HOW I SEE IT , CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 don ’ t even want to know the total dollar amount of those registrations . But if I wanted to know today how many Irish Wolfhounds were registered in 2015 , dogs and litters , would I be able to get that information ? Is that information available to my Parent Club on request ? I wonder .
What About DNA and AI ?
I wonder why we refuse to require DNA on all sires and dams in our registry . Virtually every breeder I know supports such a program , and almost all livestock registries have that requirement . We have nothing to verify without question the accuracy of our registry , and we certify our pedigrees with no proof of that accuracy in most cases . The sale of certified pedigrees and online research pedigrees produces considerable revenue for the AKC , so why wouldn ’ t we want to assure the purchasers of their accuracy to the greatest degree possible ? No system is perfect , but shouldn ’ t we always pursue perfection and , most importantly , show that we are doing so ? This is brand improvement at its best .
And why is it possible to circumvent the rules of registration when registering online as opposed to on paper ? Litters are registered online without the permission or sometimes even the knowledge of co-breeders . In 2003 , the AKC board approved a change in the rules by calling it a policy regarding co-owned dams . It eliminated the necessity of all co-owners of a dam to sign the registration form : “ The owner submitting the application is required to have written permission of all the co-owners of the dam and be able to support the permission to the AKC upon request .”
Of course , the paper application form clearly states that it is “ to be completed and signed by all owners or lessees of dam on date of birth .” And if the dam has more than two owners , another form , the Additional Signature Form , must be completed . Registering litters online without the signature of all owners of the dam circumvents rules that have been in place for a very long time . Furthermore , this is a case of a board policy overriding a rule . But most importantly , if the AKC investigates a breeder in a registration issue , that breeder is required to produce records of all puppies bred by that breeder and sired by that breeder ’ s dog ( s ). That is impossible if all breeding activity is not known and verified by signature .
Of some interest is that litters produced by artificial insemination , whether it is by the use of fresh , fresh extended or frozen semen , require the completion of another form designed specifically for such artificially produced litters . In today ’ s
No system is perfect , but shouldn ’ t we always pursue perfection and ... show that we are doing so ?
breeding world , when so many litters are produced by AI , I wonder how many breeders actually admit to the procedure and use this form .
What Are Parent Clubs Prepared to Do ?
I wonder what Parent Clubs are prepared to do about the many things affecting their breeds . Some have mandated DNA on all of their specialty entries , and we should all applaud that . But do they care about the judges approval process ? Are they participating in that approval , especially demanding input on breed tests ? Or have the majority of the Parent Clubs and their members given up on all-breed shows and judges completely , relying entirely on breeder-judges ? This is an unhealthy attitude because a balanced opinion of breeder-judges and non-breeder-judges keeps a breed healthy in structure , soundness and type .
What Is Our Future ?
I wonder who is going to produce the dogs entered at our shows in the near future . Registrations and dog shows go together , and hobby show breeders produce most of the dogs shown in conformation . Many of these breeders have stopped exhibiting at all-breed shows , and when that happens , the quality of dogs exhibited at all-breed shows declines , and consequently the standard is lowered . But most of us breed dogs because we like to compete and we like affirmation of the good job we are doing . Breeding is hard work . It is expensive and time-consuming and often heartbreaking . And if breeders are not rewarded for that work , why would they continue to do it ?
There ’ s one thing that I don ’ t wonder about , even though I did years ago when I wrote , “ Do we want more champions or good champions ? Do we want more breeders or excellent breeders ? Do we want more awards or meaningful awards ?” I asked in a hopeful spirit because all of us want a successful AKC , responsive to our needs , honorable in its intentions , poised to carry the sport of breeding and showing dogs into the future . But sadly the answer is not a hopeful one . We want more of everything — registrations , awards , entries , judges and income — regardless of the quality .
In a new biography of Tony Bennett , the singer said , “ My mother taught me the most important lesson of my life : Quality lasts .” It worked for Mr . Bennett , who just turned 90 , remaining relevant to music lovers , producing and selling records , most recently with Lady Gaga . Bennett ’ s career has been relevant for more than six decades . How long will we remain relevant ? DIR
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