Founded in 1884, The American Kennel Club is the largest dog organization in the United States. Over 1 million dogs are registered to the AKC each year. It sponsors more than 22,000 sanctioned events each year including confirmation shows, agility events, hunting and field competitions, obedience trials, and much , much more. Affiliate clubs and programs such as the Canine Good Citizen program and the STAR Puppy program help dogs and puppies learn to be well-behaved, content canines that are respectful of their owners and enjoyable as companions. (www.akc.org)