Comments on: Your Labradoodle welcome here … kinda

By: Lis

Lis — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 17:08:01 +0000

Deanna, in agility and obedience, dogs compete against dogs of other breeds all the time—so obviously it’s not their qualities as representatives of particular breeds that’s being judged. It’s their specific accomplishments that’s being judged—and if a purebred isn’t the best dog on that particular day, why should the purebred not lose out to a mix or ILP/PAL dog who is? What grounds for “resentment” is there, except a feeling of entitlement based on Who, rather than what, the dog is?

If the purebreds are genuinely better, in a practical sense, they’ll win. If they’re “better” only in the sense of being more worthy because they have the right bloodlines—sorry, that’s not an attitude I can take seriously.

(Pedigree matters in conformation events because it’s all about judging breeding stock for the purpose of perpetuating specific breeds. That’s quite a bit different from performance events where specific breed is not relevant, and many of the dogs competing are speutered anyway.)

By: katie

katie — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 22:32:24 +0000

>And when they keep a pedigreed purebred out of the competition, there are bound to be disgruntlement.

But why? What makes the pedigreed purebred more worthy of winning, if they’re not the better dog on that day?

The idea of mixed breeds and non-AKC breeds (which is my case) as Lesser Beings makes me terribly sad. They’re all *dogs* after all.

By: The OTHER Pat

The OTHER Pat — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 21:00:22 +0000

Deanna, are you talking about Performance events (Obedience, Agility, etc.)? If so, why do you object to mixed breed dogs going “nose to nose” against purebreds in these events?

By: Deanna

Deanna — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 20:07:24 +0000

I only think that mix-breeds should be able to compete at the AKC Nationals if they are in a mix-breed class. And all ILP/PAL dogs need to go in those classes too. I’ve seen some pretty poor excuses for a purebred (IOW, obviously a mix to anyone who knows the breed) ILP’d and competing against purebreds. And when they keep a pedigreed purebred out of the competition, there are bound to be disgruntlement.

That said, the AKC just can’t seem to get out their own way, can they?

By: Luisa

Luisa — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 17:43:29 +0000

The last defendant has been sentenced, and the Vick dogs are now meeting the public. I’m so happy for them, I could plotz. Photos, videos, etc., all over the intarwebs. I’ll be updating my blog with Vick dog info all weekend, from the looks of things. God bless Bad Rap.

By: nancy

nancy — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:44:03 +0000

Good one H I wished I hadn’t been drinking coke when I read it! (dribble dribble dribble!)
When I take my rescue BC x on AKC hallowed grounds to watch agility, people always ask me where i got my Canaan dog. More than a few times I was tempted to get her an ILP…As a Canaan Dog! The reason? There are AKC events in maine and I don’t want to travel much.
If she could be an all american and be seperate but almost equal?
NO FREAKIN WAY!
I have mixed race kids and that really rubs me the wrong way.
this is why my pure bred collie is not yet registered!
Nancy

By: H. Houlahan

H. Houlahan — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:36:07 +0000

Putting aside the second-class-canine-good-citizen status, and separate-but-equal drinking fountain approach, and the Negro Leagues for performance mutts (No World Series for you, Jasper, don’t wanna show up the poodles), and the we-must-control-all-things-dog-or-trade-in-the-Lexus-for-a-Chevy imperative …

Can you imagine what would go on in a “fun” online forum moderated by the minions of 51 Madison Avenue?

What is there to talk about that wouldn’t offend them?

Seeing how fast and savagely they shut down their internal critics in the old analog AKC, I’ve got a pretty clear image of what would pass as “approved” speech in the online mongrel ghetto.

I’ve always encouraged the owners of mutts, non-AKC breeds, and AKC-registered dogs to *all* patronize any available open-to-all sports venues, such as USDAA agility.

If a person is *really* competitive, shouldn’t he or she want to test any dog’s mettle against an open and level field of other competitors? May the best dog win!

By: kabbage

kabbage — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:29:36 +0000

Your brainy boy is welcome in ASCA agility and obedience. He cannot compete at the ASCA Nationals since only ASCA-registered Aussies are eligible for that (even AKC-only-registered Aussies cannot play at ASCA Nationals).

Of course you know he can play in NADAC, USDAA, CPE agility and APDT Rally O and MBDA events, too.

AKC is a trip in tonedeafness. Even the way they handle their ILPs is tacky. Take the money, send a plain-paper note back with the ILP number. Hey, no charge to change ownership on the dog (as opposed to fees to change ownership on a dog with full registration). ASCA treated me a lot better when I got an LEP (Limited Exhibition Privilege, similar to ILP) for my shelter-rescue Aussie. Certificate looks similar to full registration certificate and eligible for everything except conformation and Nationals Most Versatile Aussie competition.