American Kennel Club Review

Wednesday, July 16th

2025 Pet Adoption Site Reviews

American Kennel Club

• Lists AKC registered puppies from breeders
• Provides detailed information about each breeder, including qualifications, awards, and "puppy perks"
• Breeders can earn badges indicating high standards and commitment to health and education
• Post-adoption perks include 30 days of free pet insurance, lifetime enrollment in a lost pet recovery service, and a helpful handbook for your new puppy
• Offers lifelong registration with the AKC, with access to a supportive community
• Especially useful for those specifically seeking a purebred dog

At the AKC Marketplace, you can find American Kennel Club (AKC) registered puppies from reliable and dedicated breeders. However, you won't be able to adopt adult dogs, shelter dogs, or other kinds of animals here.

Choose a breed to start

Type the name of or select the breed you're looking for in the indicated field, then choose gender, location, and how far you want your search to go (between 25 miles and nationwide). The first thing you'll see on the results page is an informational video by AKC about the breed you selected. You'll need to scroll past that to see the actual listings of puppy litters. Even if a breeder doesn't have puppies available at the moment, their listing will be included along with an expected date of availability for their next litter.

Reach out to breeders directly

Each breeder's page will include information on any qualifications or awards the breeder may have, information about the sire and dam, and info on which "puppy perks” apply (like if they've gotten their vaccinations, a microchip, checkup, deworming, and more). You can message the breeder directly from their listing.

High standards for AKC breeders indicated by badges

When you're looking at breeders, you might see certain badges in their listings. A "Breeder of Merit" badge means they've had at least 4 dogs earn titles and they're committed to health screenings and maintaining true breed qualities. A breeder with an "AKC Parent Club" badge is part of an AKC-licensed group. If you see an "AKC Champion Bloodline" badge, that means the puppy's parents or grandparents have won an AKC Championship title, which can help you guess what traits your puppy might have. Breeders with a "Breed with H.E.A.R.T." badge are knowledgeable and committed to health, education, and responsibility. They meet health testing standards and participate in continued education every year. Finally, a breeder with an "AKC Club Member" badge is a member of their breed's National Club, which means they're experts on their breed and can help you with choosing, caring for, and training your puppy.

Be sure to research breeders yourself

However, you still have to do your homework. Any breeder can place an ad for dogs on AKC Marketplace, and while profile badges can help you get an idea of which breeders are reputable and ethical, AKC does not guarantee that they are. Some things to look for to identify a responsible breeder:

• Both parents of a litter should have been health tested.
• There should be evidence for the dog's abilities and temperament (like through dog sports or breed-specific work).
• Their dogs should be proven to conform to the breed standard, like through shows - even if you don't necessarily want a "show dog”. Conformation to superficial traits gives a higher degree of predictability of the health of the dog.

During your research, it's a good idea to check the club website of the breed you're interested in, too.

Post-adoption perks through AKC

When you find and choose your puppy through the AKC Marketplace, you can register your new pet with the American Kennel Club. This lifelong registration opens up a world of resources only available to AKC members. By becoming part of the AKC family, you get benefits like 30 days of free pet insurance, lifetime enrollment in AKC Reunite (a lost pet recovery service), a month of access to a vet helpline, a helpful handbook for your new puppy, and an official AKC pedigree. With AKC, you'll be doing a lot more than just getting a new puppy; you'll be joining a supportive community.

Performs well in its niche

While we generally favor shelter/rescue pet adoption over buying, there may be times when you're specifically looking for a purebred dog. In such cases, the American Kennel Club Marketplace could be a good starting point. If you're looking for other kinds of pets, be sure to check out the rest of the pet adoption sites in our review.