The Labrador Retriever Club

What The Labrador Retriever Club does

The Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. (LRC) is the only organization officially recognized by the American Kennel Club as the national parent club of the Labrador Retriever breed. Founded to encourage and promote quality in the breeding and performance of pure-bred Labrador Retrievers, LRC is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit headquartered at 627 Bliss Hill Road in Morrisville, NY, with mailing operations routed through Lincolnton, GA. The organization serves purebred Labrador breeders, owners, exhibitors, and rescue adopters across the United States, with no disclosed international footprint.

LRC's core offerings include a vetted Breeders Directory restricted to members in good standing for at least two years, an annual National Specialty event rotating across US regions and featuring conformation, hunt tests, obedience, rally, agility, and scent work competitions, and certification programs such as the Conformation Certificate Program, Working Certificates, and the "Dog For All Reasons" recognition program. The club also operates the National Rescue Fund (capped at $5,000 per request) to support Labrador rescue organizations, periodic cardiac screening clinics, judges education seminars, and an e-commerce store for branded merchandise. Underlying technology is limited to a WordPress website (thelabradorclub.com) and an AnimalPride storefront; there are no software APIs, no proprietary data products, and no AI/ML components.

The business model is a small-scale nonprofit membership operation with multiple modest revenue streams: $50 one-time membership application fees plus $30 annual dues (subscription recurring), $60 two-year breeder directory listings (one-time license), event registration fees (transaction-based), merchandise sales supporting the rescue fund (transaction fees), and trophy donations plus general donations to the club and rescue fund. Strategic partnerships with the AKC Canine Health Foundation (over $750,000 contributed over 28 years, matched up to 100% for breed-specific research) and the Nestle Purina Parent Club Partnership program (instituted in 2002; $18,970.87 generated for LRC in 2022) channel additional funding into canine health and Labrador-specific research. No consolidated revenue, headcount, or financial statements are publicly disclosed.

Name

The Labrador Retriever Club

Legal name

The Labrador Retriever Club, Inc.

Website

https://thelabradorclub.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1931

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. is the AKC-recognized national parent club for the Labrador Retriever breed, operating as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that serves purebred Labrador breeders, owners, and rescue adopters through a vetted breeder directory, annual National Specialty events, certification programs, and a National Rescue Fund.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dog Breed Club Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Gift, Novelty & Souvenir Retail (CRALAIAH)

Keywords

• Breed club services
• Canine breed preservation
• Dog breeder directory
• Canine rescue coordination
• Purebred dog events

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincolnton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues of $30 per member, with a one-time non-refundable application fee of $50. Membership expires annually on December 31st.
2. Breeder Directory Listings: LRC Breeders Directory listing fee of $60 for a two-year listing. Available only to members in good standing for at least two years.
3. Event Fees: Various event registration fees including conformation shows, hunt tests, obedience trials, rally trials, agility trials, scent work, and working certificates.
4. Product Sales: LRC Store sells merchandise including Top 20 ribbons ($35), logo gear, and other club merchandise. Proceeds support the National Rescue Fund.
5. Donations and Sponsorships: Trophy donations for National Specialty events ranging from $25-$100 per class, plus general donations to the club and rescue fund.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. (LRC) is the AKC-recognized national parent club for the Labrador Retriever breed. It sells annual memberships, lists vetted member breeders in its Breeder Directory, organizes National Specialty events featuring conformation, hunt tests, obedience, rally, agility, and scent work competitions, and provides judges education, breed health resources, and rescue coordination funded through its National Rescue Fund.

Product overview

The Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. (LRC) is the official AKC-recognized national parent club for the Labrador Retriever breed. The organization offers a portfolio of services including a Breeder Directory connecting prospective owners with reputable breeders, annual National Specialty Events featuring conformation shows, agility trials, hunt tests, obedience, rally, and scent work competitions. The LRC provides certification programs including Conformation Certificates, Working Certificates, and the Dog For All Reasons recognition program. Health-related offerings include recommended health clearances and periodic cardiac screening clinics. The organization also supports Labrador rescue through its National Rescue Fund and Rescue Directory, provides Judges Education programs, and operates an e-commerce store. A Purina Parent Club Partnership enables members to contribute to canine health research funding. The LRC does not offer a software product or platform with technical integrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LRC Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $750,000 in charitable donations to canine health research over 28 years
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nestle Purina (Purina Parent Club Partnership)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2002Nestle Purina instituted the Purina Parent Club Partnership program in 2002. The program enables national parent breed clubs to earn funding for canine health studies, education, and rescue work through Pro Club member purchases of eligible Purina dog foods. Since the program began, over $8 million has been raised for canine health research, education, and rescue efforts. LRC was among the initial clubs to recognize this program. In 2022, $18,970.87 was generated for LRC through this program, with 50% sent to AKC Canine Health Foundation for Labrador-specific research.
• AKC Canine Health FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLRC is committed to health research and supports the AKC Canine Health Foundation in efforts to understand conditions affecting dogs. Over 28 years, LRC has donated more than $750,000 to support canine health through its Donor Advised Fund and funds raised at events. The AKC CHF matches funds up to 100% for breed-specific research directed by the LRC.
• Purina FarmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPurina Farms in Gray Summit, MO serves as the venue for the 2025 National Specialty event, providing facilities for conformation shows, hunt tests, and other competitions.
• American Kennel Club (AKC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. is the only organization officially recognized by the AKC as the national parent club of the Labrador Retriever. The club conducts events under AKC rules including field trials, hunting retriever tests, obedience trials, and conformation events.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Golden Retriever Club of America: The AKC-recognized national parent club for the Golden Retriever breed. Operates the same model: membership organization, breeder directory, national specialty events, breed rescue coordination, and health research funding. Most structurally comparable organization to LRC.
• Bulldog Club of America: AKC parent club for the Bulldog. Operates with the same nonprofit, member-driven model featuring a breeder referral list, rescue network, national specialty events, and health research funding.
• Poodle Club of America: AKC national parent club for the Poodle. Maintains a similar portfolio: membership, breeder directory, rescue fund, judges education, conformation and performance events, and breed-specific health research funding. Direct functional peer.
• German Shepherd Dog Club of America: AKC national parent club for the German Shepherd Dog. Operates an analogous member-driven structure with national specialties, breed rescue, breeder referrals, and AKC CHF-funded health research. Direct functional peer.
• National Beagle Club of America: AKC parent club for the Beagle, with a long-established operational model similar to LRC: membership, breeder directory, national specialty events, rescue coordination, and breed health programs.
• Rottweiler Club of America: AKC national parent club for the Rottweiler. Functionally analogous: member-based breed preservation body with national specialties, breeder directory, rescue fund, and judges education programs.

Regional players

• Labrador Retriever Club of Canada: The Canadian national breed club for the Labrador Retriever. Operates a parallel model to LRC (membership, breeder directory, events, rescue, health research) but in a separate geographic jurisdiction (Canada vs. USA).

Others

• AKC Canine Health Foundation: The 501(c)(3) nonprofit research funding partner for LRC. LRC's donated funds (with up to 100% matching) flow into CHF for breed-specific health studies. Strategic research partner that is not a competitor but a core funding collaborator.
• Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA): The nonprofit health database that LRC requires members to use for hip/elbow, eye, cardiac, and DNA clearances. Not a competitor but a closely linked ecosystem partner underpinning LRC's breeder-health verification model.

Broad incumbents

• American Kennel Club (AKC): The national kennel club that officially recognizes LRC and other parent breed clubs. Provides the rule structure for events LRC hosts, registers dogs and litters, and operates adjacent services (AKC Marketplace, AKC Reunite). Acts as the regulatory umbrella and ecosystem platform for LRC.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LabradorRetrieverClubInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/labrador-retriever-club-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Labrador Retriever Club