Canonization Petition

Submit a Canonization Petition

The canon is incomplete. The Council is working through all 205 AKC-recognized breeds, and community submissions are how that work gets done. If your dog has done anything the record should reflect, this is where you make the case.

The process

Three witnessed acts are the minimum required for a petition to be considered. The Council uses the word "acts" loosely. A saintly act can be extraordinary. It can also be quietly, stubbornly ordinary - showing up every single day, never complaining, occasionally not destroying something they easily could have. Document what your dog actually did. The Council has seen everything. Nothing is too small if it was real.

What happens after you submit

The Council reviews the case. If the evidence is sufficient, the dog is canonized. If the dog's breed is not yet in the canon, the breed enters the record and the counter moves. You will hear back either way. Not every petition is approved. The standard exists. It is just more flexible than it sounds.

The canonization process is the lore of Holy Roma. It is conducted with complete seriousness about something that is also, admittedly, a little bit absurd. If you found your way here, you probably already know your dog qualifies.