Australian National Kennel Council Ltd, currently trading as Dogs Australia, is a not-for-profit registry for purebred dogs in Australia. It serves as the coordinating kennel club for the country and as the head administrative body to which each state's individual canine association defers. The ANKC is an associate member of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale[1] and, as of 2025, recognises 238 breeds.[2]
The first meeting to consider forming the Australian National Kennel Council was held on the 14th of April, 1949 at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. It was not until the 7th of April 1958 that the draft constitution was put to delegates from other Australian states and territories. It was agreed upon at this meeting that the "Australian Kennel Club" be formed.[3]
It was on the 25th of September, 1958 that the name of the "Australian Kennel Club" was altered, forming the “Australian National Kennel Council”. This was a notable meeting for the ANKC, as it introduced both the National Stud Register, as well as the resolution "That the Australian National Kennel Council be constituted so that it is empowered to act only as a coordinating and recommendatory body" reflecting the attitudes of the member bodies that the ANKC remain an advisory body rather than an authoritative body. The council was officially formed, and constitution approved, at this meeting.[3]
Constitutional developments
Since the formation of the ANKC in 1958, it has undergone two major constitutional rewritings.
1981-1982 (advisory to coordinating body): On the 23rd of September, 1981 a subcommittee was appointed to draft a new constitution for the ANKC, with the goal of turning the ANKC into a "coordinating body". This constitution was passed on one year later on the 22nd of September, 1982 and allowed the council to take on additional roles and make decisions the prior constitution would not have accepted.[3]
2010-2011 (incorporation and legal entity): The ANKC made the decision in the 2000s that it was to become a legal entity, with yet another new constitution to be accepted on the 17th of October, 2010 with an implementation date of the 12th of February, 2011. This new constitution incorporated the council as the "AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL KENNEL COUNCIL LIMITED" under the Corporations Act 2001 (C'th) with documents being lodged on the 1st of July, 2011 to the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), officially recognising the council as a legal entity.[3]
Function
The goal of the Australian National Kennel Council is to act as a peak body for Australia's state-and-territory-based canine associations, it also trades under the consumer-facing Dogs Australia, in which it advocates for ethical breeding practices and responsible breed stewardship.[3][4] The ANKC also acts as a spokesperson on canine-related issues and activities nationally, as well as in support of respective bodies.[5][6]
ANKC member bodies
The ANKC has 8 member bodies, each belonging to their respective state or territory. These member bodies are:
It also maintains stud books for recognised dog breeds, and provides governance for dog shows, dog trials and canine events and is the international representative of the kennel clubs of Australia.[7]
Breeds
The ANKC recognises 238 breeds, as of 2025. These breeds are split into seven groups,[2] these are:
The ANKC, as an associate member of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, is bound to recognise all FCI-recognised breeds and FCI-recognised nomenclature at international CACIB events. Though, this obligation does not apply to ANKC's own shows, where the organisation uses its own nomenclature (pictured in the table above) and observes its own recognised breeds.[8]
Activities
The ANKC is primarily known for its role in the sport of conformation in Australia. Despite this the ANKC also hosts numerous dog-sporting events, such as:[9]
The ANKC recognises several other working dog associations and kindred bodies, nationally and internationally. These recognised clubs are outlined in Regulations, part 6 and include:[10]
ORCHID (Officially Registered Canine Health Information Database) is a health information database maintained by the ANKC for purebred dogs in Australia as part of their strategy for maintaining the health and integrity of recognised breeds.. The database is designed to record health test results (hips, elbows, eyes, spines, respiratory function) and generate breed-specific statistics. The database allows vet-entered results and owner-entered data, with options for results to be marked public or private.[11]
Unlike services such as OFA or PennHIP, the ORCHID database is open only to purebred dogs recognised within the ANKC, similar to the CHIC system for AKC-recognised dogs in the United States.[11][12]
Australian National Kennel Council, An Historical record of Australian kennel controls Melbourne: Australian National Kennel Council, 1988, ISBN0-7316-2227-8.
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