Royal Kennel Club: ownership, key people and facts (Kennel club)

The short answer

Who owns or governs The Royal Kennel Club, and what does it do?

The Royal Kennel Club is a private company limited by guarantee whose members elect its Board of directors at the annual general meeting; Companies House holds a statement that it has no registrable person with significant control. Its CEO is Jannine Edgar. It registers pedigree dogs, runs the Petlog microchip database, licenses shows and other dog events, and organises Crufts at the NEC in Birmingham. It reported turnover of £23.0 million for 2024 and says registration is its largest source of income.

Ownership and governance

The Royal Kennel Club Limited (08217778) is a private company limited by guarantee without share capital. It was incorporated on 17 September 2012 as The Kennel Club Limited and took its present name on 29 August 2024, after members voted for the change on 11 June 2024; its accounts say the name was granted by King Charles III to mark the organisation’s 150th anniversary. If the company were wound up, each member would contribute no more than £1. Companies House holds a statement that there is no registrable person with significant control. Members elect directors at the annual general meeting; in June 2025 they elected ten. Companies House lists 23 directors, who received no pay in 2024 beyond expenses, and a company secretary. In 2024 the committees reporting to the Board were cut from 21 to 12.

Turnover for 2024 was £23.0 million, including £8.8 million from registration activities, £6.3 million from shows and events and £5.1 million from health and welfare activities. The company reported an operating deficit of £4.29 million and a loss after tax of £2.2 million. It runs Petlog, a microchip database it put at 14.2 million customers, and has premises at 10 Clarges Street, London, and in Aylesbury. In June 2025 members approved the sale of the Emblehope and Burngrange estates.

What Royal Kennel Club runs

Events

Crufts, NEC Birmingham

Registers

Pedigree dog register
Activity register for crossbreed dogs

Databases

Petlog microchip database

Programmes

Good Citizen Dog Training scheme

Publications

The Kennel Club Journal

Premises

10 Clarges Street, London (head office and members' club)
Kennel Club House, Aylesbury

As listed by the organisation. See sources.

Key people

Jannine EdgarCEO
Tom MatherCrufts Chairman
Linda BranwhiteSecretary

As listed on Crufts launches UK wide search for nation's unsung 'Hero Hounds' (1 October 2026).

Status and listing

Status: Not listed

Where it operates

United Kingdom

As the organisation reports it. See sources.

Key dates

1873: The Kennel Club was founded on 4 April 1873 by S.E. Shirley and twelve other gentlemen; its first home was 2 Albert Mansions, Victoria Street, London.
1874: The first Kennel Club Stud Book was published, listing show results from 1859.
1900: A system of show licences was introduced.
1939: The Kennel Club took over Crufts after the death of its founder, Charles Cruft.
2012: The Kennel Club Limited was incorporated on 17 September 2012.
2024: On 11 June members voted to change the company's name, and it became The Royal Kennel Club Limited on 29 August 2024.
2025: Jannine Edgar was confirmed as Chief Executive in April. On 24 June the AGM approved the sale of the Emblehope and Burngrange estates, and Tony Allcock retired as Chairman.
2026: Crufts was held at the NEC Birmingham from 5 to 8 March with 18,698 dogs entered, according to a release of 5 February 2026. Crufts 2027 is scheduled for 4 to 7 March 2027.

Questions readers ask

Who owns The Royal Kennel Club?

It is a private company limited by guarantee without share capital, run by a Board of directors elected by its members. Companies House holds a statement that there is no registrable person with significant control.

What does The Royal Kennel Club do?

It registers pedigree dogs, keeps the Petlog microchip database, licenses dog shows and other events, runs the Good Citizen Dog Training scheme and organises Crufts at the NEC in Birmingham. Registration is its largest source of income.

Where is The Royal Kennel Club based?

Its registered office is at 10 Clarges Street, London W1J 8AB, and it has an office at Kennel Club House, Gatehouse Way, Aylesbury.

Sources

Figures are taken from the documents listed below and carry the date they refer to.

The Equanine Directory

Profiles are compiled by the desk from the organisation’s own pages, filings and official records. A listing does not buy coverage. Report a correction.