Since the 1980s, Young Kennel Club has given young people an opportunity to train their dogs and compete against others of a similar age. Created by Royal Kennel Club member, Daphne MacDougall in 1985, she convinced the organisation that young people needed a club and a voice of their own within it. All these years later, we continue to be a thriving and friendly organisation for young people across the UK, who come together to cultivate their skills and enjoy the happiness their dogs bring into their lives.
1985 - The Kennel Club Junior Organisation began
In 1985, what was then the Kennel Club founded the first membership organisation for young people. We were not called the Young Kennel Club back then, and were known as the "Kennel Club Junior Organisation" or "KCJO" for short.
Back then the country was split into eight regions, with the Royal Kennel Club’s Board appointing a leader for each region. Leaders organised their own activities, with a number of national competitions throughout the year.
1986 - Shaun McAlpine award
One of the highest accolades available to Young Kennel Club members is to win the Shaun McAlpine award. The memorial trophy was donated to the Junior Organisation in 1985 and started to be awarded in 1986. Shaun McAlpine was a junior who was utterly dedicated to the world of dogs and unfortunately his life was tragically cut short. Each year at Crufts, the Shaun McAlpine trophy is awarded to someone who has contributed to the canine world and has played a major role in a number of canine activities.
1998 - Dedicated Crufts ring
1998 was the first year the KCJO had a dedicated ring at Crufts.
2001 - Name change
in 2001, Kennel Club Junior Organisation changed its name to what we are called today: the Young Kennel Club.
2002 - Young Kennel Club volunteers
In the summer of 2002, we began sending senior YKC members on a development course called Outward Bound. This course was designed to help them become team leaders and inspire the next generation.
2005 - Fetch and Cinnamon Trust
August 2005 saw the very first edition of the Young Kennel Club's magazine ‘Fetch’. Today, all members receive a copy of Fetch four times a year when a new edition comes out. The magazine is full of fun stories and competitions for Young Kennel Club members to get involved in.
2005 also saw the start of the partnership between the Young Kennel Club and the Cinnamon Trust. This charity enables elderly people to retain the companionship of their own pets by organising volunteers to step in to assist with walking and general pet care. The Young Kennel Club and the Cinnamon Trust began an award that year to recognise the dedication of young people.
2005 - Young Kennel Club supports a competitor at the Junior Agility World Championships
In 2007, we started supporting an Agility competitor for the first time in the Junior Agility World Championships - they then went on to win Gold!
2008 - Artists and Britain's Got Talent
In 2008, the Young Kennel Club started to recognise budding artists by creating an Artist of the Year award. The winners have had their artworks displayed at Crufts, and more recently, they have been on the the front cover of Young Kennel Club’s competitor catalogue.
2008 was also the year that our first YKC member to become a TV star appeared on the screen, with Kate and Gin making to to the final of Britain's Got Talent.
2012 - Britain's Got Talent Winner
In 2012, another YKC member appeared on Britain's Got Talent, and we were incredibly proud when Ashleigh and Pudsey were crowned the series winners!
2016 - Junior Agility World Championships and 25 years of Young Kennel Club
In 2016 we sent a team to the Junior Agility World Championships in Slovakia for the first time. Since then, a strong YKC team has competed at the championships, winning in total (so far) twelve Bronzes, three Silvers and four Golds.
The Young Kennel Club celebrated 25 years at Crufts in 2016, too. All previous as well as our current Chairman attended to mark the occasion.
2018 - Young Kennel Club member writes book
In 2018, Young Kennel Club member Charlotte-Louise Page published her first book 'Handling to Success' - a guide on how to handle your dog in the handling and stakes classes.
