Labradoodles dissed by AKC official

[Ginny Nightingale]

Oh brother--stuff like this makes me angry--how many AKC breeds out there were once "crossbreeds"? Hundreds? How do people think new breeds came along--magic?? In an article about the Westminster dog show, now taking place, they mentioned how many new breeds were being added and ended with this totally bogus paragraph:

"In a few years, there could be up to 240 breeds at Westminster. But there won't be a puggle, labradoodle or Maltipoo among them. A "designer dog" is more than OK for the White House — President Barack Obama and his family considered a labradoodle before getting a Portuguese water dog — but they're absent at the Garden.

To get to Westminster, a breed must meet American Kennel Club criteria — there has to be an ample population with a three-generation pedigree, a geographic spread of those dogs and a parent club to establish breed standards.

"All dogs are lovable," said the AKC's Lisa Peterson. "But a crossbreed is not a breed.""

Geesh!! What are they talking about? There are so many AKC breeds that started out as a mix of established breeds, aren't there?? And Labradoodles certainly have " three generations of pedigrees, a geographic spread and parent clubs with standards!!" WTD!!? 

Actually, I will be very happy if Labradoodles are NEVER recognized by the AKC. I had a Lakeland terrier once and we got involved in dog shows with him (he finished his championship). I saw the dark side of dog shows--Some handlers do some pretty despicable things to dogs to increase their chances of winning....not for me.

[Ginny Nightingale]

Totally agree--as a matter of fact, you brought back a memory--my Lakeland was big for the breed, but under the limit for the standard--he was a "throwback" to the original breed and a few judges were crazy about him--that is because they were "old school"l--the current Lakelands are much smaller and look more like toys than a tough rat chasing dog--mine was 21 pounds-I am betting they are 15 pounds these days.

Think too of all the breeds that have such a large head that they need to deliver pups by C-section EVERY time--now that is just plain crazy!!

[Pat and Traveler]

The AKC and Westminster couldn't come up with a better group name than "Non-Sporting???!!"   My dog will would never join an organization that exhibited such an appalling lack of tact and imagination.  So there.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I am going to remain blissfully ignorant in regards to "purebred" or AKC s definition of a recognized breed. I wouldn't know a price red dog if it fell on me and just think our GDs, LDS and ALDs are just the best. It really doesn't matter in the least what THEY think of our dogs.
One thing I would like to try to understand however, is does anyone know for certain that most show dogs are fed really crappy foods like Pedigree and Iams? I think I read that here somewhere, but is it true and what would the reason be, considering how much the show dog owners have invested in them?
Maybe a previous show dog owner might know this.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think show dogs are fed the same way any other dogs are fed; some get crappy food like Pedigree, some get premium food like orijen, some get homemade food and some are fed fed raw. The first time I ever saw or heard of dogs being given raw meat or bones, it was on the website of a Standard Poodle breeder who breeds show dogs. My last poodle who was from a show breeder ate "specialty kibble", as it was called back in 1990; i.e. premium.

 

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Makes sense.

[Adina P]

Question for you who are in the know.  My understanding is it is the breed clubs that create the standards for their own breeds, NOT AKC.  If that's the case it's not AKC's fault for oddly shaped dogs, it's the breed club...is this correct?

[Ginny Nightingale]

Yes I beleive so and there is an organization that has "standards" for a Labradoodle already--does anyone know which organization it is?

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

Australian Labradoodle Association of America.  There are breed standards for the Labradoodle and the Australian Labradoodle.

[Lorraine Bromley]

It makes you think when the Westminster dog show cancels their partnership with a major pet food brand because their ads focus TOO MUCH on rescues and pounds!!!  With out those ads people won't see the affects of poor breeding and pet stores and there fore far more MUTTS will populate the world.

They are also the slowest to ban things like tail docking and ear cropping, as well as limited the spay and neuter.

There are no perfect organizations there is always a bad segment hidden in there with their own agendas!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm thrilled that they cancelled their affiliation with that brand, because it's absolute garbage. But they did it for the wrong reason.

[Adina P]

Why did they do it?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Because the Pedigree ads promote rescue! There's a link about it earlier in this discussion.