Our History: Established in April 1974, as the Rum River Kennel Club. The club held monthly meetings and provided dog lovers with an opportunity to get together and learn more about their favorite breeds and associated interests. Club members organized weekly training classes, and fun matches under AKC rules always working toward the goal of holding licensed dog shows.

Getting started wasn’t easy. Members held garage sales and other fund raisers to enable them to rent a training area and carry on club activities.

When at last the members were ready to apply for AKC licensure, the AKC objected to the name Rum River. To further AKC recognition efforts, club members voted to change the club name to Cambridge Minnesota Kennel Club in November, 1977.

Over the next nine years club members organized yearly B-OB matches to convince AKC of their capability of holding licensed dog shows. In 1984, The Cambridge Minnesota Kennel Club held its first AKC Sanctioned A-OA Match. The A-OA Match was so successful , AKC granted the club permission to hold its first licensed dog show the following year.

On Sunday, April 17, 1986, The Cambridge Minnesota Kennel Club held its first AKC Licensed All-Breed Dog Show and Obedience Trial at the Isanti County Fairgrounds. There were 769 dogs entered. In January, 1990, a second show held at the St. Paul Civic Center was held in conjunction with the Land O’ Lakes Kennel Club.

After 17 years of hard work in Janaury, 1991, CMKC was finally holding shows in which entries reached 1840 dogs. In May 1994 CMKC switched to back-to-back shows and obedience trials at the Isanti County Fairgrounds.

In May, 2004 CMKC offered three days of free standing Obedience Trials. The entries nearly doubled the previous year’s entry.

Cambridge Minnesota Kennel Club has joined forces with the Anoka County Kennel Club to hold the first annual SUMMER SOLSTICE CLUSTER. The Cluster are a 4-day show held in mid June.

CMKC members not only take pride in their show giving achievements, but in contributing to the community. Projects like the Isanti and Anoka County Humane Societies have been recipients of CMKC contribution toward their Spay/Neuter and humane efforts. The local 4-H dog training program is an annual recipient of CMKC donations. In 1991 CMKC constructed a shelter at the Isanti County Fairgrounds which is used for dog shows and used by the Agricultural Society and community throughout the year. CMKC also funded construction of two all-purpose buildings on the fairgrounds and has contributed to up-grading other fairground facilities.

CMKC conducts public education programs related to dogs and staffs a booth at the Isanti County Fair in addition to hosting an annual education seminar for club members.

What started as a dream so many years ago in 1974 continues today. Few of the founding members are still active in the club, but their vision and hard work goes on and paved the way for today’s successes.