Breeds change over time for a variety of reasons, the least of which is the standard changing. Politics, a popular breeder that wins and has a certain look so people breed towards that look as opposed to SOP, etc etc. look at bulldogs for example, they can barely get out of their own way and...
If you aren't breeding to a standard why pick a breed at all? Why not just get barnyard mixes. Using a standard to breed to is what make a chicken/dog/cat/horse identifiable as a breed.
Is the US Dorking club active? I haven't checked the forums in a month but last time I checked there wasn't much activity. I want to join the club, but I'm hesitant blindly sending funds through paypal