OPEN RANGE registered with AKC could do so by providing a copy of the pedigree from an alternate registry and sending it to Dave Roberts at AKC. The auctioneer provided the fax number to Roberts’ office and stated that AKC would only require one ancestor on top and one on the bottom of the pedigree to be AKC registered. And an added bonus – AKC would register the dogs for free! Beginning in December of 2008 AKC began a running series of articles in Kennel Spotlight, an industry publication for the high-volume professional breeder. The first article stated, “We at the American Kennel Club recognize that high quality professional breeders are a part of our history—and an important part of our future.” And following in the February/March 2009 issue in an article entitled, “AKC Dedicates New Breeder Relations Department” states , “ The American public’s right to own a pet of its choice is under attack. You—the ethical breeder—are an important part of that strength. That is why we are pleased to introduce the brand new AKC Breeder Relations Department. Michele Baker understands how much dedication you put into your breeding practices, and looks forward to stepping up communications with an important part of AKC’s customer base. “ Without the income generated from these breeding facilities, most experts agree that AKC cannot sustain itself and we will not only see a decline, but the demise of the 120-yearold registry within the next five years. Stop for a moment and think about that—no AKC registered puppies, no obedience trials, no agility competitions, no all-breed or specialty shows and no field trials. It is a quandary and there seems to be no quick and easy solution for this dilemma. Somewhere in the coming months and years AKC must find a balance. But until that happens it is clear that with all of these “registries” cropping up, AKC’s recent rule regarding name changes, the APR program and AKC’s courting of large volume breeders that we must take more care than ever before when selling and placing our puppies and especially our older dogs.
As breeders and fanciers it is imperative that we protect our breeding stock and our stud book by: • Carefully screening potential buyers or adoptive homes. • Insisting that new owners sign a contract stating they in the event they cannot keep the dog that it will be returned to the breeder. • Requiring that any dog not to be used for breeding be altered before it leaves the breeder’s control. • Requesting show quality puppies be sold on a contract stating that they will be bred only with the permission and guidance of the breeder. You can write the best contract, yet if you lose touch with the new owner, you may not know that the dog has developed problems and they have chosen to re-home it or drop it off at the nearest shelter. No longer can we afford to believe that once a puppy is sold the decisions regarding the future of the dog are solely the responsibility of the new owner. As dedicated breeders our responsibility is for the lifetime of the dogs we breed. The story of Clint, the puppy-mill GWP, is the perfect example of the cycle from commercial breeder to rescue—his story is only one of many that we see in rescue each year. And there will be more. All of us who share our hearts and our homes with a Wire also share responsibility for every GWP no matter when or where it was bred. It is only through our diligence and dedication that the German Wirehaired Pointer will disappear from the ranks of the commercial breeding facility.
©2010 GWPCA WIRE NEWS
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