THE WAY IT IS
By
Sari B. Tietjen


It has long been acknowledged that while The American Kennel Club and The Kennel Club in England are very much the same in that both organizations register dogs and oversee events and their participants, they are also very different. AKC is a “club of clubs”, the KC is a club of individual members; AKC is around a $75M not-for-profit corporation, the KC an over £10M (approx. $12M US) unincorporated members’ club; AKC registers just under 1M dogs a year, KC approximately 270,000; AKC has a two-tiered registration process, the KC has a single step where each puppy is registered when its litter is listed; and AKC serves a much larger and unquestionably more complex dog-owning population than the United Kingdom.
For all these reasons, it is interesting to note two recent KC press statements focused on a desire to protect the integrity of breeds:
The first one concerns the Merle color pattern in Chihuahuas (something that we have seen in this country, is listed as a permissible pattern selection on the breed’s registration application form and is, nonetheless, much cause for consternation among some fanciers). Issued on July 17, 2007, this the KC press release stated: “Coat colour in the Chihuahua is complex because a range of colours is acceptable, but one colour that does not exist naturally in the breed is Merle.
“Merle patterning, patches of lighter colour appearing in the coat, is the result of the M gene in the dog. There are two alleles of this gene: MM (merle) and M (non-merle), with merle being dominant to non-merle. In some breeds, the effect of the merle allele (MM) is termed ‘dapple’.
“Unfortunately, the effects of the merle allele (MM) are not confined to coat patterning and we know that there can be an increased risk of impaired hearing and sight associated with it.
“Many breeds are aware of and have for many years dealt perfectly adequately with avoiding the consequences of these health issues. However, because the colour has not hitherto been encountered in the United Kingdom in Chihuahuas, and the fact that it is not a natural colour in the breed, the General Committee of the Kennel Club has decided as a precautionary move to take a different approach. At the suggestion of the majority of the Chihuahua breed clubs in this country, the Kennel Club has decided not to register merle (dapple) Chihuahuas (Smooth or Longcoat) in order to avoid any future possible problems.”
The second one concerns the registration of puppies whose colors are considered to be genetically incompatible with those of their parents. Issued on July 19th, 2007, this statement read: “In 2004, the General Committee agreed that a program be put in place to restrict the registration of colours of puppies that are genetically incompatible with those of their parents. Initially, a pilot program was initiated whereby the computer would only allow the registration of only yellow Labrador puppies if both parents were also yellow; it would not allow the registration of a black or chocolate puppy from two yellow parents. This restriction has proved to be a very worthwhile exercise and has greatly enhanced the credibility of the registration system.
“At the request of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed clubs, in April of this year the Kennel Club also introduced a similar restriction for the breeding of blenheim to blenheim parents.
“At its meeting on 10 July, the General Committee agreed that this restriction on registrations be made available to other breeds. It must be stressed that, at the present, the restriction is only possible when both parents are of the same whole colour (and which could not be mis-described as any other) and which can only produce puppies of the same whole colour. For instance, if two black parents could only produce black puppies in a given breed, the restriction could be implemented. If, however, two black parents could produce black and white puppies, the restriction could not be implemented.
“Therefore, upon an official approach from a Breed Council or Breed Clubs, the Kennel Club would like to extend this restriction across any breed where, genetically, certain colours could not occur from particular parents. Please note that where there is more than one breed club or society, a majority view from the clubs will need to be received.”
While the KC’s General Committee (which is comprised of 26 individuals – 24 selected from the membership and two Trustees appointed by the General Committee) is similar to our Board of Directors, it is also very different in that it is primarily answerable to the KC’s membership of selected individuals. AKC’s Board is answerable to its clubs, their Delegate representatives and members – a significantly larger group.
AKC has also developed a policy of being answerable to its registrants – even if those registrants’ views are opposite of that of its member clubs and, in this particular instance, its parent (national specialty) clubs concerning coat color (one case in particular concerns the albino Doberman, which AKC registers as white over the objection of the Doberman parent club. AKC does denote the color with a special WZ designation attached to the registration name).
AKC has long taken the view that any get of two AKC registered parents (or AKC registrable parents) may be AKC registered. When questions arise, its Impure Breeding Committee (comprised of dog experienced AKC staff members) does investigate, asks for photos and breeding records, and makes a determination if the dog looks like the breed in question. It then registers the dog or not based on its findings.
It is hard to imagine AKC taking a stance – even at the behest of its parent clubs – similar to that of the KC in denying registration based on the incompatibly of coat color of get to parents and/or for health issues as in the case of the Merle Chihuahua (or as some have said, the Albino Doberman). This would be totally contrary to its long-standing belief that any and all registrable dogs should be AKC registered.
The Kennel Club in England should be applauded for putting the interest of the breed over all else!

Talk about promoting regression instead of progression.

If individuals prefer England's KC over AKC then they should consider moving abroad.

AKC and citizens of the USA have the medical knowledge and medical tools/testing to do DNA testing in questionable litters. ie they can DNA test the puppies and both parents to prove they are a result of certain breeding. If a puppy is born from said parents and both are AKC registered then the puppy should be registered as a purebred dog.

IT is not a MUT.

With further understanding in this day and age that recessive genes can cause alternate outcomes from a breeding, and DNA to support lineage, I think it is going back to the stone ages to deny based on color. When we have DNA. This is my opinion, and I am glad that in the USA any one can order a test kit.

Kennel Clubs already have showable colors in place.

If breeders end up raising unregistered pups, based on believed outcomes not true outcomes, where will these "MUTS" end up? And how long until good breeders walk away?

I can't even begin to give examples that must be out there, as I don't know all breeds but; Two Black Danes can produce blue danes, Two brindle bulldogs can produce a black bulldog, on and on and on. And although I know nothing about LABS, I do know they breed blacks to yellows, hence the ability for yellow to be recessive I would think, being that black is always dominant

And the number of dogs in a small country vs a very large country should have nothing to do with the color of pups and if they are purebred.

In a country of such lower number of dogs, who would buy or take for free a "MUT"? Where are the dogs going to end up?

Just another example of why I am glad I don't live in the UK

Further more to not register a pup, is in itself, hiding what a dog carries recessively.

And individuals buying the "allowable" puppies from a said litter, are buying a pup that is a carrier, shameful

How is this a benefit?

All this is doing is hiding UK's undesirables, and allowing them to FLUSH more puppies, and it does not speak to the future progeny of the dogs.

If they can't admit what was reproduced, shadey activity is going to occur. And people will buy puppies that produce undesirable colors, and they will have no idea which dog is the carrier.

A good head's up.. not to buy a dog from the UK.

My dear it certainly would make your view more readable and believable if you knew how to spell the word, "MUTT". Maybe you can replace it with mongrel as there are no repeat letters to leave out. As Tanya pointed out on another thread you are very ignorant in regard to genetics, and that's why you cannot see the benefit nor create a viewpoint that makes sense.

Being that you are Tanya, and being that you once claimed to be from the UK, I see no point to your playing double roles here. We all can see the games at play. And I find you VERY strange indeed.

And I am not an expert at cross breeding and I think I pointed that out clearly... but you seem to be very educated on the subject of cross breeding and one can only wonder why? Glad I don't breed chihuahuas and could mistakenly end up with one of your dogs.

And really I don't want to know anything about crossbreeding.. I will leave that up to you as you are claiming to know so much about it!

And again spelling is not my assest, nor do I try to defend it or even my typing skills. But it is a nice attempt to change the subject of in THIS DAY AND AGE DNA CAN CONFIRM OR DENY LINEAGE.... maybe I have that wrong too... you are a laugh and a half.

But is always nice to see when someone posts something you don't like, you getting P***Y, and RUDE. This seems to always be your tactic, and it really is getting old but OH SO predictable

DNA=proof

Let England deny on the basis of color.... when sound proof is available.... "STONE AGES"

Enough said...

quote:

Originally posted by Sirius:
My dear it certainly would make your view more readable and believable if you knew how to spell the word, "MUTT". Maybe you can replace it with mongrel as there are no repeat letters to leave out. As Tanya pointed out on another thread you are very ignorant in regards to genetics, and that's why you cannot see the benefit nor create a viewpoint that makes sense.

I WOULDN'T GIVE SIRIUS MUCH CREDENCE HERE, ASTELLA - USING DOUBLE NEGATIVES AS SIRIUS DOES IS IGNORANT, NOT A TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR. AND THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TRYING TO CHANGE THE THREAD - IT IS OFFENSIVE IN A BEAUTIFUL. COLORFUL LANGUAGE - AND IT IS IN "REGARD" TO GENETICS, NOT "REGARDS." SO CLEAN UP YOUR OWN BACKYARD BEFORE YOU START IN ON OTHERS.
MM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tanya:
Really now I'm someone on a list with a different name? Why would I feel I have to use a different name to post my opinion when I have no trouble starting threads using my own name?

WHY WOULD YOU DO ANYTHING YOU DO? YOU AND YOUR PSYCHIATRIST CAN DISCUSS THAT AT YOUR NEXT SESSION. YOUR MAXINE CARTOON SAYS IT ALL....AND YOUR TAG LINE....[YOU CAN DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE.] HOW ABOUT PRACTICING WHAT YOU PREACH.

You people really are grasping. Yes let's make this about me when you have no point and you are dumb and it shows!

HEY....THE LAST TIME I TOLD YOU THIS....IT WENT RIGHT OVER YOUR BLACK ROOTS.....
WHEN YOU POINT A FINGER[INDEX]..... AT SOMEONE....THERE ARE 3 FINGERS [MIDDLE, RING, AND PINKY] POINTING AT YOU.
THIS TIME I EXPLAINED IT FOR YOU.

quote:

Originally posted by Tanya:
Really now I'm someone on a list with a different name? Why would I feel I have to use a different name to post my opinion when I have no trouble starting threads using my own name? You people really are grasping. Yes let's make this about me when you have no point and you are dumb and it shows!

POOR OLD MAXINE - EVEN SHE IS BEING SUCKED INTO THE MAELSTROM BY TANYA. AT LEAST THE OLD GIRL'S NOT A LOOSE CANNON GOING OFF HALF COCKED ALL THE TIME CALLING OTHERS DUMB AND WAVING AROUND HER DEGREE FROM STRIPPER U. - AND SHE CALLS OTHERS DUMB? IT'S GOTTA BE THOSE BLACK ROOTS SHOWING, YA THINK? ROFLMAO!
MM

Tanya and Sirius are like the Afghanistan Parliament, animals in a stable that follow one another, it is called control any way it can be done. Sirius is the Author to the article published in dog news.

quote:

Originally posted by MW9:
Tanya and Sirius are like the Afghanistan Parliament, animals in a stable that follow one another, it is called control any way it can be done. Sirius is the Author to the article published in dog news.

NO WONDER ALL THAT STUFF IS REPLICATED ON THIS FORUM - LIKES TO SEE THE EFFORTS IN PRINT ALL OVER, NO MATTER HOW IRRESPONSIBLE. I LIKE YOUR COMPARISON - RATHER LIKE THE LEMMINGS FALLING OFF THE CLIFF WHILE FOLLOWING THE LEADER. YEP - CONTROL IS THE ISSUE NOW, HAS BEEN FOR A LONG TIME & WILL CONTINUE TO BE, UNFORTUNATELY.
MM

Oh, I know the anti-merle bigots don't like to be bothered with a little thing like the facts but here they are anyway:



MERLE CHIHUAHUA FACTS:

(1) ALL SINGLE MERLE CHIHUAHUAS CERF AND BAER TESTED HAVE PASSED - INCLUDING THOSE MERLE SPOTTED ON WHITE!

(2) NO TEST RESULTS EXIST PROVING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A SINGLE COPY OF THE MERLE GENE AND HEALTH ISSUES IN THE CHIHUAHUA AND NO GENETIC EXPERT HAS PROVIDED ANY DATA PROVING ANY HARM TO THE BREED CAUSED BY A SINGLE COPY OF THE MERLE GENE!!

THE BEAUTIFUL - AND HEALTHY - MERLE CHIHUAHUA: THE FACTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES!