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show me chick is correct..any dog that can show lines back to AKC they will take back,,AKC is not the God of registrys,,CKC,APRI,UKC all have shows and are doing well,it is true they are in their infancy compared to AKC..and AKC seems to have forgotten who buttered their bread for many many years and actually made them who they are financially,,,and it wasnt the hobby or show breeders..
Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding!!! Move to the head of the class and collect your gold star! I participated in AKC sanctioned events for years with my Golden Retrievers. I've always had good lines of dogs, but my emphasis has always been on the HEALTH of the animals. Goldens, like any pure breed, have their share of genetic issues that relate directly to the NECESSARY inbreeding that sets "good type" in any breed. One of these issues for Goldens is a predisposition to certain types of cancer. We learned this the hard way when one of our beloved dogs developed bone cancer. We were unaware of her condition until her jaw bone broke when she bit down on her chew toy (NOT a hard toy, a semi-soft dentabone)! Well, many x rays and a heart breaking few days later, we had her put down, as the cancer was very widespread. Our vet at the time, who also owned the breed, told us the problem had gotten progressively worse within the ranks of AKC registered dogs, as the genetic diversity was in the proverbial crapper from all the inbreeding for "correct type" instead of good health. Well to shorten an already long story, we did a great deal of research and decided to try a Golden Doodle ... yes, that's right, a mixed breed cross between a Golden and a poodle. Having owned both breeds and truly appreciated their good qualities, we felt this could be a good direction for a healthier pet. We still had pure bred Goldens (and still do), but you would've thought we had suddenly sprouted 2 heads or developed intense body odor to see the reactions of our dog show "friends" when they discovered we had a "mutt"!!! You know what?! That mutt was more faithful and honest than any of them, and he was my best friend for many years. Needless to say, I have little time or energy any more for the doggie set. The experience revealed to me a very ugly side to "showing" that I just never got over. For far too many people in that lifestyle (please notice I am not saying ALL), it's about the bragging rights and NOT about the dogs!!! This has, in my opinion, "tainted" the AKC as a registry because it is SOOO focused on "type" and "purity" to satisfy this urge in its customers. Then, despite the KNOWN issues some breeds have from genetic mismanagement, it represents itself as "more than" other registries that are doing MORE to focus on the animals' health and happiness than it is.... just my 2 cents; love your dog for what he/she is; those papers won't make or break a single cuddle or "welcome home" your dog gives you as a devoted friend.
