Foundation Stock Service What You Need to Know

The Foundation Stock Service

The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes 197 different dog breeds as of February 2021. You might think that is more than enough. However, there are probably hundreds of dog breeds worldwide that the AKC does not recognize. The  AKC provides a pathway for dog breeds to become recognized by maintaining the Foundation Stock Service.

A breed that is officially recognized by the American Kennel Club is able to compete fully and at the highest levels in AKC-sanctioned dog shows, and it has one designated national “parent club” that is the sole steward of its standard—the official breed description used as a blueprint by breeders and judges alike. How Does a Dog Breed Become AKC Recognized?

There are 72 dog breeds included in the AKC’s Foundation Stock Service (FSS) in 2022. The AKC’s purpose for the FSS is to provide a way for breeders to keep records as they develop breeds that may qualify for full recognition. 

What is a Foundation Dog

Once a dog breed has established some following in the United States, the AKC requires a minimum of 150 dogs with three generations and at least one club to represent the breed.  When those requirements are met, the AKC moves the dog breed to the Miscellaneous Class. Dog breeds may remain in the Miscellaneous Class for an indefinite period before gaining full recognition by the AKC.

Dogs in the Foundation Stock Service

1. Alaskan Klee Kai (United States)
2. American Bulldog  (United States)
3. American Leopard Hound (United States)
4. Appenzeller Sennenhund  (Switzerland)
5. Australian Kelpie (Australia)
6. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog (Australia)
7. Barbado da Terceira (Portugal)
8. Basset Fauve de Bretagne
9. Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound
10. Bohemian Shepherd
11. Bolognese
12. Braque du Bourbonnais
13. Braque Francais Pyrenean
14. Broholmer
15. Carolina Dog
16. Catahoula Leopard Dog
17. Caucasian Shepherd
18. Central Asian Shepherd
19. Croatian Sheepdog
20. Czechoslovakian Vlcak
21. Deutscher Wachtelhund
22. Drentsche Patrijshond
23. Drever
24.  Estrela Mountain Dog
25. Eurasier
26.  French Spaniel
27. German Longhaired Pointer
28. German Spitz
29. Hamiltonstovare
30. Hanoverian Scenthound
31. Hokkaido
32. Hovawart
33.  Deutscher Jagdterrier
34. Japanese Akita Inu
35. Japanese Spitz
36. Japanese Terrier
37.  Jindo
38. Kai Ken
39. Karelian Bear Dog
40. Kishu Ken
41. Kromfohrlander
42. Lapponian Herder
43. Mountain Cur
44. Perro de Presa Canario
45. Porcelaine
46. Portuguese Pointer
47. Portuguese Sheepdog
48. Pudelpointer
49. Pyrenean Mastiff
50. Rafeiro do Alentejo
51. Romanian Carpathian Shepherd
52. Romanian Mioritic Shepherd
53. Russkaya Tsvetnaya Bolonka
54. Schapendoes
55. Segugio Italiano
56. Shikoku
57. Slovakian Wirehaired Pointer
58.  Slovensky Cuva
59.  Slovensky Kopov
60. Spanish Mastiff
61. Stabyhoun
62. Swedish Lapphund
63. Taiwan Dog
64. Thai Ridgeback
65. Tornjak
66. Tosa
67. Transylvanian Hound
68. Treeing Tennessee Brindle
69. Volpino Italiano
70. Wetterhoun
71. Working Kelpie
72. Yakutian Laika