Say what you want about the AKC but....

[jocoyn]

Our team has recieved several thousand dollars from them over the years as have several others through their Companion Animal Recovery Program.

AKC Companion Animal Recovery Awards $340,000 in Grants to K-9 Search and Rescue Teams Nationwide - Yahoo! Canada Finance

IF you ever get a chance to thank them for this please do so. Many many teams really benefit from this big time.

[selzer]

I think the AKC does a LOT of good and is a decent club for what they are -- an all breed registry. They have all breed shows, specialty shows, performance events and the like. They have the CAR program, the CGC and STAR puppy programs -- all that promote responsible dog ownership. And they also try to stay abreast of and fight bad canine legislation.

They also inspect kennels, arbitrate issues, and fine or suspend people for their behavior at events or having to do with the care of, conditions of dogs, and for descrepancies of the identification of dogs and litters.

I have no complaints about the AKC.

Just because a puppy is AKC does not make that puppy breedworthy, but that is true of EVERY other registry including the SV.

[Chris Wild]

Personally, I don't understand the constant ragging on the AKC. They are a regsitry that maintains paperwork, and for the most part do a very good job of what they are designed to do. Every now and then they do something I consider to be a boneheaded move, but by and large they are a good organization that DOES do a lot of good for dogs through their programs, legislative alerts and lobbying, charity work, etc...

If people want to complain about lack of breeding regulations, health testing, yada yada... then they need to go after the breed clubs themselves. They are the ones that make the rules that govern the breeds. AKC just processes the papers, and makes no claims about those papers indicating quality only purebred status.

But then I think most people aren't aware of the difference and that they should send their complaints and requests to GSDCA, or whatever breed club governs that particular breed, not AKC. AKC doesn't make the rules, they just follow what the breed clubs decide.

[Elaine]

I've been competing in AKC events forever and have no complaints about AKC itself. I agree with the others that the issues people say they have with them should really be addressed to the breed clubs.

[ladylaw203]

A problem I have with them is that every time I call foreign registry,I get a different answer for paperwork. they need to get on the same page

[Andaka]

Nno different than calling the IRS and asking a question.

[wolfstraum]

Agree with what others are posting. The AKC is NOT quality control for breeds, it is the umbrella under which all FCI registries are kept in a database type organization. As an organization they actually promote responsible dog ownership and consistency in many organized dog sports.

The culprits for the "ruination" of breeds are the mother clubs of the breed in the US. Other breeds besides GSDs have been watered down because their breed club evolves into a showring oriented club after gaining AKC recognition. The breeders themselves need to police the practices of breeding for their breeds. The AKC limited registration is a tool that many more should avail themselves of!

Lee

[GSDElsa]

We got some $$ this year too! Not as much as previously, but still a decent amount!

[jocoyn]

We put a sign on our trailer thanking them...we have GPS's and a laptop as well as a jon boat, lots of training, and some more radios due to grant money from them.