The AKC's Board of Directors has voted unanimously to proceed with a program for mixed breed dogs which will allow it to act even more broadly and effectively as the dog's champion. The creation of this program ushers in new opportunities for AKC's constituents and clubs and will allow the organization to grow and flourish.
How do you feel about this new opportunity and what positive things do you think will evolve?
I applaud the entrance of mixed breed dogs into the arena to compete, if I understand this correctly it is completely separate from the purebred show arenas, The term designer dog irks me,they are mixed bred dogs that often become a fad. And the animals are often at the mercy of backyard breeders who don't really know alot about either breed. In my area the shelters reflected that with a mix of a pug and a beagle.Thankyou to those of you who are responsible breeders.
Im all for it. I have owned both purebred and mixed breed dogs for over 30yrs and some of my mutts were better at obedience then my purebreds. I would have loved the oppurtunity to show them in a formal manner. As long as they are kept as a seperate entry and show why not offer another oppurtunity to increase revenue. Linda
Over 10 years ago, I decided to train our mixed lab in obedience. He was brilliant. My daughter showed him in 4-H and was hooked. So we started looking for ways for her to show more. We found little locally in terms of mixed breed shows, although we kept hearing about them. Snickers looked purebred and so we applied and recieved an ILP. (wouldn't do that now, but we were naive at the time) Pretty quickly we wanted to do more, so we got our first Vizsla. We have shown and finished 4 champions and are working on our first homebred champions. We have earned hunt and obedience titles. We actively compete in Hunt tests, obedience and conformation. My family and I are living proof, 4 new exhibtors joined the world of AKC because of one mixed breed. Allowing mixed breeds to compete in performance events will bring badly needed fresh blood to the world of purebred dogs. It will open their eyes to world of purebred dogs. Once bitten, they will want to go farther and do more and need a purebred to do that. We need to start facing reality, entries are declining all over the country, clubs are choosing not to hold performance events because they lose money. We need to encourage the newcomer and make it more feasible for them to find out if the sport of dog is for them. This progam has good safeguards in place, its not promoting "breeding" mixed breeds, they don't even get to share the ring let alone the limelight with purebreds, its just giving them opportunity to taste and see how much fun purebred dogs can be. That could ensure a future for all of us to continue in the hobby we all love. Sheila
Maybe instead of AKC registering Mixed Breeds they should provide them a Tracking Number that would allow them to compete as a "Mixed Breed" in the venues they described.
The people who want a pure bred dog will still purchase a pure bred dog. From my experience many of my "this is my first pure bred dog" buyers are purchasing a puppy from me because they have or have had a half Australian Shepherd in the past and have learned more about the breed because of that dog.
I don't approve of AKC registering the mixed breeds but I would like them to have a tracking number so they can compete, learn, share and discover the world of pure bred dogs and the work and dedication we each bring to our breed(s) of choice.
SusanSkyHi, the program for mixed breed dogs is not the same as the registry for purebred dogs. AKC records the sire and dam for a litter, and has records of the preceding generations, in order to be able to trace ancestry. That is registration. The program for mixed breeds is more like the program for dogs that appear to be purebred but which have no documentation, like an Australian Shepherd adopted from a shelter. The AKC has long offered a "listing privilege" to such dogs. No record of parentage is required for that, yet such dogs can compete in all performance events that their breed has available.
Now, the AKC is offering a similar program to dogs of mixed ancestry. They have to be recorded in some way in AKC records in order to track entries and scores, but they will not be "registered" in the sense that you register a litter of puppies, or a dog you have purchased from such a litter.
Hi, I think this is a great opportunity for mixed breeds. I do think for mixed breed competion the dogs should not be compared to pure breeds and should be kept in their own group for all competion. I also think that any mixed breed competing in AKC events should have to be spayed or neutered. I don't feel that it should be encouraged for mixed breeds to be bred. We also need to get a control on all these mixed poodle breeds. AKC should make it clear that breeding mixed breeds is not accepted. Competing with them would help a few people I know with Border collie mixes, my brother has one, being able to compete in agility, herding trials, fly ball and other energetic events would greatly help his dogs energy level. I do hope that the AKC is not looking at this subject with Dollar sighns in their eyes. That should not be the reason to accept mixed breeds. The reason is that we as Dog lovers should understand and accept that all dogs are prescious to our well being. We compete because we love our dogs and they have a blast competing. My dogs don't compete because I make them they do it because they have fun going out and doing what they were bred to do or try something new, meet new people and travel. We all should have fun with our dogs not just pure breds. Smoochiepooches@hotmail.com
I believe this is a monumental mistake for the AKC. Not only does this PROMOTE mixed breeds, but it opens the door for Mixed Breed S/N Championships!!! VERY soon, I see AKC starting to encourage Mixed Breed Kennel Clubs, now that this fiasco has been accepted.
If people want to compete with their pound puppies, or irresponsibly bred mixed breeds, spayed/neutered or not, there ARE Organizations here in the US where those dogs are welcomed, and even given Registration Papers, with only a photo and a personal check. I have been REPONSIBLY breeding Pure Bred dogs for close to 30 years, and I am just appalled that AKC would lower itself to placate those who wish to see the entire Dog World abolished.
Anyone who firmly believes that by joining our "elite club" to "learn" what responsible dog ownership/breeding is all about is just deluding themselves. And that includes the Powers That Be at our almighty American Kennel Club. These people have just been given a free pass into our elitist world...and if they don't want to learn, they never will. They are now just as "good" as we are, those of us who have dedicated our lives and livlihoods to producing healthy, well-adjusted puppies and dogs.
If AKCs Mission Statment is to promote PURE BRED dogs, then mixed breeds have no place here. Let the mixed breeds form their own Club and do what they want...just leave Pure Breds alone!!!
On the other hand, once this goes into effect, I guess I could start competing with my CC Retriever...as a Labradoodle...and get MORE titles...
Wow, Suzanne! My first reaction is, "What are you afraid of?" I've been breeding purebred dogs (Standard Poodles, Whippets and now Frenchies) for over 35 years, and I have absolutely no problem with this new policy. I do not foresee the doom and gloom picture you portrayed. I am an obedience instructor. My students who own mixed breed dogs would enjoy competing. They have no illusions of joining a registry for mixed breeds, breeding their mixed breed, or anything else. They simply want to enjoy doing a performance activity with the dog they love. I almost get the impression that you look down on mixed breeds. One of the smartest dogs in our house is a little mixed breed that came to be boarded and never left. He is a member of our dog drill team and the people at nursing homes adore him.
I am now truly conserned.. We have to many shelter dogs, that have no history, no one really knows if tht dog is truly healthy liver Kidney, hips, shoulders or will he have a stable temper? will it bite, did his/ her parents bit/ is he or she in the shelter because hi did bite or, or, or..My grandson was attacked by a shelter dog that passed all the tests.. NO HISTORY on this dog. Now you have given permission for people to breed designer dogs.. I have to Wonder what some people think some times.. AKC was started so we can record the genitics health and disposition..
thank you for taking the time I hope this becomes a members choice I am sure I am not the only one feeling this way..
The AKC was founded by a wealthy group of gentlemen to formalize conformation exhibitions with their dogs. Health and temperament were not and are not recorded by the AKC. The AKC has an agreement with some health registries to include health clearances on registration forms, but they do not prohibit any dog from being registered on the basis of those tests or any others.
People breeding so-called designer breeds don't need anyone's permission to breed them. Designer breeds have been around for a long time. In the seventies, people were crossing cockers and poodles, cockers and pekes, pomeranians and poodles, schnauzers and poodles, and any other combination that would produce a small dog with a catchy name. They just didn't call them designer breeds at the time. I once had an argument with a woman who swore she had an AKC registered cock-a-poo! Refused to accept that what she claimed was impossible.
I don't know where you got the idea that purebred dogs don't bite, but I have been at several shows where dogs were involved in bite incidents. One of my collies was attacked minutes before he walked into the ring... by another collie! A friend who shows corgis in obedience no longer will enter novice at all breed shows. She is tired of having her dog jumped by big dogs.
Recently, a woman was attacked in her own back yard by her award winning show dog, a Great Dane. She died as a result of those injuries. The idea that dogs of mixed or unknown parentage represent some special risk is ludicrous. Dogs are dogs.
People who have dogs that are not physically able to perform the performance exercises will stop showing those dogs. Why waste the money?
Entries at all kinds of dog shows are down substantially. Some can blame it on the economy, but it is more likely that the efforts of the HSUS and PeTA to demonize all breeders as greedy puppy mills has stopped people from getting involved in the sport. By opening up some performance events to mixed breed dogs, the AKC is broadening its base and giving clubs that have been struggling to come up with the funds to continue to exist a new revenue stream and a new source of people to join clubs and help put on events.
There will undoubtedly continue to be people who are threatened by the small number of dogs that will be exhibited at performance events, which is truly a shame. Dogs are dogs and all deserve to have good homes and good training.
