akc and mixed breeds,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, - Page 1

a little closer to being totally worthless,,,,,,,

overview
http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=3810

program details
http://images.akc.org/pdf/MixedBreedProgramDetails.pdf

always out for a dollar,  

does anyone else see where this can go, and what the possible ramifications can be from this.

john

Simple- the AKC needs more $

 It is about one thing and one thing only......dollars.

They are desperate for cash. Registrations are way down. People aren't travelling to show like they used to (fewer show fees). AKC papers don't guarantee quality anyway and never did since there are no rules about which dogs can breed. The AKC is mostly useful as a counter to the animal rights nuts who don't want any animal owned, period. At least, the AKC could be useful here if they decided to take a stand rather than to try to walk the tightrope between dog fanciers and AR nuts.

If you are referring to the quality issue of American GSDs, that's something the breed clubs ought to be taking on. They will do that about the same time hell becomes exothermic. JMO.

Okay, someone please explain to me why this is such a bad thing, if it gets mixed breed owners interested in training their dogs for performance events!

I would have LOVED to have had the opportunity to trial my non-papered rescue GSD in performance events before this was allowed through the ILP/PEN numbers. She would have done extremely well in the tracking.

I see absolutely NO reason why non-pedigree animals and mixed breeds should be excluded from performace classes. It just turns the dog breeding business into an elitist past-time.

Of course, if that's what you want....  

I agree that the AKC stands to make a great deal of money from this, but is there no upside? Given the number of unwanted mixed-breeds out there, wouldn't allowing them to compete in AKC events and such have some positive effect? Perhaps not, but I hate to think that everything revolves around the all-mighty-dollar when it comes to animals.

You've got a point... and after all, purebreds are all the result of "mixing breeds" in the first place...

How is this a bad thing?!

1. Dogs in the program would be issued an ID number.
2. Dogs must be spayed or neutered. (DINGDINGDINGDINGDING!!!!!!)
3. The fee for the program would be $35.
4. In Phase I, listed dogs would receive:
a. A certificate of participation
b. A competition card, with their identification number. This number allows mixed breeds
to compete in AKC Agility, Rally, and Obedience events

If read on you will see that mixed breed dogs are awarded slightly different titles from purebred dogs, and may only compete in stand alone trials, not events that also include conformation.

I have been praying for this for YEARS!! I have so many clients who have rescued mixed breed dogs that would love to do something like this, but have been limited by the very bare number of UKC trials a year! This is awesome news for me.

Now the AKC needs to take another cue from the UKC: Ban the use of professional handlers and only allow owners to handle their own dogs in conformation. Wouldn't that be a cold day in hell, but a great day nonetheless.

I think mixed breeds/rescues should be allowed to compete in AKC performance events. It gets the pet owner into training his dog and gives some motivation for that training with a certificate for achievement. Notice I said AKC events, not USA, WDA, SV, WUSV or whatever else is GSD or working breed specific.

Do I have an ulterior motive for my stance? Why yes, I do. I have been seeing the pressure of animal rights activists upon legislators to regulate the numbers and kinds of animals that can be kept by citizens of various places in the good ole US of A where I live. I prefer that animal ownership of commonly kept pet animals be a matter of personal choice, rather than something forbidden by legislators acting on the emotional agenda of a small group. If broadening the appeal of AKC by allowing mixed breeds in various events brings more people into the fold (so to speak), then the political power of the AKC will be correspondingly larger which could be a good thing for continued pet ownership in the USA.

Absolutely true, sam! Also, lets be honest, registrations are down, entries are down, local clubs are feeling the financial pinch, and if mixed breed entries will help keep trials afloat until the economy brightens up, then so be it. It will mean taking the good with the bad, I know I'll cringe when I see a puggle or a shepadoodle in the ring...but at least I can comfort myself with the fact that the dog is altered!