CKC can be Continential Kennel Club or Canadian Kennel Club, I believe. The Canadian Kennel Club is as respected as AKC. I believe AKC and CKC (Canadian) recognize each others dogs.
AKC just means the dog is a purebred from two AKC registered purebred parents. It doesn't guarantee size, health or anything else, but it's better than nothing. And only AKC dogs can show in AKC events. Mixes and non-AKC dogs can still compete in some agility and obedience trials like APDT (Assoc. of Pet Dog Trainers). AKC has it's issues but it is still currently the standard. If you only want a pet though, it is probably more important to meet the parents and know the bloodline than rely only on AKC vs. CKC or no papers at all.
CKC (Continential) is more.. shall we say.. flexible about the bloodline of a dog. (This is not to say AKC is out there inspecting all of their registered puppies either, because they are not.) Often puppy mill dogs or otherwise unregistered dogs can be registered with CKC. The problem is that some breeders/brokers will register their puppies CKC to say they have "papers" and unknowing people might assume they are AKC papers.
Again, dogs can't compete in AKC events unless they are AKC registered, even rally, agility and obedience. AKC registered dogs can be ALTERED and participate in sports but not conformation (the show ring). Only unaltered AKC dogs can participate in AKC conformation.
There is also APRI (American Pet Registry) - if you are just getting a pet there is not really a need to register so this just sounds like a way to take your money. I also think there is one out there that will register cross breeds if the parents were purebreds, which also sounds pointless to me. |