AKC and Mixed Breed dogs - What do you think?

I have no problem with mixed breeds competing in generic (all breed) performance events, especially since they are required to be sexually altered in order to be eligible.

I do not feel threatened by them, I believe in the superiority of the *well-bred* purebred.

I think it's an excellent opportunity to do the following:

1) Encourage more dog owners to train their dogs to advanced levels. This benefits the owner, because their dog is better behaved. It benefits the dog, because behavior problems are the NUMBER ONE REASON THAT DOGS ARE GIVEN UP OR PUT DOWN. It also helps the dog and owner to form a closer bond. It benefits dog owners in general, because well-trained dogs and responsible owners reflect well on all of us.

2) Expose more dog owners to the world of purebred dogs, especially when the trials are held in conjunction with conformation shows. Many owners are "bitten by the bug" to get seriously into dogs after training and trialling their first dogs. Even though they love their current dog, they see that they can do better when obtaining their next one. The more people that are involved in the sport of purebred dogs, the better. Our entries have been declining, in all venues. We need new blood.

3) Educate more owners on responsible dog ownership, and responsible breeding. Especially with the AR groups and anti-dog/anti breeder legislation causing us grief, the larger the percentage of RESPONSIBLE, INFORMED, INVOLVED owners and breeders, the better.

EDIT: Jen, your club is pretty lucky to have that concern. Lots of clubs around here are losing entries at an alarming rate. Many all-breed shows are no longer holding trials, because it just isn't worth it to hire a judge for the few dogs that enter obedience.

No, you cannot register a mixed breed dog with AKC.... nor can you compete in any performance or conformation events. Limited Registration is for PUREBRED dogs that the breeder does not want shown in conformation nor bred. It does not apply to mixed breed dogs. An ILP# is for dogs of purebred heritage, that for whatever reason do not have "papers"...ie rescue, shelter dog, etc...but it has to be proven and then approved by AKC that the dog is the breed you are claiming. The AKC is about promoting and preserving the purebred dog. And that involves competitions of all types. There are other organizations out there where you can obtain agility and obedience titles with a mixed breed dog. There was an "informal" survey done several months ago by AKC concerning the "possibility" of giving all breed clubs and obedience clubs the option of allowing mixed breeds to compete in performance events... And that's all I'm going to say regarding that issue. ETA: Animal Artwork said what I was "trying" to say about the ILP...had a senior moment! LOL ETA#2: Ok, you little thumbs down fairies, notice the asker was asking about LIMITED REGISTRATION, NOT THE ILP PROGRAM.....they are TOTALLY DIFFERENT!

First, just because a dog has AKC papers doesn't mean it is a well bred dog. Pet shop puppies come from puppymills and many have AKC papers.

Good breeders show their dogs and breed only to enhance the breed. Puppies that do not fit the standard are sold as pet or sometimes performance dogs. They are well bred puppies, they just have faults for the show ring. These puppies are sold with spay/neuter contracts.

I have two such puppies (from a good breeder) and have trained and shown them in AKC agility. One has her first MACH and is working on her second! I also have a rescue who has an ILP, he too competes in agility and is very talented.

I have no problem with non-registered dogs (mixed breeds) competing in performance events. We also compete in USDAA which does not have restrictions. As long as the mixed breed is spayed/neutered, I say, the more the merrier! Trials will fill more quickly, but with that, perhaps clubs will sponsor more trials.

I play a game with my dogs and I love it. Everyone should be able to do the same.

I see no problem in it, its a great way to teach all dog owners responsible ownership, like spay/neutering. It is also a great way to get kids involved in training,obedience, agility etc. This knowledge will go with them for the rest of their life. It will be confusing to some since the average person has no idea what the AKC is or what it stands for.

I hope they will work hard with shelters, trainers and breed rescues to get the word out. It would make it more appealing to adopt a dog and strive to get it trained.

As far as breed clubs I think the mixed breeds will form their own clubs with standards for the dogs function, since they will not be eligible for conformation. As far as competition, all the clubs that host events, need to get of their high horse and except the facts that responsible ownership, trainings and performance competitions are for all dogs.

I really think having an agility class for mixed breeds can be a good thing. Some of those agility training places are really uptight about the dogs they allow to train. I sought out training for my two German Shepherds, both were registered with champion bloodlines. Toby, my male was a long coated shepherd and they wouldn't allow him to participate. They were more than anxious to help me train my female Joy, who has a regular coat, but because we couldn't train both, we decided not to join.

Any dog that has an owner willing and ready to take a dog to do something fun like that should be allowed to, no matter what kind of dog it is.

~ For a lot of people there isn't another one right down the road. We lived in a remote area and had to drive about 1 1/2 hours to the nearest one.

I don't mind it in the least

I have raised trained and shown Australian Shepherds in AKC and ASCA for the past 14 years.

It will defiantly bring in more money for the AKC in a time when they are hurting financially.

It may allow more show people to adopt a dog from a shelter without having to worry about having to get an ILP on it.

I think the different title thing is completely unneeded. And I would not mind a mutt beating my purebred in Obedience, may the best dog win I say.

It may also bring in more people who up until this point hated the AKC, because it was viewed as a "mutt hating" club.

AKC is last again in Catching up with the reality, there are more Mixes than pure breeds in USA.

American Mixed Breed Obedience Registry holds obedience trials and offers Agility titles through Nadac.

Mixed breeds have long been welcomed in United Kennel Club for Obedience, Agility and now rally. APDT (American pet dog trainers) hold rally trials too. United States Dog Agility Organization, North American Dog Agility Council, Teacup Dog Agility and Canine Performance Events all welcome mixed breeds.

AMS

Proud to have owned & loved Hollie-Ester a wonderful dog who was unique to this world!

I lean a little more toward NOT allowing this change.

On the one hand it could be a good thing, for all the reasons already stated, getting mixed breed owners more involved in events with their dogs, more opportunities to educate, and we have to face it, more revenue for AKC.

On the other hand, I think it sets a dangerous precedent to open up ALL AKC events to mixed breeds. The AKC mission statement is to promote the PURE BRED dog, is this going to lead to classes for 'doodles and buggles and such in conformation?

Will it give the breeders of mutts conFIRmation that it's okay to breed and sell these mutts?

Will the events they open up to mutts have any kind of restriction on them? Like, can only come from a shelter? I doubt it.

Then there is the danger of giving animal rights terrorists more ammo to use against "us"? They will be able to say things like "look, you can now compete in AKC events with your shelter mutt, more reason not to buy while shelter animals die". We (breeders of pure breds) all know how ARTs have managed to divide us even amongst ourselves, where will it end? Sticky topic. I think it would be better if the AKC just stuck to their original mission statement, we all know this is a play for more revenue, which could be found in other places, like cutting officers' salaries from the hundreds of thousands to tens of thousands, like the rest of us make & moving the main offices from Madison Ave. back to Raleigh North Carolina.

The mixed breeds will not be competing against pure bred dogs. They will have there own classes after the pure bred dog classes have finished. It will be mixed breed vs. mixed breed. Personally i think its a great idea. I know plenty of mixed breeds that have been working hard and are really good.

They have to be altered to show anyways so thats also a plus.

Personally, I think this is awesome! Mixed breeds should be allowed to compete in agility, rally, etc. I have purebreds who are AKC registered and don't mind a bit that there is a new mixed breed category - the more the merrier!