Great Pyrenees Club of America (GPCA)

The Great Pyrenees Club of America (GPCA), established in 1935, serves as the official American Kennel Club (AKC) parent club for the Great Pyrenees breed in the United States. As a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, the GPCA is the sole nationwide entity dedicated to the protection, promotion, and advancement of the breed. The club is governed by a formal constitution and bylaws, and it maintains a strict code of ethics to ensure the highest standards of member and breeder conduct.

The core mission of the GPCA is to further the sport of dogs while striving to bring the natural qualities of the purebred Great Pyrenees to perfection. The organization is responsible for maintaining the official AKC breed standard and providing educational resources to the public. Key activities and services provided by the club include:

• Breed Advocacy and Education: Publishing the GPCA Bulletin and maintaining an Illustrated Standard of the breed.
• Breeder Referral: Connecting prospective owners with reputable, responsible member breeders.
• Rescue Operations: Managing a national network of volunteers dedicated to finding suitable homes for misplaced, abandoned, or orphaned Great Pyrenees.
• Historical Preservation: Maintaining a committee tasked with archiving photographs, videos, and memorabilia to protect the history of the breed.
• Event Sponsorship: Facilitating AKC-licensed competitions, including conformation shows, obedience trials, agility, rally, tracking, and Canine Good Citizen testing.

The GPCA encourages active participation from both new and long-time owners. By emphasizing thorough research and discouraging impulse buying, the club ensures that the elegant and functional nature of the Great Pyrenees—whether as a family companion or a livestock guardian—is preserved for future generations.