Went to an ACA "dog show" Fraud alert!

[mamaKate]

I've loved dogs since I was 2 and have devoted way too much time reading about them and taking care of them. My three seniors are all rescued mutts. I want my next dog (not soon) to be a purebred Rat Terrier. So, I see the billboard about the dog show and, in spite of my better judgment, decided to have a look. Even if they were sub-standard, a morning with dogs can't be too bad, right? I know AKC has its flaws, so maybe these guys have a more common sense attitude: like maybe a peke who can breathe? Not Not Not! There were only 16 dogs present. If there was only one of any breed, he got the "championship" ribbon. One went to a Pomeranian with genetic white legs that were stained yellow from his environment. There was a winning Border Collie that clearly was crossed with Australian Cattle Dog. The real clincher was a Cairn Terrier that was so fearful that he had to be dragged into the ring. This is how they can advertise "champion lines."
Everybody feels disgust when they see the news clips of sick, dying dogs being pulled from puppy mills. I think something else is way under reported. The people at this show were not technically-- nor did they consider themselves-- puppy mills. Most of these breeders see dogs as livestock. That rationale works for a critter who is kept for a short time and ends up in the freezer or closet. Keep it clean and kill it humanely. It doesn't work for dogs. People are spending hundreds of dollars for an animal they expect to fit with their homes and kids and the quality control is way less than for a comparably priced tv.

 

[Kevin565]

That's terrible!

 

[dainerra]

I'm surprised one of the club reps wasn't there
They pride themselves on being a registry for people who want to breed "pets". They constantly bash AKC saying that they discriminate and look down on people who just want to provide cute pets to people..
*gag*

 

[carolinagirl58]

I never heard of ACA. Most of those "we will register anything" registries are really catering to the back-yard breeder and puppy mills. It's a way of duping the buying public into thinking that since the puppy is registered, it must be high quality and purebred. It's things like this that make me even more adamant that even if all you want is a pet, buy only from a REPUTABLE breeder. At least then you have some assurance that the pup is purebred and from good genetics.

 

[Oregon Blues]

Yes. Either a reputable serious show and hobby fancier, or else go down to the dog pound and save a life.

If you want a purebred, buy a good quality purebred that is really a purebred and selectively bred for health and good temperament, where the parent dogs have been well treated and health tested before breeding. If you don't care if the dog is purebred, then go to the pound and get a nice Muttsky.

 

[watchdogps]

Oh yes, the good ol American Canine Association. I had a lady as a client once who proudly presented her obviously mixed breeds dogs papers to me to prove his impeccable lineage. I laughed and informed her that the papers weren't worth the ink they were printed with. Thiss is indeed a milllers registry. I believe they also register hybrids.
Other mill registries: CKC (continental kennel club) and APRI

 

[solanaskyes]

Yes, the ACA is a bogus puppy mill registry. We have had several Skyes come through rescue with papers from them. Interestingly, at least one prominent AKC judge held a considerable financial interest in the ACA and was one of the founders (I'm not naming names...). It was part of the reason the AKC tried to change the "conflict of interest" rules for their judges. I'm not sure if it was ever officially changed or if that judge still holds any interest in the ACA.

 

[mandelyn]

Quote:
This is now my practice too. When I showed AKC Italian Greyhounds... there was some snobbery, but for the most part, people were great, dogs were great. If your dog walked in scared with shaky legs and tail tucked.. you weren't going to place that day. Temperament mattered, the judge wasn't going to send the scared/stressed/freaking out dog to the front of the line. Yellow stains on white feet? That's embarrassing.

 

[dainerra]

I was thinking just now.

It really isn't fraud, per se. The dogs you saw are exactly what the registry prides themselves in. Pet dogs bred by pet people. They don't want to promote that one dog is "better" than another just because it meets the standard.

Yeah I set through the spiel from the company rep because I was too stunned to look away. They were urging people who owned obviously pet quality dogs to switch from AKC because "those snobs will tell you not to breed your dog just because he is a little over-weight. Or his coat is wirey instead of smooth. Or because they feel that a -oodle is a mixed breed dog. Just because you love your dog is good enough to breed"

 

[FlyRobinFly]

Quote:
That is just scary! We really don't need more dogs being produced willy nilly.