The American Kennel Club is backing H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, but it is warning House lawmakers not to let Greyhound language ride along with the bill. The group said provisions derived from the Greyhound Protection Act could end up restricting or effectively banning widely accepted dog training and event practices.
That warning lands as the House approaches floor consideration of the Farm Bill, giving the AKC a chance to press its case before amendments are locked in. In a letter, the organization urged passage of the measure while continuing to oppose amendments promoted by animal rights activists that it said could restrict responsible dog breeders, hinder animal husbandry, or interfere with traditional dog competitions and common training methods.
The AKC said the practices at issue are used in certain field trials, performance events, lawful hunting with dogs and other standard training methods. It said the stakes reach beyond a single breed debate because the language could affect dog activities that have long been accepted across the sport and breeding world.
Founded in 1884, the American Kennel Club describes itself as a not-for-profit organization and a club of clubs, and says it is the world’s largest registry of purebred dogs, recognizing more than 200 breeds. It also says its 5,000 community-based dog clubs hosted more than 29,000 educational and family-friendly canine events in 2024, drawing more than 3.7 million individual participants.
The friction now is not whether the farm bill moves forward, but whether lawmakers will strip out language the AKC sees as a backdoor restriction on ordinary dog activities. The group said it is ready to serve as a resource and answer questions on canine issues, a signal that the fight over Greyhound-related provisions is likely to continue as the bill heads toward the House floor.