subject: AKC Finally Recognizes That Mutts are Great [print this page] AKC Finally Recognizes That Mutts are Great
In spring of 2010, the American Kennel Club (AKC for short) opened up competitions to unpedigreed dogs. The AKC has been around for 125 years, and never before has a mutt been allowed to compete in any of the AKC's competitions. Rescue dogs were left home with puppy pads while their purebed doggy roommates ran the agility courses.
The change occurred after years of debate and harsh criticism of the AKC by mutt owners who longed for an opportunity to experience the exhilaration of competition. A dog doesn't have to be a purebred to be agile, and mutts have a reputation for being loyal and following commands. They don't want to be left home with puppy pads to wait. For years, mutt owners have jested that the AKC excluded them out of fear that the mutts will show up the purebreds. The AKC finally allowed the addition of unpedigreed dogs because the number of entrants in agility and behavior competitions was on a steady decline. Allowing mutts works to keep the competitions full and helps the AKC's reputation.
The American Kennel Club now lists mutts in a category all their own called the "All American" category. They are not allowed to compete in the beauty competitions because mutts do not have breed standards by which to be judged. This certainly puts them at a disadvantage when it comes to winning the "Best in Show" title. But the All Americans are enjoying the ability to compete in agility and behavior competitions, and are blowing their competitors away.
Other dog competitions do exist that are not AKC affiliated and have always allowed mutts. Some of them were even created specifically to provide a place where unpedigreed dogs and their owners can enjoy the sport of dog agility competitions. Many of these organizations' events are said to be more relaxed with an emphasis on fun and the dogs' wellbeing. Many who compete in these groups are not yet ready to join in AKC competitions because years of being turned away had left them with a bad taste for the purebred world.
But for many mutt owners, there just hasn't been access to dog competitions other than AKC events. They've been left to practice alone, dreaming of a day when mutts would be welcomed into the world of dog sporting events. Because so many dog shows are AKC events, the creation of the All American breed category and entrance into competitions makes many more events accessible to many more people. While the competitions haven't yet been flooded with mutts dying to run courses and prove their obedience, word is getting around. The AKC is likely to find that allowing the All Americans to compete improves the club and the competitions without belittling them.
