Do you support the akc?

I don't have any major issues with them but they do not allow me to register my dog becuase of her breed American Pit Bull Terrier. They denounce her breed so she us registered with the UKC. The AKC does recognize Staffordshire Terriers which is a relative of my girl but she isnt classified as one. I know that they are a very respected association and I think more dogs are registered with them then any other kennel club but I could be wrong. There are tons of kennel clubs for you to join regionally and by breed. Try a search!

I bought a "lunker" style toy once. The tube kind with a rope on the end. It was fabric, indoor play kind. It lasted a while, but the stuffing was weird. Not just the regular fluffy poly fill stuff. Hard to explain but kind of like the extras/trimmings from the fabric/material that they make stuffies out of. Like felt with circles cut out, etc.

At first I thought it was kind of neat that they would "recycle" their stuff, but then it got me to thinking. Some pieces were long and stringy, I thought for some dogs it could be a choking hazard, or maybe if consumed they could get twisted in the intestines. Also, the fabric of the toy itself was lined with some sort of rubber, which easily peeled off in little chunks.

But that's just my "mommy" mind thinking of the extremes. [&:]

I guess so.  I belong to two AKC breed clubs and an all breed AKC kennel club.  I have been the chair of herding and obedience events for multiple years.  I have had AKC registered dogs since 1977.  I have competed in AKC events since 1978.  And I often do not agree with their policies[]

I support the AKC. I am a member of an AKC all breed club and show my dogs in AKC sanctioned agility trials. I also show in USDAA agility trials as well. I never knew they sold toys though....may have to check it out []

edited to add: I currently do not have any AKC registered dogs, Dasher is registered with the JRTCA and only has an ILP from the AKC in order to do agility

I was wandering if you supported the ACK. Well do you?

 
No.  I do not.  I think that the AKC is good for many breeds, but there are a few working breeds that it is NOT so good for, and particularly not for the Border Collie. I would not obtain or keep an AKC registered Border Collie, but instead have Border Collies which are registered with the ABCA (the American Border Collie Association, the working registry for BC's).  I might consider a companion dog or a pet that was AKC registered... but fwiw when I get ready for another companion or pet, there are plenty of wonderful rescue dogs available. 

Well, sure I like the AKC. For one thing, my 3 favorite breeds of dogs are in the top 5 ( I think, last I checked). lol I know that doesn't really have anything to do with it though.[]

I've wondered why the Australian Shepherd is not recognized by the AKC though? I would think they are 'popular' enough and I like them.
I'd probably have to agree though, that a lot of  dogs that are being bred for the show ring; the emphasis is put on how they look, the dog's confirmation and everything, and not neccesarily the dog's working ability. In other words, they are breeding the brains out of the dogs.

That's not always the case. I think the obedience trials and shows through AKC are a good thing though, where they focus on the dogs' ability more than their looks!

The Australian Shepherd *is* recognized by the AKC.
[linkhttp://www.akc.org/breeds/australian_shepherd/index.cfm]http://www.akc.org/breeds/australian_shepherd/index.cfm[/link]

I hope that "my" breed is never anywhere near the AKC's top 5. Popularity screws breeds completely over.

Wow! Where in the world have I been? Since 1993? Hmm.....maybe I was thinking about something else. Sorry!

Anyway, yeah, I guess that being a popular breed would make for more poorly bred dogs. Like the Lab. Being #1 ( the most dogs registered with the AKC, anyway) there are so many Lab mixes, in shelters and stuff. A lot of dogs are mixed with Labs, it seems.

ORIGINAL: Frazer

I got a toy made by the AKC and Frazer wore out the squeaker in the first night. Also the head ripped off really quickly. It's pretty durable but I was wandering if you supported the ACK. Well do you?

You guys, did you read the original post?

The AKC doesn't make toys! It's a dog breed registry. I don't know what the AKC stands for on the toy, but for nearly everyone else it stands for American Kennel Club.

Cheap toys are cheap toys, I guess. Some dogs go through toys faster than others.

Actually these toys are AKC,  Full use of logo and language.  The AKC most likely has a contract to have these made, but it is the AKC.  And they aren't inexpensive as toys go, mid to upper price range.  Believe me, AKC would be screaming if someone else was infringing on their copyrighted symbols.

but they do not allow me to register my dog becuase of her breed American Pit Bull Terrier. They denounce her breed so she us registered with the UKC

Actually, AKC did recognize the APBT and opened their books to breeders who wanted to exhibit their dogs instead of fighting them. W.T Brandon worked very hard on the standard for the AKC. Many APBT's are duel registered AKC/UKC and many are just single registered AKC but if you traced their pedigrees back they are of common dogs who were APBT's. Over the years the name has changed as well as the look and temperament of the dogs.
 
Now do I support the AKC?
I register my dogs through the AKC, I participate in AKC events. I am less then happy with many things happening in the AKC regarding the support of the dog fancy and the stand they are taking on many issues. recently I have found another organization where I will be exhibiting my dogs

No. I do not. I think that the AKC is good for many breeds, but there are a few working breeds that it is NOT so good for, and particularly not for the Border Collie. I would not obtain or keep an AKC registered Border Collie, but instead have Border Collies which are registered with the ABCA (the American Border Collie Association, the working registry for BC's). I might consider a companion dog or a pet that was AKC registered... but fwiw when I get ready for another companion or pet, there are plenty of wonderful rescue dogs available.

It's a sad thing. Will always fight to NOT let the E.S. become AKC. Makes me shudder.

Sounds like a good move, Jamie!

Target is one of the stores that carries the AKC toys. They are expensive and I avoid them.

I'm firmly anti-AKC. I think their lax policies on registering dogs and their strong promotion of conformation shows, with little emphasis on performance, trainability, and temperament, has destroyed the health of most dog breeds. They could easily change their policies on registration of dogs and correct these problems, but then they would lose all those registration fees.

It's a sad thing. Will always fight to NOT let the E.S. become AKC. Makes me shudder.

AMEN. Unfortunately the working registries don't hold the same clout and financial power that a large organization such as the AKC does. Makes it very difficult for the small guys to win.

I wasn't involved in Border Collies when the AKC decided to recognize them, but by and large the working BC people fought hand, tooth, and nail trying to avoid that very thing. We still are very much fighting it! It has been very bad for the breed, and the conformation breeding of BC's (as someone else has mentioned) has evolved into a branch of dogs that are very little like the actual Border Collie. The very good news is that there still is quite the standing of working folk that continue to breed true to the working Border Collie. It really upsets me to see what breeding for a certain "look" has done for many of the breeds that USED TO BE working dogs. They have lost all but the barest instinct to work, and we are fighting hard to NEVER see that happen to the Border Collie. The BCish dogs they are putting up in the shows bear little resemblance to actual Border Collies, and many of us hope for a breed split. I think last statistic I saw, though, was something like 95% of BC's are registered with the ABCA, leaving a very small # of AKC reg'd Border Collies.

Actually its not completely the organization itself that I oppose, it is the conformation breeding and showing of working dogs (any working dogs for that matter, although the BC is near and dear to my heart). I personally couldn't care less how my BC looks. I DO however care about her livestock working ability, and her working heritage. The reason why this matters is this. When you SELECTIVELY breed for certain traits, then by and large it is those certain traits that you get. When one SELECTIVELY breeds for a certain look, what happens to that dog's working ability?? Bye bye. If you selectively breed for livestock working ability, then that is what you stand the best chance of getting.

Sad thing is that so MANY of the breeds originally had a working purpose, and all but handfulls who retained their abilities now have no original instinct/ability left. Very very sad.

Like Mudpuppy, I also disagree with what's happening health-wise in these breedings, even with the non-working bred breeds of dogs.

*shudders*