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Proposal Regarding Mixed-Breed Participation in AKC EventsThe Mixed Breed Dog Clubs of America (MBDCA) feel it's time for recognition of the wonderful dogs called mongrels, Heinz 57's or mutts. Mixed breed dogs serve in all walks of life, helping people and other animals, and have done so for time out of mind. They are the ancestors of all purebred dog breeds, and -- in true chicken-or- the-egg form -- without mixed breeds way-back-when, there would be no purebreds; and without purebreds now there would be no mixed breeds. Given that mixed breed dogs are so important to many people in this country and that they have proven time and again that they are capable of doing any job set before them, there is no reason that they should not be able to compete with their purebred cousins in AKC Companion Events (agility, obedience, rally obedience, and tracking). The AKC apparently is beginning to realize this, given the growing numbers of dog activity registries in which mixed breeds are competing. At the current time, of the nearly 20 registries for all variety of dog sports, only the AKC does not include mixed breed dogs. Allowing mixed breeds to compete in AKC Companion Events is a hot topic among AKC and mixed breed circles. If you are interested in finding out more about AKC's position on including mixed breed dogs, please contact your AKC club's AKC delegate. Also encourage your delegate to vote in favor of allowing mixed breeds to compete at AKC events, on an even footing with purebreds. You can find out who your AKC delegate is on the AKC website. With all this in mind, the MBDCA Board of Directors has presented the following Proposal to the AKC to provide rules/ regulations for mixed breeds to compete in AKC Obedience, Rally Obedience, Agility and Tracking. We believe that this is a functional program that is palatable to both purebred and mixed breed competitors. Cindy Leung, President
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