AKC Partners Program? - Page 1

Your dog will be eligible to compete in AKC Rally®, Agility and Obedience trials accepting mixed-breed entries, starting April 1.  The AKC is now accepting mixed breeds into their events.

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

I don't like it, but that's me.

Note that it is up to the trial-giving club if they want to accept mixed breeds.  They don't have to, it's their option.

Also, all AKC Partners dogs must be spayed/nuetered in order to compete.  

Its neither good or bad. Its about the AKC getting more money. :-) But I'm all for it as I have one girl that is registered UKC only.

Also, wolf mixes are not acceptable at all.

 So much for any incentive to own a purebred so you can participate in AKC sports.  I'm going to laugh my butt off when someone campaigns a mixed breed to AKC's national obedience and/or agility trial championships.

Read AKC's articles of incorporation.   They specifically state, purebred dogs.

AKC now has a bunch of business people running it.  The almighty dollar is first and foremost, not the underlying concept of promoting the purebred dog.
 

People have already been breeding sport dogs, like mixing Jack Russell Terriers with Whippets to create flyball champions. Just wait, AKC has opened a Pandora's box. 

Since when has AKC really had the dogs best interest at heart. Any governing body that registers puppy mill'ers and fights legislation for restrictions obviously doesn't really give a damn. Unfortunately it's all we have here.

I think mix breed dogs in obedience and rally is fine. Im surprised it has taken this long. In a sense isn't that what an ILP is. They can call it "looks like" but without the docs to prove it, who really knows. Good competition is just that whether or not it's a mix or papered dog

 "I think mix breed dogs in obedience and rally is fine."

However, the AKC's articles of incorporation specifically state that AKC was incorporated by the laws of New York to promote purebred dogs, not to offer opportunities for mixes to compete.  I have nothing against mixed dogs having their own competitions (wait, they do - it's called AMBOR).  I do have a problem when a purebred dog organization ignores its legal foundation.

As for ILP, or PAL, as it's now called, the listing must specify a given breed.  As it stands, there have been cases (I know of one in particular) where the owner of a bitch has registered a litter where the bitch got bred by a purebred, but then got out and mated with a mix.  The owner registered the litter, not realizing Labradors are never parti-color 

I agree with Micky D 100%.  The AKC should stick to purebred dogs.  Period.  There are other venues for mixes.  The ILP/PAL is different than "Canine Partners."  ILP is for purebreds, not mixes.  For instance, if you adopt a purebred out of a shelter, you can apply to have it registered with an ILP number (now PAL #) and compete in obedience/rally only with that dog.  I think this is a good thing, as it promotes purebreds, second chances, and shelter animals all at once, and sticks to AKC's own purpose.

I also agree that AKC is doing this purely from monetary motives and that this will add to the anti-purebred sentiment sweeping not only this country, but others as well.  And maybe there are now people in power at AKC who are ultimately anti-purebred, just as so many AC people are not only supremely anti-purebred, but anti-pet in reality.