AKC Frustration

AKC has issues the way any org run as a business does. But the PARENT CLUBS for each breed determine and set the standards. AKC isn't to blame for that...at least.

 The breed clubs set the breed standard.

Solid GSPs can be shown - "Color
The coat may be of solid liver or a combination of liver and white such as liver and white ticked, liver patched and white ticked, or liver roan. A dog with any area of black, red, orange, lemon or tan, or a dog solid white will be disqualified. "

Poodles are a whole 'nuther ball game, and honestly, I'm not quite sure why that breed standard was written the way it is.

 
White boxers are extreme white piebalds- and yes, they ARE prone to deafness (even if the three you've known ae okay- I know quite a few who ARE deaf, althoug most are only unilaterally deaf. The problem with that though, is that unless they're BAER tested, a unilaterally deaf dog geneally *seems* okay- and breeding uni to uni increases your # of deaf (partially or totally) dogs overall. That's what I've been told the raesoning on them is. Additionally, the boxers were a guardian breed- like GSDs, like Dobes- and white was considered not good for a guard dog that works a night.

 
While color *is* sometimes immaterial, I'd rather see a breed club restrict it too closely than end up in the situation some breeds have ended up in, where foreign colors haev been brought in by crossbreeding and claimed as 'rare mutations' or 'it's always been there, people ust didn't want to admit it';). (The primary example of this is the merle in chihuahuas, pomeranians, cockers!)
 

The Terv club just revised the standard and it is done by a vote of the club members... I dont agree with the changes, so I will not purchase another terv if the breeder allows these changes to justify issues I can not live with.  Grey is no longer severely penalized, but red is still preferred.  The issue I have problems with involve change in the bite, both how it sits in the mouth and missing teeth.  Makes me crazy.....

My biggest complaint about the AKC,,,, there is a hidden "bible" of rules and regulations for dog shows (far beyond the booklets commonly provided).  We have been in trouble for things that have never been covered in a seminar nor explained in the manuals... That is a problem in my book.

 I wish they would change the standard for a championship to include health testings,  but they have started issuing the CH health certificates so that is a step in the right direction.  I would also like to see them put more money in on site investigations of high number breeders (commercial places and puppy millers) but doubt that will happen either.

I personally refuse to have anything to do with AKC. I think their promotion of dog beauty pageants has ruined a large number of breeds.

mudpuppy

I personally refuse to have anything to do with AKC. I think their promotion of dog beauty pageants has ruined a large number of breeds.

As it was stated earlier, it's the parent breed clubs who make the breed standard and not the AKC. In Boston Terriers, red/fawn/brown/grey/blue are colors that are disqualified. The reason they are disqualified is because it takes away the expression of the breed and expression is really big in it. Not only that, a lot of Bostons of disqualified colors don't look like Boston Terriers. They look like Boxer mixes. If you're interested, you can read more about it here.