PA Federation of Dog Clubs
A community of Pennsylvania dog clubs

Watching Harrisburg lawmakers, so dog owners are able to enjoy their dogs now and in the future.

We're the shared voice of Pennsylvania's dog clubs — connecting members, tracking legislation, and standing up for responsible dog ownership together.

Four dogs — a husky, a vizsla, a golden retriever, and an Australian shepherd — sitting together outdoors

Built by clubs, for clubs

Our Community

Our purpose in Harrisburg

The primary purpose of the PA Federation of Dog Clubs has always been to give our member organizations a voice in the Legislature and Governor's Office — and the departments it oversees — in Harrisburg. We ask legislators to support some proposals and oppose others.

We do similar work at the federal level, though we limit our outreach to the Senators and Representatives in the Pennsylvania delegation. We also interact with the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), mostly to gather information to relay to our member organizations.

All legislators and the Governor are candidates at some point. We need to be able to show support to those who support our legislative positions, so they continue to support us going forward — we won't be effective legislatively if we don't stay engaged with our legislature.

Any support or opposition we announce is based solely on issues related to responsible animal ownership — never on unrelated hot-button topics.

NJ & PA Federation of Dog Clubs
Pure Breed Referral, Rescue & Canine Service Resource Directory
Coming Soon
Legislation Watch

What we're tracking in Harrisburg

We monitor bills affecting dog ownership, breeding, kennels, and animal welfare at the state and federal level, and let our member clubs know when it's time to speak up.

Pennsylvania State Capitol
Current Watch List

Legislation being watched

We keep a running list of the state and federal bills affecting dog ownership, breeding, kennels, and animal welfare that we're actively tracking in Harrisburg — updated as bills move through the Legislature.

View the current watch list (PDF) →

Want to help advocate?

Member clubs receive action alerts when it's time to contact legislators directly.

Member Clubs

Clubs across the Commonwealth

Our member clubs represent all-breed, specialty, and performance dog organizations from every corner of Pennsylvania.

PA Federation of Dog Clubs member meeting

All Breed Clubs

B

Bald Eagle Kennel Club

All Breed Club

All-breed conformation shows, obedience, and community dog events.

B

Berks County Kennel Club

All Breed Club

All-breed conformation shows, obedience, and community dog events.

B

Butler County Kennel Club

All Breed Club

All-breed conformation shows, obedience, and community dog events.

C

Chambersburg Area Kennel Club

All Breed Club

All-breed conformation shows, obedience, and community dog events.

D

Delaware County Kennel Club

All Breed Club

All-breed conformation shows, obedience, and community dog events.

D

Devon Dog Show Association

All Breed Club

All-breed conformation shows, obedience, and community dog events.

E

Erie Kennel Club

All Breed Club

All-breed conformation shows, obedience, and community dog events.

G

Greater Philadelphia Dog Fanciers Assoc.

All Breed Club

All-breed conformation shows, obedience, and community dog events.

H

Harrisburg Kennel Club

All Breed Club

All-breed conformation shows, obedience, and community dog events.

H

Huntington Valley Kennel Club

All Breed Club

All-breed conformation shows, obedience, and community dog events.

K

Kennel Club of Philadelphia

All Breed Club

All-breed conformation shows, obedience, and community dog events.

L

Lackawanna Kennel Club

All Breed Club

All-breed conformation shows, obedience, and community dog events.

L

Lancaster Kennel Club

All Breed Club

All-breed conformation shows, obedience, and community dog events.

L

Lebanon County Kennel Club

All Breed Club

All-breed conformation shows, obedience, and community dog events.

L

Lehigh Valley Kennel Club

All Breed Club

All-breed conformation shows, obedience, and community dog events.

M

Montgomery County Kennel Club

All Breed Club

All-breed conformation shows, obedience, and community dog events.

P

Penn Ridge Kennel Club

All Breed Club

All-breed conformation shows, obedience, and community dog events.

P

Penn Treaty Kennel Club

All Breed Club

All-breed conformation shows, obedience, and community dog events.

T

Tioga County Kennel Club

All Breed Club

All-breed conformation shows, obedience, and community dog events.

Specialty Clubs

A

Airedale Terrier Club of Greater Philadelphia

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

A

Anthracite Brittany Club

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

B

Bernese Mt. Dog Club of Watchung

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

B

Bull Terrier Club of Philadelphia

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

B

Bulldog Club of Philadelphia

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

C

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club of Delaware Valley

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

D

Dachshund Fanciers Assoc. of Berks County

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

D

Delaware Valley Bullmastiff Club

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

D

Delaware Valley Dalmatian Club

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

D

Delaware Valley German Shepherd Dog Club

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

D

Delaware Valley Havanese Club

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

D

Delaware Valley Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

G

Greater Pittsburgh Golden Retriever Club

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

G

Greater Valley Forge Rhodesian Ridgeback Club

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

I

Inter-State Shetland Sheepdog Club of PA

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

K

Kerry Blue Terrier Club of Greater Pittsburgh

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

L

Lehigh German Shepherd Dog Club

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

L

Liberty English Cocker Spaniel Fanciers

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

S

Saucon Valley Boxer Club

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

S

Schuylkill Valley German Shorthaired Pointer Club

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

S

Siberian Husky Club of Delaware Valley

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

S

South Eastern Keystone Chinese Shar-Pei Club

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

T

Tri County Beagle Club

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

W

Waterland Retriever Club

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

W

William Penn Poodle Club

Specialty Club

Breed-specific education, conservation, and specialty shows.

Performance Clubs

A

Admiral Perry Obedience Training Club

Performance Club

Obedience, rally, agility, and performance-event training.

A

Allentown DTC

Performance Club

Obedience, rally, agility, and performance-event training.

B

Berks County DTC

Performance Club

Obedience, rally, agility, and performance-event training.

B

Butler Dog Training Association

Performance Club

Obedience, rally, agility, and performance-event training.

C

Central PA K9 Performance Club

Performance Club

Obedience, rally, agility, and performance-event training.

D

Dauphin Dog Training Club

Performance Club

Obedience, rally, agility, and performance-event training.

H

Hilltown Dog Training Club

Performance Club

Obedience, rally, agility, and performance-event training.

L

Lower Bucks Dog Training Club

Performance Club

Obedience, rally, agility, and performance-event training.

O

Obedience Training Class of Harrisburg

Performance Club

Obedience, rally, agility, and performance-event training.

T

Tri State Dog Obedience Club

Performance Club

Obedience, rally, agility, and performance-event training.

W

Williamsport Dog Training Club

Performance Club

Obedience, rally, agility, and performance-event training.

Y

York County Dog Training Club

Performance Club

Obedience, rally, agility, and performance-event training.

If your club is a member club and isn't listed here, please have your secretary contact our Treasurer/Membership Chairperson at treasurer@pafederationofdogclubs.org.

Membership

Join the Federation

There are two categories of membership in the PA Federation of Dog Clubs: Voting Membership and Associate Membership (non-voting).

Voting Membership

Full voting rights
—Any non-profit or not-for-profit organization operating in Pennsylvania, whose objectives agree with the Federation's Constitution
—All-breed, specialty, or companion-event clubs holding shows or trials approved by a national purebred registry or a recognized regional club
—Dog training clubs training for competition, performance events, or as companion animals
—Sporting or hunting clubs where at least a third of members are PA residents, or whose events are held in PA
—Each voting member club designates two primary delegates authorized to vote at Federation meetings

Associate Membership

Non-voting
—Open to clubs eligible for voting membership, as well as clubs that don't meet the PA membership requirements or hold shows in PA
—Must support the objectives and purposes of the Federation as stated in the Constitution
—Each Associate Member designates two non-voting delegates
PA Federation of Dog Clubs event booth
Application Process

How to apply

Applicants apply on a form approved by the Board of Directors, agreeing to abide by the Federation's Constitution and by-laws. The application must state the organization's name and the secretary's address, and be accompanied by a list of the applicant's members, a copy of your by-laws, and a $25 application fee.

The Membership Committee reviews each application and reports its findings to the Secretary, who notifies the Board of Directors. Electing an applicant requires an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the directors present at a Board meeting, or two-thirds of the entire Board when voting by mail or e-mail.

Dues

Membership dues are determined annually by the Board of Directors and are due on or before September 1 of each year. Dues for a new member aren't due until September 1 of the following year. No member club may vote whose dues aren't paid for the current year.

Questions about applying?

Reach out to your regional delegate or the Federation board.

Newsletters

Federation updates

Our latest newsletters. New issues are posted here as they become available.