Boykin Spaniel Local Specialty Clubs

A local specialty club as defined by the AKC is "Local specialty clubs serve the interests of a single breed on a local level. These clubs may be eligible to hold shows, obedience trials, tracking tests, and performance events approved for their breed." (note: agility and rally have since been added to the events list that specialty clubs can apply for).

At the current time Boykin Spaniels are not able to advance their local specialty clubs into any sanctioning phase. Local groups may opt to form local specialty clubs for the purposes of training and socializing. In the near future the BSCBAA expects to request that the AKC review the breed's presentation for advancement into the Miscellaneous Group. After an average of 1-5 years, Misc. Group breeds are promoted into their permanent group which will be the Sporting Group in the case of the Boykin.

On the day that the AKC Board of Directors votes in favor of promoting that breed into their regular group and gives a date for that to happen, the BSCBAA will be able to begin the sanctioning process. Once the national parent club has completed their sanctioning, the local specialty clubs may begin their sanctioning process in the AKC.

As the official national parent club for the Boykin Spaniel, the BSCBAA encourages and assists in the formation of local specialty clubs throughout the nation. AKC suggests that newly formed specialty clubs should always contact their parent club to inform them of their existence.

What is the role of the parent club in a local specialty club? The parent club is a separate entity from a local specialty club. While the parent club can made suggestions from their experience, the local clubs are free to be run under AKC rules and regulations and to use their resources as they see best fit. The exception is that national parent clubs must approve the date of any conformation show; however this does not apply to any other companion dog or performance event approval.

A specialty club is helpful in bringing individuals who own a specific breed in a geographical area together. Prospective members might be interested in holding events in their area, rescue, or just socializing and pleasure hunting with other Boykin Spaniel enthusiasts.

It is suggested that all prospective members of a newly forming specialty club read the AKC booklet on "How to form an AKC Accredited Dog Club" at www.akc.org/pdfs/rulebooks/RCFORM.pdf

Also, single copies of the following booklets are available from AKC:
•“Developing an Effective Breeder Referral
Program”
•“Spreading the Word”
•Event Rule Books - specify type
•Sample Constitution and Bylaws - specify type
•“Match Regulations”
•“A Beginner’s Guide To Dog Shows”
•“Economic Impact of Dog Shows”
•“Disagree Diplomatically”
•“Working It Out …”

Please call: (919) 233-9767 or FAX (919) 816-3627 or E-mail: orderdesk@akc.org to request these booklets.

AKC Club Levels:

• Inquiry: Clubs which have notified the AKC of their existence, but have not yet been approved for holding AKC-sanctioned events.
• Sanctioned: Clubs which have been approved to hold sanctioned “B” or “A” events.
• Licensed: Clubs which are approved to hold events at which championship points and/or titles may be won.
• Member: Clubs which have been holding licensed events for at least 10 years are eligible to apply for membership in the AKC (only certain types of clubs are eligible to apply for membership). Member clubs select delegates to attend the AKC’s quarterly meetings. Clubs are elected to membership by the sitting delegates.