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.

[F, Calla & Luca]

We've talked about "matching" on DK. We don't miss a trick.

[Adina P]

If "matching" is the reason, it's really not a 'bad' reason -- makes perfect sense to be sure they don't poop in the ring and it seems to me that done correctly you can use it to teach a dog to go on command, predictably...ALONG WITH set meal times, etc.  It's not poison or harmful.

[Ginny Nightingale]

actually, I was referring to the use of laxatives.....enough said.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Love "Best in show"!

[Adina P]

I'm no AKC cheerleader, and to my knowledge the labradoodle breed clubs have no aspirations to join the AKC so it doesn't matter.  BUT--to me it didn't seem like that much of a diss.  I think when most people think of the labradoodle they think of the 50/50 lab-poodle cross. Same with puggle and maltipoos.  They think of a the F1 generation.  In that case what AKC said is true.  A 50/50 lab cross (or any cross that is still a cross) is not a breed and thus as such can't be a member of a club for pure breed dogs.  A 50/50 labradoodle doesn't have a pedigree complete with 3 other 50/50 labradoodles in the past 3 generations--it can not.  The main labradoodles that can claim nothing but labradoodles 3 generations back are ALD's usually--but that's not the same as the labradoodle the lay person thinks of.  Labradoodle does not mean one specific thing and as such it's more of a catch all term than a very tight description.  I for one prefer the F1 labradoodle and I'm not offended that it can't be included in a pure breed club.  It's not a pure breed. 

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

Don't you mean "CabbaDog"  Adina?....lol

[Ginny Nightingale]

Good points Adina--you are totally correct about how they are seeing a typical LD, but two of my labradoodles ARE three or even four generations and they are american except for one ALD parent. But, I agree also that the F1 LD is a great thing! My F1 os the BEST!!

And I want the AKC to stay as far away as possible and hope that the ALDs never get recognized also--there is too much variety and I say "Viva la Difference"!! But as I was watching Westminster last night, they introduced the Silky terrier and mentioned how it was a CROSS between a Yorkshire terrier and another terrier (way back a  hundred years ago, but still, all of these breeds started someplace. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Ginny, it simply isn't true that all breeds started by somone mixing two or more established breeds, or any kind of human intervention at all. Think about wild birds; there are hundreds of different varieties, and nobody "created" them. They simply evolved. The same is true of recognized dog breeds. Yes, there are some breeds that were developed by humans, over many many years; and on average, it takes 50-75 years of very carefully monitored breeding to get a new variety to "breed true", i.e. consistency. But the vast majority of recognized breeds evolved on their own without human intervention.

This is not to defend certain despicable practices by some (by no means all) show breeders, but every time I see one of these discussions, people seem to be under the impression that most AKC recognized breeds were created by humans, and that is just not true.

I don't understand why anyone cares if labradoodles are "recognized" by the AKC. What's the advantage to that?

There are excellent show breeders and lousy show breeders, just like there are excellent labradoodle breeders and lousy labradoodle breeders. It doesn't help the image of our dogs for people to be bashing purebred breeders.

Our dogs ancestors were purebreds, too.

 

[Cindy M, Zachary & the Frenchies]

I also did not see it as much of an insult. I really like purebred dogs.I have 3 of them and they are not better or worse than Zach - the four of them are wonderful dogs. The frenchies have a set of  characteristic that are specific to their breed that make them great companions, and I can reliably tell someone who is considering getting a French bulldog what to expect.  I think the ability to create or to capitalize on dogs ability to work with people, herding, guarding, hunting, and so one is one of the reasons that dogs have become such an integral part of our psyche. While I don't think that dog shows are necessarily the best place to see these traits in action, many show dogs. as the representative of their breed, have multiple titles and also compete in areas that show their ability to track and herd. Labradoodles are not a breed and AKC show events are for purebred dogs. I may be incorrect, but to be accepted as a breed, I believe that a dog must contain at least 3 breeds in its background, have a closed stud book (I think that is the correct term) and be at the stage in the breed's development that the only way to get that breed is to breed one to the other, (no F1's or F2s, F1bs), with three generations behind them. From that perspective, the ALDs are probably closer, and I believe that that is or was a goal.

[Ginny Nightingale]

absolutely--well said. I guess I took it all too personally and was not objective!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

FYI, Mister, Ned is a 7th generation labradoodle!   Some people are  snobs.  The only consistancy I would like to see in the 'breed' is a beautiful, non-shedding, non-matting coat that grooms itself!  :-}    Actually, I don't care if doodles ever become an established breed.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Actually I have heard from a very reputable breeder of ALDs that the ALD may "someday" be accepted by the AKC - at least that is the goal of some of the ALC clubs and they are following the path layed out by the AKC to accomplish just that - but it will take many many years.  Just putting it out there, I have no first hand knowledge myself nor do I give a doodle's butt - lol.  Nothing that would interest me.