of it.

An official entity of United Kennel Club (UKC), the American Field legacy, mission, and Field Dog Stud Book certified pedigree database is carefully managed by UKC for the continued betterment of field trial dogs. UKC is committed to the American Field community, and all hunters, breeders, clubs, associations, and participants.