AKC Code of Sportsmanship
The sport of purebred dog competitive events dates prior to 1884, the year of AKC’s birth. Shared values of those involved in the sport include principles of sportsmanship. They are practiced in all sectors of our sport: conformation, performance and companion.
Many believe that these principles of sportsmanship are the prime reason why our sport has thrived for over one hundred years.
With the belief that it is useful to periodically articulate the fundamentals of our sport, this code is presented below.
AKC Code of Sportsmanship
The sport of purebred dog competitive events dates prior to 1884, the year of AKC’s birth. Shared values of those involved in the sport include principles of sportsmanship. They are practiced in all sectors of our sport: conformation, performance and companion.
Many believe that these principles of sportsmanship are the prime reason why our sport has thrived for over one hundred years.
With the belief that it is useful to periodically articulate the fundamentals of our sport, this code is presented below.
Code of Sportsmanship Enforcement
(August 2006 Board Meeting)
The Code of Sportsmanship is an affirmation of how registrants and participants should behave, and violations will be handled pursuant to the Charter and Bylaws and the Dealing with Misconduct at AKC Events booklet. Complaints will be handled by sending a copy to the subject
Of the complaint and giving him/her an opportunity to respond. If the number or seriousness of the complaints against a person rises to the level requiring formal discipline (i.e. conduct prejudicial to purebred dogs, AKC events or the AKC), AKC will consider preferring charges.
Infractions of a lesser degree will be dealt with by an educational letter sent to the parties involved, affirming the Code of Sportsmanship .