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AKC 100 Years
Ago
An
Evolutionary
Perspective
By Louis A. Fallon
The following is my
own individual opinion, and does not reflect the official opinion of
any dog club or organization with which I may be affiliated.
About one hundred years ago, the AKC made the decision to have dog
registration income support the dog show operation. There were some
people even then who thought it was a financial mistake, that each
department should be self-supporting, but they were overruled and
for many years there was no real financial problem. The money from
dog registrations supported the dog show operation.
After the end of World War Two in 1945 the demand for pure-bred dogs
increased, as opposed to just any dog from the local pound. People
wanted a pure-bred dog and were willing to pay big money for one, a
dog with "papers", AKC papers that is. The AKC rode the crest of the
financial wave. The AKC had so much money coming in they set up
hidden financial reserve accounts – just like the Enron Company in
Texas did.
The AKC hired field representatives, who were paid a good salary,
benefits and a pension. There was lots of money and so the AKC could
afford to hire lots of professional staff people in the area of
public relations, advertising, communications, law etc.
Then the market changed, other for-profit registries were created
without the AKC's rules and regulations and also people went back to
their local municipal pound or breed rescue group to obtain their
dogs. Registration fee income was down, so the AKC looked around and
sought a new cash cow.
Where would the money come from? Financial concepts were discussed;
the AKC could operate an online dog show registry very easily – but
the dog show superintendents organized a group and vigorously
opposed that. Fees for dog show judges applications and expansions,
were opposed by the dog show judges groups.
The AKC finally looked in the mirror and saw the ancient light and
remembered the old financial discussions. The dog show operation
would have to pay for its own operation, the same as the
registration department.
Today every dog show entry has $2.00 going directly into the AKC
treasury for fees. The $2.00 is just a start. It is my opinion that
the $2.00 fee will increase as time, and expenses demand.
In 2001 the AKC entered a business partnership with the Eukanuba dog
food company and the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship Dog Shows
were created. In addition to the money that the Eukanuba dog food
company pays the AKC, it also provides a nice winter vacation for
the AKC senior staff who "must" attend the Eukanuba dog show in
sunny Florida or southern California.
Every other sport has a professional and an amateur separate
operation. But in the wonderful world of the sport of pure-bred dogs
a talented “amateur" can compete alongside a seasoned million dollar
a year professional dog handler, and even win. I put the word
amateur in quotes since a person who has been a dog
breeder-owner-handler for five, twenty or thirty years has long
since lost their amateur awkwardness. Since the early days of the
sport of pure-bred dogs there have been professionals competing
alongside breeder-owners or amateurs. One can argue that perhaps
there should be two separate dog groups, one for amateurs and one
for professionals, but I would say that it is over one hundred years
too late. The sport of pure-bred dogs is what it is, but it can be
better.
Three years ago, the AKC website changed dramatically. For one, the
prior concept of bringing potential dog buyers to local or national
dog club breeder members was changed and re-routed to the AKC
Classified Breeders Display. The change is great for commercial dog
breeders who receive more potential buyers for their advertising
dollars. The 5,000 dog clubs with their armies of dedicated unpaid
volunteers and once a year dog breeders saw the potential dog
buyer's inquiry volume dry up to ten percent (10%) of the pre-change
volume.
The 500 staff employees in the corporation known as the AKC have a
different viewpoint, a corporate outlook different then the 5,000
volunteer dog clubs that are affiliated with the AKC. The three
staff lawyers were hired to protect the AKC and its employees – not
the sport of pure-bred dogs or its participants.
The AKC claims that five years is the average amount of time for a
participant in the sport of pure-bred dogs. Dog feces, I say, based
on my personal thirty-six years in the sport. Local breed clubs and
national parent breed dog clubs do have a higher turnover than
all-breed kennel clubs, which is to be expected in any leisure time
activity. I personally know many people who have enjoyed thirty,
forty or more years in the sport of pure-bred dogs.
Ms. Gloria Setmayer was a member of the Kennel Club of Northern New
Jersey from 1967 to her death in 2005. Gloria was not a dog show
judge, nor a professional dog handler, but she had bred Pomeranians.
She enjoyed dogs and the sport of dogs and was a valued member of
her dog club for 38 years. Rusty Short (previously Rusty Cunningham)
has been a member of the Akita Club of America since 1964 and is
still out there every year handling the big Akitas. The membership
rolls of other dog clubs do contain many people that quietly help
their dog club and the sport of pure-bred dogs grow and flourish.
related links:
AKC Enterprises
A look back to the early 90's and a move from non-profit to
for-profit. (History Series)
AKC History and Future,
dateline March
15, 2006 Where
we were in 1884 and where we seem to be today. Three new board
members elected when their positions are in opposition to 60% of
clubs.
Handy links:
_______________________________________
Lady Bites AKC Canine Health Foundation
The title says it
all.
AKC vs Boulton 1 - Trial
How
the nightmare began and the charges.
Trial Board Report and Findings
The
first (only?) copy made public.
AKC vs Boulton
2 - Defendant
So what happened? You won't
believe it!
AKC vs Boulton 3 - Banana
Where are we now?
Depends on where you sit.
AKC 100 Years Ago
A look back to "the good old days" by Fallon (History
Series)
Dog Show Judge Bites Back
Part I - Martin Files Civil Lawsuit
Against Teague.
Dog Show Judge Bites Back
Part II - Synopsis of Civil
Lawsuit.
Dog Show Judge Bites Back
Sandy Teague's Apology to the Judge
courtesy Cheri McNealy.
FCI Divorces CKC
Federation Cynologique Internationale
ceased to recognize Canadian KC
American Dog Show History
Began June 4, 1874 read to find
out more
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