AKC Code of Sportsmanship

• A SPORTSMAN RESPECTS THE HISTORY, TRADITIONS AND INTEGRITY OF THE SPORT OF PUREBRED DOGS.
• A SPORTSMAN COMMITS HIM- OR HERSELF TO VALUES OF FAIR PLAY, HONESTY, COURTESY, VIGOROUS COMPETITION, AND LOSING WITH GRACE.
• A SPORTSMAN JUDGE DOES NOT COMPROMISE HIS OR HER COMMITMENT TO THE SPORT OF PUREBRED DOGS BY INJECTING PERSONAL ADVANTAGE OR CONSIDERATION INTO THEIR DECISIONS OR BEHAVIOR.
• A SPORTSMAN EXHIBITOR DOES NOT ENTER OR EXHIBIT UNDER A JUDGE WHERE THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THE JUDGE'S PLACEMENTS MAY BE BASED ON SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE MERITS OF THE DOGS.
• A SPORTSMAN EXHIBITOR DOES NOT COMPROMISE THE IMPARTIALITY OF A JUDGE.
• A SPORTSMAN RESPECTS THE AKC BYLAWS, RULES, REGULATIONS AND POLICIES GOVERNING THE SPORT OF PUREBRED DOGS.
• A SPORTSMAN FINDS THAT VIGOROUS COMPETITION AND CIVILITY ARE NOT INCONSISTENT AND IS ABLE TO APPRECIATE THE MERIT OF HIS OR HER COMPETITION AND THE EFFORT OF COMPETITORS.
• A SPORTSMAN DOES NOT TAKE PERSONAL ADVANTAGE OF POSITIONS OFFERED OR BESTOWED UPON HIM OR HER.
• A SPORTSMAN ALWAYS CONSIDERS AS PARAMOUNT, THE WELFARE OF HIS OR HER DOG.
• A SPORTSMAN WILL NOT EMBARRASS THE SPORT, THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB, NOR HIM OR HERSELF WHILE TAKING PART IN THE SPORT.