akc to allow mixed breed dogs

[elegy]

to compete in their own akc-sanctioned separate and unequal mixed breed trials at akc companion-sports-only events (ie, no mutts at the big fancy conformation venues or at nationals).

American Kennel Club - AKC Announces New Program for Mixed Breeds

the akc continues to disappoint me. a new way to make money since breed clubs won't allow them to climb into bed with petstores since purebred registrations are on the decline, but without threatening the status of their sacred purebreds.

 

[ihartgonzo]

Do the mixed breeds have to be spayed/neutered, like ILP dogs? I sure hope so.

The AKC is disappointing in so, so, so many ways... not even going to get into how many breeds have discintegrated with their guidance. Why not invest some effort into revamping their actual working dog trials and setting some standards for breeds that go BEYOND appearance, rather than pandering to the designer dog trend?

 

[corgipower]

That is a horrible program. For many, many reasons. It will do nothing to help clubs bring in revenue from trials, which is what they need to be able to do in order to hold trials. Ugh. I am once again very disappointed with AKC.

It is a shame that UKC and ASCA aren't as available to compete in. If there were more accessible trials under them, I wouldn't even bother with AKC.

:madgo:

 

[BostonBanker]

Ugh, I was hoping I would never have to make a decision about supporting them. I find so much about them offensive, including some aspects of this decision, and yet have a ton of friends who compete in AKC agility that I would love to trial with.

 

[Dekka]

It annoys me that your dog wouldn't earn a MACH.. but at MACH-M (so its not even like your mixed breed is good enough for their title) They want your money but don't want to give your dog the recognition it deserves from meeting the same criteria as the purebred dogs.

 

[LauraLeigh]

It annoys me that your dog wouldn't earn a MACH.. but at MACH-M (so its not even like your mixed breed is good enough for their title) They want your money but don't want to give your dog the recognition it deserves from meeting the same criteria as the purebred dogs.

Ugh... that is sad....

 

[corgipower]

It annoys me that your dog wouldn't earn a MACH.. but at MACH-M (so its not even like your mixed breed is good enough for their title) They want your money but don't want to give your dog the recognition it deserves from meeting the same criteria as the purebred dogs.

Yea, well the mixed breeds have to compete in a separate class from the purebreeds.

And not at a trial that has conformation also. Yea, there are so many stand alone obedience trials going on. Entries for obedience have been so poor, clubs rarely can afford to hold an obedience trial except as an add-on with a conformation show.

Ugh. This will do wonders for those who think AKC is elitist.

 

[elegy]

and no OTCH, but an OTCH-M.

 

[Ohm]

may i ask what is the detriment in the possible exposure?

 

[Ohm]

It annoys me that your dog wouldn't earn a MACH.. but at MACH-M (so its not even like your mixed breed is good enough for their title) They want your money but don't want to give your dog the recognition it deserves from meeting the same criteria as the purebred dogs.

oh, i think i understand now.

 

[Dekka]

Oh I get that they can't take ribbons away from 'real' dogs ... but if you get three qualifying scores in Rally for example.. why shouldn't you get the same title as the purebreds. Its not like the rally courses or agility courses are going to be any different!

 

[corgipower]

may i ask what is the detriment in the possible exposure?

I'm all for mixed breeds competing. But the way AKC has it set up is pretty awful. It's a rant against AKC not against mixed breeds performing.

 

[corgipower]

Oh I get that they can't take ribbons away from 'real' dogs

Could you explain it to me then?

 

[Dekka]

Could you explain it to me then?

Hehe because then all the die hard AKC people would have coronaries and then they would loose to much revenue.

 

[Ohm]

Hehe because then all the die hard AKC people would have coronaries and then they would loose to much revenue.

i'm sorry but i don't know anything about this subject but isn't agility a contrived sport? i mean a border collie is likely to run a better pear shaped out than a border collie mix, right? but in a contrived sport i would think anything goes.

sorry, this is off-topic.

 

[Dekka]

A lot of mixes do very well. Yes BC are fantastic.. but one of Canada's top agility dogs was a BC mix.. did will at the worlds. Lots of mixes do very well. You have people who BREED for dog sports. They cross dogs with great care to produce VERY fast VERY drivey. One of my favourite agility dogs to watch is one of those dogs....

 

[sillysally]

Maybe I'm just missing some evil, underlying plot here, but what is the big deal? It gives mixed breeds a chance to compete in AKC competition if they want to. If people don't like getting a separate title, then they can chose not compete. If you know what title your dog has earned, who cares if it has an "M" on the end?

You see this in horse competition--half-arabs show in different classes as full arabs, etc, and the horse world hasn't imploded yet.....

Honestly, I think that there are a large number of people that just don't like the AKC, and therefore whatever decision they make is wrong. If they were to beef up their working trials, those trials would somehow be substandard. If they were to force the breed clubs to rewrite their standards, then somehow those wouldn't be correct either.

 

[Dekka]

yep but that is in arab only shows (breed specific shows). You go to a jumper show (or hunter show, or dressage show, or combined trial, or carriage class etc) and it doesn't matter what you have as long as it can do the job.

That is like going to a speciality. Its for one type of horse (dog) only.

Actually I would be fine if the AKC kept it all purebred only. That is their mandate to protect the purebred dog. This looks too much like a money grab. If they really wanted to include all dogs it wouldn't be in separate classes. And why can't they enter an obed trial if there is a conf show on the ground that day? Do the mixed breed dogs contaminate the grounds so conf people can't walk there?

 

[SisMorphine]

Ah yes, yet another money grubbing tactic. My "mixed breed" dogs *cough* will continue to be registered/compete with CPE, thanks!

 

[sillysally]

Well God knows we wouldn't want a business to make money......

I think however they want to do it is fine. Perhaps they are trying it out to see what kind of interest is there before they go full bore? You are OK with it staying all purebred but there are many others who want to see mixes in there. There is always going to be someone upset no matter what they do, because they are the *DUN, DUN, DUNNNNNNN* AKC.....