Kennel Club rebrands as Royal Kennel Club

The Kennel Club has relaunched as the Royal Kennel Club (RKC), following the organisation being granted the Royal prefix by the King in 2023. 

The change marks the most significant shift in its 150-year history as it broadens its focus from pedigree dogs to all dogs in the UK.

To coincide with the relaunch, the RKC has opened the UK’s largest dog census, inviting all dog owners to contribute information on health, behaviour and lifestyle. 

The organisation said the data will support scientific research and inform its future services, including those delivered through a new Crufts digital platform.

Crufts, traditionally an annual show, will expand into a year-round online community when the platform launches in February 2026. It will be open to all dogs and owners, with pre-registration now live.

The RKC said its existing research base, which includes health screening data, genetics information and decades of peer-reviewed evidence, will be extended to support non-pedigree dogs. 

Guidance introduced this year for pedigree breeding decisions will also be broadened to cover non-pedigree dogs from 2026.

To mark the relaunch, the organisation commissioned a photograph outside Windsor Castle featuring 21 dogs representing a range of well-known and at-risk breeds.

Jannine Edgar, chief executive of the Royal Kennel Club, said: “We are opening our doors wider than ever before, inviting every dog owner to be part of a movement that puts canine health, happiness and inclusion at its heart. 

“The Dog Census, the evolution of Crufts and our expanded health programmes are just the beginning. The Royal prefix “reflects the deep and enduring bond between dogs and people, and the organisation aims to continue that work for future generations.”