The AKC has really branched out recently - if you check out their web page they are really updated in keeping studbook records, accepting all breeds/mutts in all non-conformation events (and calling them conformation events - which is equivalent to 'beauty show'). I used to have quite a similar attitude as to what you expressed here, but having been running in the high level dog show circuit over the last few years (as a vendor), I am impressed by the working breed people. Almost all the people at the Siberian Husky nationals worked their dogs. Skijoring, dogsledding, all sorts of outdoor events. They really cared about the breed and yes, the beauty - but a beauty born of purpose and necessity as well as 'looks'. I do agree there is a general bias against the working dogs as being 'homely' - general fanciers care more about the poodle than the average flock guardian - however, that too makes sense. Poodles have been bred more exclusively for looks in the show circuit intensively (taken further from their roots - most pet poodle owners or the few who have them for hunting keep them in a kennel clip and never participate in confirmation) - so the more attention = more dogs = more dogs bred for looks = better chance of finding dogs SO close to the breed standard they beat out others consistently. Of course there is also politics... but you are more likely to see a cocker spaniel, poodle, or peke win a dog show than a border collie. However, AKC is doing a lot of good! They put a ton of money into education, medical research, and public contact - they are really moving in that direction. I've been quite impressed by the organization over time! Also, conformation is only one face of the AKC - they run and host tons of agility, rally, obedience, hunting, herding, and other trials. Many more so than the conformation events combined. At the high school prom no one votes the homely working girl princess and the dog show world is no different. ;) But there are plenty of people who see past it - and to use that metaphor, the AKC is more like a high school than a prom committee. :)
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Date: 2011-02-15 10:56 pm (UTC)I do agree there is a general bias against the working dogs as being 'homely' - general fanciers care more about the poodle than the average flock guardian - however, that too makes sense. Poodles have been bred more exclusively for looks in the show circuit intensively (taken further from their roots - most pet poodle owners or the few who have them for hunting keep them in a kennel clip and never participate in confirmation) - so the more attention = more dogs = more dogs bred for looks = better chance of finding dogs SO close to the breed standard they beat out others consistently. Of course there is also politics... but you are more likely to see a cocker spaniel, poodle, or peke win a dog show than a border collie.
However, AKC is doing a lot of good! They put a ton of money into education, medical research, and public contact - they are really moving in that direction. I've been quite impressed by the organization over time!
Also, conformation is only one face of the AKC - they run and host tons of agility, rally, obedience, hunting, herding, and other trials. Many more so than the conformation events combined.
At the high school prom no one votes the homely working girl princess and the dog show world is no different. ;) But there are plenty of people who see past it - and to use that metaphor, the AKC is more like a high school than a prom committee. :)