Feelgood Dog Sports Blog

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Daisy Okas
Date: June 19, 2007 Phone: 212-696-8343

AKC PRESENTS RESULTS OF MIXED BREED SURVEY

New York, NY – In February and March of 2007, the American Kennel Club conducted a survey of purebred dog fanciers on the topic of possibly creating a mixed breed listing service and allowing them to compete in certain AKC events. The purpose of the survey was to gather input from the core constituency regarding this concept and to pinpoint areas requiring additional research.

AKC presented the results of the survey at the quarterly Delegate meeting on June 11, 2007. Following is a summary of key results.

Respondent Demographic Information
AKC sought survey feedback from AKC Delegates, AKC Club Presidents and Secretaries, and other fanciers who were notified by their Club President, Secretary or via www.akc.org. In total over 21,000 people completed the survey.

General Demographics:
* 84% Purebred Dog Owners
* 70% Exhibitors
* 50% Club Member
* 76% now own, or have owned, a mixed breed dog

Sport Participation:
* Over 50% have been involved in the sport for 16 or more years
* Over 60% currently compete in Conformation or have in the past
* Over 50% currently compete in Agility or have in the past
* Nearly 70% currently compete in Obedience or have in the past
* Approximately 63% have competed in events sponsored by other organizations (reasons included enjoyment of atmosphere, obtaining additional titles, convenient location and competing with mixed breeds)

Club Affiliation:
* 51% belong to Specialty Clubs
* 34% belong to All-Breed Clubs
* 33% belong to Obedience Clubs
* 31% belonged to Agility Clubs
* 64% belonged to clubs already offering at least some training classes for mixed breed dogs
Likely Program Parameters
Based on survey results and general comments that we have received, we have developed a list of likely parameters that an AKC Mixed Breed program would have:

Listing Service:
* Mixed breed dogs would be listed or enrolled, not registered
* Within AKC systems, mixed breed dogs would be identified as “mixed breed,” not a specific hybrid combination
* Mixed breed dogs would only be eligible for Agility, Obedience, Rally and Tracking

Competition:
* Clubs would have the option to offer mixed breed classes. They would not be required to offer mixed breed classes
* Mixed breed dogs must be spayed or neutered to compete
* Mixed breed dogs would not be eligible to compete at the Agility/Obedience National Championships or at the Agility/Obedience Invitational
* Mixed breed dogs must compete in separate classes*
*When introducing the concept of this program, AKC staff assumed there would only be support for mixed breed dogs competing in separate classes, however survey results show that a majority support combined classes. Therefore, we are continuing to consider both options.

Interest in Offering Mixed Breed Program
Percent agreeing with the statement: “AKC clubs should have the option to offer classes for mixed breeds at their Obedience, Rally, Tracking and Agility trials.”
* 65% of current AKC constituents (including 65% of Delegates, 67% of exhibitors, 58% of judges, 65% of club members and 60% of officers).
* Over 50% of those currently or formerly participating in all event categories (including participants in non-mixed-breed-eligible events such as Conformation, Coonhound and Field Trials).

Overall Opinions About Potential Mixed Breed Program
Following are the percent agreeing with the subsequent opinion statements about a mixed breed program:
* 84%: clubs may gain revenue by adding mixed breed classes to their events
* 78%: mixed breed dog owners would be a potential source of new members
* 75%: mixed breed competition increases opportunities for fanciers who now own mixed and purebred dogs
* 74%: mixed breed competition would not negatively impact public opinion of purebred vs. mixed breed dogs
* 69%: a mixed breed listing service would help AKC expand its message to a larger audience
* 69%: kennel clubs should serve all dog owners
* 69%: representing all dogs would improve AKC’s legislative influence
* 63%: mixed breed program will lead to people without breeding/exhibiting experience joining clubs and influencing policy making
* 61%: education/competition may encourage mixed breed owners to make their next dog a purebred
* 60%: program would improve AKC’s overall image
* 52% felt that initiating a mixed breed program would be a change in AKC tradition
* 47% mixed breed program will lead to animal rights activists joining clubs and influencing policy making

Opinions About Mixed Breed Program Specifics
Title Eligibility:
Of those agreeing clubs should have the option to offer mixed breed classes, which titles should AKC allow mixed breeds to earn in Companion Events?
* 35%: mixed breeds should earn title equivalents but with different (mixed breed) designations (such as M-CD vs. CD)
* 31%: titles should be exactly the same
* 17%: mixed breeds should have equivalent titles with different (mixed breed) designations, excluding OTCH, MACH and CT.
* 14%: same titles as purebreds, excluding OTCH, MACH and CT

Held in Conjunction with What Events:
Of those agreeing clubs should have the option to offer mixed breed classes, the classes should be offered with Companion Events held in conjunction with:
* 92%: standalone obedience and/or rally trials
* 92%: standalone agility trials
* 86%: standalone tracking tests
* 39%: all-breed conformation shows*
* 31%: regional and local specialties
* 23%: national specialties (when All-Breed Companion Events are held)
*Approximately 20% of agility events and 70% of Obedience/Rally events are held in conjunction with a conformation event. Excluding mixed breed events from conformation events would significantly limit possible venues.

Class Eligibility:
Of those agreeing that clubs should have the option to offer mixed breed classes:
* 70%: mixed breeds and purebreds should compete in the same classes
* 55%: mixed breeds and purebreds should compete separately
Note that total exceeds 100% due to the fact that each of these statements was presented separately.

The AKC will continue to keep Delegates and the fancy apprised on the progress of this program. Questions and additional feedback can be submitted at any time to mixedbreed_survey@akc.org