Mutts Mingling With Pure Breeds at AKC Competitions

by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts)
May 24th 2010 @ 12:15PM Filed Under: Pets News

Pam Vojtas
"After 125 years, American Kennel Club opens competitions to mutts," reports the Washington Post. Not all events of course -- your mixed-breed pooch won't be sharing the show ring during the beauty competitions, but your mutt can prove what he's made of in the skill contests.

The American Kennel Club, the venerable organization which has been celebrating the best of purebred canines since 1884, has relaxed its standards a bit, creating a new option for owners of mixed breed dogs called AKC Canine Partners. The program allows dogs, regardless of fancy pedigree (or lack thereof), to participate in AKC Rally, Agility and Obedience competitions. Paw Nation talks with Pam Vojtas, the owner of a 4-year-old terrier mix named Charlie, who is a big reason why AKC Canine Partners exists.

Vojtas adopted Charlie from a local rescue group. He proved to be a handful, eating cell phones, a couch and more. Vojtas enrolled him in obedience classes. "He was a 'C' student," she tells Paw Nation, "but one night after class, there was an agility practice going on in the arena, and we were both mesmerized. I signed up the next day for an intro agility class, and the rest, as they say, is history."

Ashley Lambert

Unfortunately, as quickly as Vojtas and Charlie became "addicted" to agility, they learned that nearly all of the agility trials near their South Florida home were held by the AKC, and mixed breeds were not allowed. Other venues have always allowed mixed breeds to participate, but these were much fewer and farther between in her local area. Vojtas, who by then had adopted another mixed breed, a shy "who knows what" mix named Quincy, was undaunted.

"I started writing letters to the AKC and filling out surveys, and encouraging my friends, both local and on the internet, to do the same. Since I volunteered at the AKC trials, I put up a poster with Charlie's picture that said 'Hey, AKC, I want to play, too!" along with a petition. At each trial, I'd collect names and send off sheets to the AKC," she recalls.

And the hard work paid off. "My club, the Dog Obedience Club of Hollywood, is proud to be one of the first in the nation to host an 'all-dogs' agility trials!" Vojtas says.

Charlie and Quincy both competed at the Palm Bay Agility club's AKC trial earlier this month, and the pair earned seven qualifying runs and seven first places. Not too shabby for a former "C" student and shy pup!

Want to get your pooch started in these competitions? Find events near you on the Canine Partners Web site.