Chairman of The Kennel Club, Tony Allcock OBE, said: “We are honoured that as of the 4 April 2023, the date the club celebrates its 150th anniversary, The Kennel Club will be known as The Royal Kennel Club.
“The world has changed significantly over the last 150 years – as has The Kennel Club – and we remain committed to protecting and promoting the health and welfare of all dogs. I am very proud to be part of an organisation that is making a positive difference for dogs and their owners.”
The Kennel Club was established in 1873 and since its inception has held royal patronage. The club began for the purpose of bringing order and regulations to dog shows and field trials which were taking place at the time. Since then, the club has evolved into a multi-faceted organisation encompassing the UK pedigree and working dog registry, The Kennel Club Charitable Trust, Crufts dog show, the Young Kennel Club, the Good Citizen Dog Training scheme and the members’ club itself, which has over 1500 members.
The Kennel Club is the only UK organisation of its kind and underlying all of the above functions is a strong ethos to safeguard and promote canine health and welfare. This work applies equally to all dogs, whether they are in the show ring, working in the field, taking part in activities such as agility and obedience, or pets and companions.