What The Kennel Club does

The Royal Kennel Club, founded in 1873 and granted the "Royal" prefix in 2025, is the United Kingdom's official registry for pedigree dogs and the world's first organization devoted to dog health, welfare, and training. Operating as a private membership organization and registered charity (The Royal Kennel Club Limited), it serves individual dog owners, breeders, show enthusiasts, and veterinary professionals through a platform-plus-services model anchored by pedigree registration (250,000+ dogs registered annually), a network of affiliated breed clubs, and flagship events led by Crufts. It currently recognizes 227 pedigree breeds following the May 2026 addition of the Miniature American Shepherd and the upcoming July 2026 recognition of the Yakutian Laika.

The underlying technology stack centers on a digital registry and pedigree platform with proprietary tools including the Health Test Result Finder (a public searchable database of health screenings), the Genetic Diversity Calculator (an inbreeding coefficient tool for breeders), the Pedigree Registration System (backed by 150+ years of lineage data), and Petlog, a wholly-owned microchip registration service. Educational delivery runs through the Royal Kennel Club Academy (an online learning platform) and the Good Citizen Dog Scheme training program. Physical assets include the heritage Club at Clarges in Mayfair, Stoneleigh (purpose-built dog-friendly venue), and the Emblehope training centre in Northumberland, complemented by one of the world's largest canine picture libraries.

The revenue model is diversified across five streams: one-time pedigree registration and kennel name fees, recurring membership subscriptions (Standard, Associate, Affiliate), commission-based pet insurance (offered as an Appointed Representative of Agria Pet Insurance Ltd, with up to £25,000 cover and Which? Best Buy recognition for 2026), publications and merchandise (Kennel Gazette, RKC Journal, souvenirs, DNA testing kits), and event ticketing. The organization is controlled by its membership rather than external shareholders, maintains three affiliated charitable trusts (Charitable, Educational, Arts Foundation), and operates exclusively within the United Kingdom with no disclosed expansion outside its domestic market.

Name

The Kennel Club

Legal name

The Royal Kennel Club Limited

Website

https://thekennelclub.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1873

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Royal Kennel Club is the UK's official pedigree dog registry and a 150-year-old membership charity serving dog owners, breeders, and enthusiasts through registration, health screening tools, training, events (Crufts), and pet insurance partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pet Registry and Canine Welfare Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (812910), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Pet Services (Grooming, Training, Daycare) (CRALAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Pet Health & Wellness Retail (Supplements, OTC, Flea/Tick) (CRALAHAC)

Keywords

• Pedigree dog registration
• Canine welfare services
• Dog breed recognition
• Dog training certification
• Pet microchip registration

Headquarters

HQ city

City Of London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Dog Registration Services: Revenue from registering dogs as official pedigrees, including pedigree certificates, change of ownership, and kennel name registrations. The organization registers 250,000+ dogs annually.
2. Membership Subscriptions: Multiple membership tiers including RKC memberships, Associates, and Affiliates, offering benefits such as access to club facilities in Mayfair, member merchandise, and exclusive content.
3. Pet Insurance: Royal Kennel Club Pet Insurance is offered as an appointed representative of Agria Pet Insurance Ltd, earning commission on insurance policies sold. The insurance was named a Which? Best Buy for Dog Insurance 2026.
4. Publications and Merchandise: Sales of Kennel Gazette, RKC Journal, books, rules and regulations, event tickets, souvenirs, dog tags, and DNA testing kits.
5. DNA Testing Services: DNA testing services available through the online shop for breed verification and health screening purposes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Royal Kennel Club (formerly The Kennel Club) is the UK's official pedigree dog registry, registering 250,000+ dogs annually across 227 recognized breeds and offering pedigree certificates, kennel name registrations, and change of ownership transfers. It runs membership programs (Member, Associate, Affiliate) including youth membership via the Young Royal Kennel Club, flagship events led by Crufts, training accreditation through the Good Citizen Dog Scheme and the Royal Kennel Club Academy, health and breeding tools, publications (Kennel Gazette, RKC Journal), Petlog microchip registration, and Royal Kennel Club-branded pet insurance distributed in partnership with Agria.

Product overview

The Royal Kennel Club is a comprehensive dog welfare, registration, and community organization offering a platform-plus-services model. Core offerings include dog pedigree registration (Pedigree Certificates, Kennel Name Registration), membership programs (RKC Memberships, YKC for youth), and training/accreditation (Good Citizen Dog Scheme, Royal Kennel Club Academy). The organization hosts major events (Crufts), publishes content (Kennel Gazette, RKC Journal), provides health tools (Health Test Result Finder, Genetic Diversity Calculator, Health Standard), and operates venues. Additional services include Petlog microchip registration, DNA testing, pet insurance, and puppy/rescue dog finder search tools. The organization manages 250,000+ dog registrations annually and recognizes 227 pedigree breeds.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Crufts: The world's greatest dog show and community platform
• Petlog
• Young Royal Kennel Club (YKC)
• Royal Kennel Club Academy
• Good Citizen Dog Scheme
• Kennel Gazette
• Royal Kennel Club Journal

Products and services

• RKC Memberships Membership subscriptions for dog owners and supporters of the Royal Kennel Club, offering access to club facilities, publications, merchandise, and community benefits across multiple tiers.
• Pedigree Certificates Official pedigree registration service issuing pedigree certificates for dogs with verified lineage documentation.
• Kennel Name Registration Service to register a unique kennel name for breeding programs, providing official identification for breeding operations.
• Crufts The world's greatest dog show and community engagement platform, serving as the RKC's flagship annual event with ticketing and Crufts Club community access.
• Good Citizen Dog Scheme Structured training and awards program certifying responsible dog ownership through progressive training levels.
• Royal Kennel Club Academy Online courses and educational resources to build dog handling, training, and breeding skills for dog owners and trainers.
• Young Royal Kennel Club (YKC) Youth membership program offering activities, training days, qualifiers, and pathways to Crufts competition for young dog enthusiasts.
• Petlog Microchip Registration Microchip registration service operated through petlog.org.uk to help reunite lost pets with their owners.
• Royal Kennel Club Pet Insurance Lifetime pet insurance offered in partnership with Agria Pet Insurance Ltd, with up to £25,000 cover and Which? Best Buy for Dog Insurance 2026 recognition.
• DNA Testing DNA testing service sold through the RKC online shop for breed verification and health screening.
• Kennel Gazette Flagship publication of the Royal Kennel Club featuring articles and updates from the canine world.
• Royal Kennel Club Journal Official online publication of the Royal Kennel Club covering canine world developments.
• RKC Venues Physical venues including the Mayfair Club, Gallery and Library in London, the Stoneleigh dog-friendly venue, the Emblehope working dog training centre in Northumberland, and the RKC Picture Library.
• Miniature American Shepherd Breed Recognition Official pedigree breed recognition for the Miniature American Shepherd, expanding the registry to 227 recognized breeds in the UK.
• Yakutian Laika Breed Recognition Official pedigree breed recognition for the Yakutian Laika from July 1, 2026, adding to the RKC's recognized breed roster.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Agria Pet Insurance LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Royal Kennel Club Limited is an Appointed Representative of Agria Pet Insurance Ltd, who administers the Royal Kennel Club Pet Insurance. Agria is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The RKC branded insurance products are underwritten by Agria Försäkring.
• Channel 4minorOthersChannel 4 broadcasts Crufts coverage, though they stated they do not influence judging. The broadcaster's coverage has been subject to criticism from animal welfare charities regarding extreme breed competitions.
• Breed Clubs and SocietiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExtensive network of breed clubs and societies affiliated with the RKC that promote breed standards, organize shows and trials, support breed health coordinators, and contribute to the organization's charitable endeavors.
• HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)minorOthersRKC provides guidance from HMRC on Self Assessment for breeders who may need to declare income from selling puppies.

Scale indicators4 records

Direct peers

• American Kennel Club (AKC): The US national kennel club and pedigree registry, operating an analogous franchise: breed recognition, pedigree registration, dog shows (Westminster, AKC National Championship), events, training, and insurance. Closest functional twin to the RKC outside the UK.
• Canadian Kennel Club: Canada's national kennel club providing pedigree registration, breed standards, events, and member services. Closely mirrors the RKC's national-registry-plus-events model in a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• RSPCA: UK animal welfare charity. Comparable as a large UK nonprofit advocating on dog welfare, breeding regulation, and responsible ownership — and frequently a counterparty/critic in RKC welfare debates.
• Dogs Trust: The UK's largest dog welfare charity, focused on rescue, rehoming, and education. Comparable as a UK dog-welfare nonprofit with overlapping mission (responsible ownership, training), though built on rescue rather than pedigree registration.
• Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI): The world governing body for kennel clubs and breed standards. Comparable in mandate (breed recognition, registry coordination, international standards) but at an umbrella level rather than a single national registry.

Emerging players

• Agria Pet Insurance: Underwriting partner for RKC Pet Insurance and a major UK pet insurer with deep pedigree/breeder distribution. Comparable in commercial activity (UK pet insurance, breed-aware products) and a strategic dependency of the RKC.
• Embark Veterinary / Wisdom Panel: Direct-to-consumer canine DNA testing and health screening platforms. Comparable where the RKC sells DNA testing and health verification — both compete for breeder/owner spend on canine genetic insights, though at very different scale and cost structures.

Regional players

• Dogs Australia (ANKC): Australian national kennel council coordinating state member bodies for pedigree registration, breed standards, and conformation/performance events. Comparable national-registry-plus-events structure in Australia.
• The Kennel Club of India: India's national kennel club offering pedigree registration, breed shows, and breeder support. Operates the same national-registry + events model as the RKC but serves the Indian market.

Others

• Pet Industry Federation: UK trade association for pet businesses including groomers, trainers, and retailers. Comparable as a UK membership organization serving the dog services ecosystem, with overlapping training/education themes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thekennelclubuk
• YouTubeyoutube.com/thekennelclub
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheKennelClubUK
• Instagraminstagram.com/thekennelclubuk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thekennelclubuk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Kennel Club