[Shaina]

To continue http://www.dogforums.com/2-general-dog-forum/36023-akc-considering-mix-breed.html?highlight=AKC+ILP...

It's been announced by the AKC that mixed breeds have been accepted for participation into AKC Companion events under limited provisions. These events include agility, obedience and rally.

For complete details on the ruling, go to:

http://images.akc.org/pdf/MixedBreedProgramDetails.pdf

A summary of the provisions:

-- Mixed breeds would be allowed to earn "similar titles. Basically, the same titles for purebred dogs, except the title would be followed by an "M", e.g MACH-M (Master Agility Champion Mixed Breed), OTCH-M, RAE-M.

- Mixed breeds can compete in stand-alone trials, but not specialties, all-breed (conformation) show or group show.

- Mixed breeds are not allowed to participate in tracking or breed specific sports, such as earthdog and lure coursing.

- Mixed breeds can be shown in the same ring and under the same judge as purebred participants, but in a separate class.

- Dogs competing in Mixed Breed classes are not eligible for national championship and invitational events.

- Registration is $35 and is similar to the ILP/PAL program in the UKC.

 

[Keechak]

Finally!!! I've been waiting for this for YEARS. I've known they've been talking about it for a long time

 

[lucyloo2]

I think that's a great idea!! Good for them! I wonder if the CKC will do that too?

 

[digits mama]

 

[Shaina]

More food for thought...

I wonder if, as a result, they will do away with the ILP program? It would allow those dogs to compete without having people trying to pass off their mutts as purebreds.

 

[jesirose]

More food for thought...

I wonder if, as a result, they will do away with the ILP program? It would allow those dogs to compete without having people trying to pass off their mutts as purebreds.

What? That's not fair to get rid of ILP. My dog IS purebred, not a mixed breed, and she's in ILP.

 

[MissMutt]

...YAYYYY

This should make Marge's (hopeful) future show career a little easier, as we don't have too much AMBOR or ASDAA (or whatever it is) stuff here. AKC and UKC are the big two in my club. Yes!!!!!!!

 

[Curbside Prophet]

-- Mixed breeds would be allowed to earn "similar titles. Basically, the same titles for purebred dogs, except the title would be followed by an "M", e.g MACH-M (Master Agility Champion Mixed Breed), OTCH-M, RAE-M.

Why "M" beside the obvious answer?

- Mixed breeds are not allowed to participate in tracking or breed specific sports, such as earthdog and lure coursing.

Why the exclusion?

- Dogs competing in Mixed Breed classes are not eligible for national championship and invitational events.

And if that dog is a proven winner why not?

 

[Shaina]

What? That's not fair to get rid of ILP. My dog IS purebred, not a mixed breed, and she's in ILP.

Even if they did, I would imagine current ILP dogs would be grandfathered in or something. However, if they don't, it should at least make getting an ILP a bit more stringent in terms of how much leeway the board gives an individual about whom they have doubts.

...YAYYYY

This should make Marge's (hopeful) future show career a little easier, as we don't have too much AMBOR or ASDAA (or whatever it is) stuff here. AKC and UKC are the big two in my club. Yes!!!!!!!

I'm glad this will help you and Marge Looking forward to hearing about her performance career!

 

[MissMutt]

I'm glad too Shaina. I don't want to get too ahead of myself, but depending on how well she progresses with Agility (or Rally, if I switch) I know we have some things coming up at the end of the year that might be a possibility. I was originally disappointed to find that they were AKC events, but hopefully my club will be one of the clubs who opt to include a mixed breed ring at the shows.

 

[animalcraker]

Why "M" beside the obvious answer?

To denote that it's a mixed breed. They are competing in a seperate class from the current ones offered for purebreds, likewise it would make sense that the title would be different as well.

Why the exclusion?

Because Lure coursing, earthdog trials, herding, and gundog trials are breed specific events. A great dane is not allowed to compete in an earthdog trial and like wise and Afghan isn't allowed in the herding competion

And if that dog is a proven winner why not?

Keep in mind at the moment clubs are only allowed to offer mixed breed classes at standalone Agility, Rally, or Obedience events. That means any Agility, Rally, or Obedience held in conjunction with a conformation show CAN NOT offer classes for mixed breeds. Keep in mind it's taken many years just to get this far. Perhaps in the future if it becomes a profitable endevor they will open it up more, but at the moment the only planed expansion is to give some AKC discounts and allow access to the AKC website. Rome wasn't built in a day.

I was originally disappointed to find that they were AKC events, but hopefully my club will be one of the clubs who opt to include a mixed breed ring at the shows.

Why were you disappointed to find out they're AKC events?

More food for thought...

I wonder if, as a result, they will do away with the ILP program? It would allow those dogs to compete without having people trying to pass off their mutts as purebreds.

I highly doubt they would get rid of the ILP program. Essentialy it's free money for AKC. They get a registration fee from someone who wouldn't otherwise be able to register (and pay for) thier dog. That person would typicaly then go on to pay entry fees for shows and possibly extra money on certificates and other random AKCc goodies. And shoud they ever have the case where they're unsure if a dog is purebred they can just send a letter saying "sorry your dog wasn't accepted for the ILP program, but you can register him with our mixed breed program for another $35 registration fee"

 

[Keechak]

More food for thought...

I wonder if, as a result, they will do away with the ILP program? It would allow those dogs to compete without having people trying to pass off their mutts as purebreds.

I don't want all of Kechara's CD NA NAJ OA OAJ AX AXJ titles to become CDM NAM NAJM OAM OAJM AXM and AXJM

Since she has been granted an ILP as her breed that makes her an ambassador of her breed.

 

[Curbside Prophet]

To denote that it's a mixed breed. They are competing in a seperate class from the current ones offered for purebreds, likewise it would make sense that the title would be different as well.

So are classes separated by breed? MACH-GSD, MACH-BC, MACH-Basset Hound, etc.?

Because Lure coursing, earthdog trials, herding, and gundog trials are breed specific events. A great dane is not allowed to compete in an earthdog trial and like wise and Afghan isn't allowed in the herding competion

I guess that makes sense, or I may have watched Babe too many times.

Perhaps in the future if it becomes a profitable endevor they will open it up more, but at the moment the only planed expansion is to give some AKC discounts and allow access to the AKC website. Rome wasn't built in a day.

Ah yes, $$$. Forgot about that driving factor.

 

[lovemygreys]

I don't understand the "separate but equal" classification. I don't see any reason for it in agility and other events where the dogs aren't separated in competition by breed. Seems the AKC wants the money from the mixed breed owners, but don't want to "tarnish" their titles by events by sharing them with the mixed breeds. I'd actually be pretty offended by that if I cared a little bit more about what the AKC does. Maybe they can't stand the thought that a mere mixed breed might out-compete their pure breeds.

I can understand limiting participation in breed specific activities....though I know a lure coursing club that now allows mixed sighthound breeds. Dogs still bred for the same function. Of course, some would argue they alread let non-sighthounds compete (basenji, ridgebacks). I can only speak for lure coursing, but the dogs compete against dogs of their own breed, so I'm not sure how that would work if you opened it up to mixed breeds. I guess you could have one mixed breed stake...or separate by size or something.

 

[Shaina]

I don't understand the "separate but equal" classification. I don't see any reason for it in agility and other events where the dogs aren't separated in competition by breed. Seems the AKC wants the money from the mixed breed owners, but don't want to "tarnish" their titles by events by sharing them with the mixed breeds.

That's pretty much the way I took it as well. The reason it took so long was simply because they wanted the revenue that many of the alternate venues were getting as performance dog sports become more popular even with the "out" crowd, but don't want to risk making it harder for purebred dogs to rack up points or to taint the "real" titles. So they compromised...if they pay we'll let them play...over there...

Who knows where it will lead though...maybe in a few more years they will fully merge. I can think of a couple people off hand that would have heart attacks if their purebreds were beaten by a mutt for a title, though.

 

[Independent George]

Because Lure coursing, earthdog trials, herding, and gundog trials are breed specific events. A great dane is not allowed to compete in an earthdog trial and like wise and Afghan isn't allowed in the herding competion

Not to sound like an inquisitive ten-year old, but why are those trials breed-specific in the first place? If someone manages to train an Afghan to herd as well as a BC, I want to see it!

 

[Curbside Prophet]

Not to sound like an inquisitive ten-year old, but why are those trials breed-specific in the first place? If someone manages to train an Afghan to herd as well as a BC, I want to see it!

Form follows function. But I want to see it too.

 

[Keechak]

Not to sound like an inquisitive ten-year old, but why are those trials breed-specific in the first place? If someone manages to train an Afghan to herd as well as a BC, why not let it herd?

Because there is no way to screen the dog before the trial to prove it might be able to do the job. An Afghan is more likly to get killed jumping around crazyly by a cow than a German Shepherd Who already has half the "know how" bred into him, and the AKC just can't be taking chances like that. Not to mention a Aussie can't fit down a Earth dog hole lol.

The General view is that it would be a complete waste of time more often than not, to push a dog to do something that is compleatly aginst it's nature.

 

[lovemygreys]

Not to sound like an inquisitive ten-year old, but why are those trials breed-specific in the first place? If someone manages to train an Afghan to herd as well as a BC, I want to see it!

You will find fun run days open to all breeds. As for "real" field trials...a club is limited by hours in the day, equipment, etc...For lure coursing, you'd need multiple fields to accomodate a larger entry of opening things up to all breeds...or you'd have to limit entries. It would be a shame to shut out sighthound breeds because lure coursing is the true test of their abilities...if you are a breeder, your dogs *should* be out there and able to perform in lure coursing.

I have no problem leaving the breed specific tasks to the breeds that have been developed and specialized to excel in those tasks.

 

[MissMutt]

Why were you disappointed to find out they're AKC events?

Because then we wouldn't be able to enter... this was before I read about the new mixed breed rule.