Title and Honor questions - Page 2

You are not trying to prove your dog is purebred - you are just getting a number so you can compete. It is my understanding that the purpose of the number is to keep track of the dog's accomplishments. Your dog is considered mixed breed by AKC because you do not have documentation saying otherwise. Edit: hmmm I didn't realize about the PAL numbers. What is the purpose of getting the PAL #?

Ok...now I get it. AKC has two programs, Canine Partners and PAL/ILP. Canine Partners is for mixed breeds that don't particularly look like any breed, and PAL is for purebreds that can't provide documentation of breed. It looks like all you will need is a photo for the PAL: http://www.akc.org/pdfs/ilpform.pdf

PAL registered dogs can compete in these events:

"Agility Trials (All Breeds)
Earthdog Trials (Small Terriers and Dachshunds)
Herding Tests and Trials ( Herding Breeds, Rottweilers and Samoyeds)
Hunt Tests (Most Sporting Breeds and Standard Poodles)
Junior Showmanship (All Breeds)
Lure Coursing (Sighthounds)
Obedience Trials (All Breeds)
Rally Trials (All Breeds)
Tracking Tests (All Breeds)"

Canine Partner registered dogs can compete in these events:

"Dogs enrolled into the AKC Canine Partners program may participate in stand-alone,
sanctioned AKC Agility, Rally, and Obedience trials. A stand-alone AKC Companion Event is
an AKC Agility, Obedience or Rally event that is not held on the same date AND show site as
an AKC All-Breed dog show, Group Show or Independent Specialty (Conformation events).
Mixed-breed classes will be held separately from the regular purebred classes."

Fawndallas - you can probably get a PAL (formally known as ILP) on your puppies.  This type of registration is for dogs that lack papers but are obviously purebred.  You have to submit pictures and proof of spay/neuter on the dog and the AKC determines based on the pics if the dog is purebred or not.

The Mixed Breed program came about to allow dogs that are "mutts" with no obvious breed connection or dogs of breeds that are not AKC recognized to compete in companion events such as obedience and agility. They also have to be altered. 

The Mixed breed program was very controversial with many AKC people who felt the AKC should only be for purebred dogs.  I was fine with the program as it is only for altered animals and the more competition the better is my way of thinking.  Shortly before the program became approved the sh*t hit the fan when someone ILP'd a mini Aussie as an Aussie and that ILP'd "Aussie" qualified as one of the top "Aussies" in agility to go to the AKC Agility Invitational.  Needless to say many of the Aussie people were po'd that a mini aussie to the spot of an actual aussie. 

We own 7 dogs and 4 have their ILP or PAL numbers.  Its a easy process you need good photos of the dogs head and a stack shot then fill out their forms, found on AKC.org and send them in with proof of Spay/neuter.  We own 1 mixed breed and most of the trials around our area are now accepting them too, more money for the club!  I personally recommend doing Rally Novice first, then Rally Advanced/Excellent and then onto CD you would enter all the A classes this way you will be competing against not as many people.  B classes are form owners that have previously titled a dog in CD.  You can look on AKC.org under Rally and they have detailed signs with their descriptions.  Most of the training can be done at home if you know what your doing!
have fun!! We love showing in AKC. 
Amy