Question of the Week

Peggy Kotin

Boothbay, Maine

I would like to see the AKC focus more on purebred dogs, mandating an open health registry for all breeding stock (e.g., breeders of those animals have a "stamp of approval" of some sort) and the education of breeders — genetic health concerns and testing, bitch reproductive health, puppy raising and selling. Don't breed dogs with known health issues, no matter how much you love them ... selling a puppy doomed to have health issues because of its parents just gives purebred dogs a bad name.  

Also, focus on the education of the public. For example, an "All American Dog" is no healthier or sounder than a purebred dog — it really does depend on the health of its parents. With a purebred dog and an open registry, there should be fewer surprises.

Sandy Shaw

Leesburg, Florida

I am a long-time retired breeder and exhibitor of AKC dogs. The AKC website is frustrating for me to try and navigate. I have no trouble with 99 percent of other websites, but AKC is complicated. I tried to transfer a registration of my dog to include a new owner. Ended up calling them for help, which they tried to do, but when I did exactly what they said to do the site took my money and did nothing to add the included person. I called again and some supervisor said, "Too bad." Then they wanted me to get original signatures from all of us and do it that way, which was next to impossible, so I was out $50 with no results. With Chewy or any other kennel club, like CKC, people are so much nicer and more helpful. I'm 82 years old and maybe not patient enough, but this time I really tried to follow directions and do it right.

In another instance I tried to navigate the site to check on my dog’s points. It's a tricky process. I called a friend for help, and he was able to do it, but then he is a professional handler and 20 years younger than me.

I think they are trying to do too much for everyone on the site, which makes it complicated for the average person. Or maybe it's just me.

You probably won't use this, but it let me vent. 

Alicia Moore

Chesapeake Beach, Maryland

Things I’d like to see:

I’d like our agility courses not to be known as demotivating for fast dogs. I know a lot of people who won’t compete in AKC anymore, and they have a good reason. I wish that reason would go away, and that course requirements would include ways to make the courses flow better. 

I’d like to see more consistent guidelines on how to hold events. The requirements are so different from sport to sport. For instance, there is very little spelled out in the exact requirements of locations for scentwork, but in agility there are exact specs for shape and size of courses and the equipment specs are very detailed, which is what I like.

Use of electronic documentation should be highly encouraged. I get pushback all the time that some people can’t download an electronic form. Well, sorry to say, if you can do that, perhaps you shouldn’t even be driving.

Carolyn Lichty

Duluth, Minnesota

The website is difficult to use for AKC information on shows. It is set up for pet people.

Why not have an index for show-related topics to make it easier to use?

Sylvia Arrowwood

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 

Don't let perfect get in the way of very good. The board at AKC is willing to try out new ideas. If they pan out, great. If not, they have the common sense to pull them. Never forget, we the clubs are the AKC through our delegates, who propose the direction of AKC initiatives.  The AKC is a club of clubs, not individuals. All members of the board are delegates, have one vote and represent a club.

Leighanne Dauro

Huntsville, Alabama

There are two changes that I would love to see instituted by the American Kennel Club for the conformation ring.

1. Altered dogs allowed to complete in all-breed shows for AKC points — Altered dogs (spayed/neutered) be allowed to compete in Veteran classes in all-breed shows, and then allowed to earn points in the Best of Breed ring.

This could be accomplished by allowing the altered veteran to compete for Best of Opposite Sex or Select Dog/Bitch, while not being eligible for BOB.

This would ONLY be for dogs from the Veteran class, age seven-plus. An added requirement could be made that all dogs must be AKC champions of record prior to alteration, if desired.

There are many health benefits to altering dogs when they are no longer viable breeding prospects, and this would allow exhibitors to continue to showcase their excellent veterans and earn points toward advanced titles without compromising BOB or group placements, and responsibly maintain their dog’s health and well-being.

2. Best Opposite Sex points count toward breed statistics — When tabulating statistics for breed, that the BOS winner be given at least one point in this category (or more).

Many excellent bitches are left out of the breed statistics because of prevalent male bias, but this would also benefit males that win BOS as they campaign.

As a breeder-owner campaigning a bitch special, it is frustrating to see all those BOS numbers thrown away when calculating breed statistics, and it is not a completely accurate reflection of breed wins.

Patrick Byrne 

Kansas City, Kansas

I have been an active AKC member for decades, holding offices in all-breed and breed clubs, breeding and exhibiting with a long list of champions. I started judging some time ago, and have judged specialty, national and many all-breed events.

Unfortunately I feel that adding additional breeds has become cost prohibitive, the required travel involved being a primary factor. 

I would like to see an AKC in-person college course in a permanent location that would involve a week of in-depth classes, boarding and subsequent certification, rather than running all over the country.