Fri, 11/14/2025 - 11:40am
Question of the Week
In an unusual move, the American Kennel Club has sent out a questionnaire. What would you like to ask the American Kennel Club?
Elizabeth Denning
Somerset, MA
When are you going to catch up with the horse show world and realize you need to revamp your shows in terms of classes, divisions, lay out, etc.
I showed horses from age 8 to 40, then showed Borzoi from 1993 to 2014 and have been showing Engies since. IT TOOK THE AKC 20 YEARS TO INSTITUTE THE NOHS, which IMO is just a tad slow on the uptake.
Does anyone at AKC even LOOK at USEF to see what they are doing???
Teresa La Brie
Norwich, NY
When will numerical Detective titles be offered? Also, we would all love to have a Championship title offered for Scent Work!!!!!
Larry Payne
Easley, SC
Young people are not interested in breeding purebred dogs, registering them or showing them in conformation. It is an expensive hobby based on very subjective judging.
I could see Artificial intelligence taking over the human aspect of conformation dog showing. How is the AKC planning to use AI in their future operations regarding all aspects of breeding, registering, and showing dogs in all categories? Is the AKC studying how AI can replace the current way dogs are shown and judged?
Judy Manley
Ashtabula, OH
The AKC mandates that a club have bylaws. Why won't the AKC help when the bylaws are violated by the Officers or the President of the club? You cannot file a complaint against the violators who threaten to expel you from the club if you go public.
Bill Shelton
Mountain Grove, Missouri
Why do we spend so much on judges, approval, and education? I for one I don’t observe an exponential improvement! And at the end of the day, it only matters with the Show Committee who is actually hiring the opinion! Often times for a variety of the wrong reasons.
We should be spending more on breeders education. Breeders need more support also from AKC in the promotion of well bred, health tested purebred dogs through out our society.
Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton
Morehead City, NC
Two questions:
Why the AKC doesn't run training programs to help clubs build and run their clubs with guidance, clarity, and inclusivity?
Why the AKC registers puppies who do not meet the standard color and who must be excused by a judge if they entered a show?
Scott Shifflett
Tracy's Landing, MD
Why do you continue to maintain offices in one of the most expensive real estate areas?
Mike Roehrs
Harbor Springs MI
In this day and age of rising costs expenses why does AKC still have their corporate headquarters in New York City and not move them to an area with less expensive red like North Carolina?
Karen Mull
Lititz, PA
The Question I would love to ask is: Why doesn’t the AKC discipline judges for rewarding dogs that misbehave in the ring and why not have a yearly review of judges that includes a questionnaire from people showing under the judge?
Owen Weikert
Cooperstown, NY
Why does the AKC continue to allow totally incompetent judges to get assignments?
What sort of accountability structure needs to be implemented by the AKC to stop unqualified and destructive “experts” to evaluate breeding stock.
I’ll name names!
Barbara Miller
Old Brookville, NY
This is a great question. Where shall I start? Why are there so many dog shows especially the third weekend in May from Maine to Maryland? Small shows like the Long Island Kennel Club and Ladies Kennel Association cannot compete with hotel rates, food prices and travel expenses such as the cost of fares for bridges and tunnels. I came up with a plan years ago to which I was told by the AKC powers that be that the East coast kennel clubs on that particular weekend wouldn’t oblige by my suggestion. For sure the AKC hasn’t been of any help. An email came across my desk yesterday from AKC Club Relations advising of a new tool: AKC INTERNAL CLUB DISPUTE RESOLUTION CHECKLIST. Does this new “tool” allow AKC from turning their cheek away from serious problems pertaining from one kennel club to another or a kennel club’s in-house problem? If so, what jurisdiction does AKC have?
Laura Heidrich
Manhattan, Illinois
Why can't we implement "post" entries for dog shows like they do at horse shows? For an additional fee, you can enter after the other entries are closed, This could result in more dogs shown.
Laura Libner
Grand Rapids, MI
I would like to ask if there would ever be an opportunity for a scribe to be applicable to judges regarding their choices for placements in classes? I’ve seen this employed in the UK and find it both helpful and educational and a beneficial tool for those invested in preserving the integrity of the sport.
I would like to ask if there would ever be an opportunity for a scribe to be applicable to judges regarding their choices for placements in classes? I’ve seen this employed in the UK and find it both helpful and educational and a beneficial tool for those invested in preserving the integrity of the sport.
I’ve been involved in the fancy of showing & breeding dogs since the mid 1970s.
The accountability and choices I see some judges making at the breed level leaves a lot to be desired.
Knowing the reasons why they choose dogs & the reasons why, would identify how much they truly understand about the breeds they are judging.
I’ve seen a considerable lapse in judgement of quality, overall, of so many judges over the past decade or so.
With the increase costs in both entries, parking at the shows, vet bills, breeding, and the list goes on, it’s really become more of a liability than a “well there’s always another show” and “it’s just one person‘s opinion” to consider before spending hundreds and thousands of dollars on entry fees in a sport that is losing accountability at that level & making it less desirable to continue in.
Ernestine Tina Bayer
Stratham, NH
Why are neutered dogs prohibited from BOB competition other than at National Specialties ?
I suspect the original reason was that the neutered dogs could no longer be considered for breeding partners so they were subsequently excluded. That is no longer true.
However, at the time when this rule was made, there was no way a neutered dog could sire a litter. With the technological freezing advances and the AKC approval of the use of frozen sperm, it means these neutered dogs can still have impact on the gene pool long after the neutering. Permitting them in Best of Breed competition will allow them to continue to show the breed community the caliber of the neutered dog.
Thank you for this opportunity to give feedback.
Robert L. Vandiver
Simpsonville, SC
What percentage of all-breed dog shows are 2 day events as compared with those with 3 or more events?
Desi Murphy
Monroe, NY
What can we do to recognize breeders more and how can we get more exhibitors to become breeders?
Reginal Jose
Birmingham, MI
I propose the AKC change the name of Groups to
“PLACES FOR FACES”
“NO FACE NO PLACE”
In all seriousness if 70% to 80% of the entries are by Amateurs the Law of Averages says at least 50% of group placements should go to Amateurs.
This does not seem to be the case and if so is counterproductive to growing entries.
My question is, has the AKC investigated this trend?
Ann Hogue
Memphis, TN
Why is overhead so high?
Why not decrease overhead and also decrease entry fees?
Peter Gaeta
Appleton, WI
Since nothing happens at AKC without either Board direction or Board approval, and it is universally acknowledged that for years there has been a disastrous trend with respect to entries (and perhaps registrations), why does the Delegate Body persist in re-electing sitting members of the BOD, not limiting their reelection and claiming that they reelect them to maintain continuity?
And that raises a plethora of additional questions.
Heidi Rubin Cohen
Princeton Junction, NJ
When are you going to launch the advanced level NOHS suffix titles that were promised to go live a month ago on October 1?????
People want to add those titles to AKC National Championship and Westminster entries!!!!!
Rachel Flatley
Fort White, FL
I have asked the AKC about this and was never able to get a response:
I understand that if a breeder shows a dog they bred and they attain an obedience championship, they are sent a gold medallion. However, if a breeder shows a dog they bred and they earn a rally obedience championship, they do not get a gold medallion. Where can I find information on this program so I can better understand when the medallion is awarded?
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Fri, 11/14/2025 - 11:40am