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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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