After 125 years, American Kennel Club opens competitions to mutts

[stevedeshazer]

Scene: the Mattaponi Kennel Club dog show in Manassas.

Enter the purebreds: the buttery yellow Labradors and the lusciously springy spaniels, and the sly border collies, whose owners plaster their cars with bumper stickers reading "My Border Collie is smarter than your honor student." Enter the sleek viszlas and the aloof Belgian Malinois, a whole team of them, with show names like Tri Sort's Closer to the Heart.

Enter Otis.

Otis is eating a cow hoof. When he is finished, he might beg his owner, with low gentle moans, for a piece of string cheese -- Otis will do anything for string cheese -- or he might lick his rear end. Otis is brown(ish) and fluffy(ish) and weighs about 65 pounds. Otis is the result of an illicit tryst between a purebred husky and a rakish Lab-chow neighbor dog.

Mutt lovers, rise. It is a historic spring for all of your shelter dogs, mixes, halfsies and whatsits.

For the first time in the 125-year history of the American Kennel Club -- the venerable organization whose mission is to "advance the study, breeding, exhibiting, running and maintenance of purebred dogs" -- mutts are being allowed to compete alongside the champion bloodlines.

more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/23/AR2010052304199.html?hpid=artslot

[Warpy]

1. Good, overbreeding has managed to damage most breeds

to the point that too many puppies are being culled for serious health issues. This is wrong.

If I ever get a dog, it's going to be a mid sized mutt. They're smarter and in generally better overall health with more even temperaments.

When people ask what he is, I'll just say "dog."

[Dappleganger]

5. They're now called 'designer pets'.

And backyard breeders are making a killing off of them.

IMO they should be featuring rescued dogs so they'll encourage responsible adoption instead of the quick Craigslist buck.

[intheflow]

2. Cool! Can I enter my Bearba pup?

He's sure to win as long as there are squirrels to point at! :rofl:

[xchrom]

3. He can point at the judges. He's gorgeous. Nt

[livetohike]

8. He's beautiful!

:hi:

[CBR]

9. what a cutie!! nt

[Dappleganger]

4. It's for skills-based competition only and

IMO this will continue to encourage backyard breeders to produce for Craigslist based upon whatever breed(s) finish best.

[pipoman]

6. Now that AKC has effectively destroyed

several breeds with their nutty physical preferences, they have a plan to wipe out the mongrels? I think it is about lowering the lifespan of all dogs and that means more akc registration money. Maybe they are going to begin registering cross breeds for the fees...

[Heywood J]

7. How many people in this day and age still care about the AKC

or what it says/thinks? Sure, some people do, but most people are busier trying to feed themselves and Spot. The AKC has also promoted hideous inbreeding that results in heart defects, hip disease, and other nasty traits. Congratulations on making one of nature's strongest creations defective and their lives miserable with disease, for money!