Welcome to the Clermont County Kennel Club,
your Clermont County link to the wonderful world of
purebred dogs!

Who we are and what we do

CCKC is a member club of the American Kennel Club, the country's oldest and largest purebred dog registry. Our passion is purebred dogs and we welcome all dog owners who share our enthusiasm for breeding, training, and preserving purebreds to join us.

To this end, CCKC hosts an annual conformation show weekend and 2-3 agility trials each year, and CCKC members participate in a wide range of dog sports from the Big Four  ̶  conformation, obedience, rally, and agility  ̶  to scent work, herding, lure coursing, dock diving, hunt tests and more. The club acknowledges members who achieve titles with their dogs, honors a Member of the Year, and grants Lifetime Membership to  long-time members who work for the club and the sport of dogs.

Our 2024 calendar includes our big September weekend featuring three days of conformation shows, a canine health clinic, a raffle to benefit our Junior Handler Scholarship Fund, special shows for rare breeds and young puppies, Canine Good Citizen and Trick Dog testing and more. (More about the show)

Also on the calendar are agility trials in May and June and on Thanksgiving weekend and a puppy match in June.

CCKC operates under an AKC-approved Constitution and Bylaws that provide guidelines for club operations. We meet monthly except July (picnic) and December (Christmas dinner), mostly at the Miami Township Civic Center near Milford.

CCKC opposes laws and regulations that harm responsible dog owners and works to pass reasonable laws to protect dogs and dog owners.

We are a member club of the National Animal Interest Alliance, an organization that supports responsible animal ownership, and the AKC Canine Health Foundation, an AKC charitable foundation that raises money for canine health research. We administer a Junior  Handler Scholarship Fund, support 4-H dog clubs and local police department canine units, and donate to organizations such as AKC Reunite Disaster Relief Fund and the AKC Humane Fund.

Club members are pet owners first and show or working dog owners second; all club members are interested in spreading the word about the joy of owning a purebred dog. As breed fanciers and pet owners first and foremost, CCKC members also help rescue dogs from abusive and neglectful situations through organized breed rescue groups, help families select a breed that fits their lifestyles, answer questions about puppy training, guide pet owners to advanced training for fun or competition, and may even teach classes at area training facilities.

Why purebred dogs?

Dogs have been companions and working partners to man for thousands of years. During that time, people developed breeds to do jobs from warming castle beds to herding reindeer or sheep; hunting birds or large game; keeping vermin out of kitchens, barns, and shops; hauling goods; and guarding possessions, property, and families. Each of these jobs required different physical and mental characteristics to protect dogs from harsh climate or environmental conditions, enhance their ability to work close to their owners or to exhibit independence, develop or decrease prey drive, etc.

Progress has eliminated or modified most traditional breed jobs, but the bond between man and dog has remained strong and the appearance,  behavior, and willingness to work of purebred dogs continues to captivate breeders, owners, exhibitors, and John Q. Dogowner.

National clubs honor them with events that maintain the skills that made their breeds invaluable in the past for herding, hunting, retrieving, or hauling goods to market. AKC also offers special opportunities for hunting dogs, terriers, and herding dogs and general events for all dogs to help maintain intelligence, good health, and specific breed characteristics.

But that’s not all! The partnership continues with dogs today working in law enforcement and the military, in search and rescue, as therapy and service companions, and as family pets and guardians. Keeping these breeds pure is an art and a science practiced by fanciers like CCKC members who breed, train, and show their dogs.

The attack on purebred dogs

Unfortunately, dog breeders face intense scrutiny from groups that harbor a misguided or philosophical opposition to dog breeding. These anti-breeding activists dishonestly claim that purebred dogs steal homes from rescue and shelter dogs, that breeding perpetuates poor canine health, or that breeders raise dogs in poor conditions unless controlled by government oversight.

These groups conduct campaigns that often result in laws and regulations that restrict breeding or burdensome one-size-fits-all requirements on breeders and breeding kennels. If they are successful, they often return to agencies and lawmakers a few years later with more manufactured allegations that current laws are not strict enough. See our legislative reports for news about anti-breeding laws and the AKC Government Relations Department and the National Animal Interest Alliance for more information. Also check on Ohio’s kennel licensing regulations at https://tinyurl.com/4v8kcxx3 and the state anti-cruelty laws

How we help purebred dogs and their owners

To help dogs and their owners, we …

offer information to help prospective dog owners find a breed that fits their lifestyle and needs

provide information that helps prospective puppy buyers find a responsible breeder

help current and future dog owners learn about dog care and ownership responsibilities

direct new dog owners to find nearby obedience classes

offer assistance to local governments facing dog control problems

If you are passionate about purebred dogs and enjoy dog sports and the company of dog owners, breeders, and exhibitors, explore our website, contact our secretary at billie@sagenhaft.com and come to a meeting.

We’d love to meet you!