Posted on 07/10/2006 8:41:39 AM PDT by girlangler
AKC dog registry welcoming coonhounds to purebred world
By Coke Ellington Associated Press
Raleigh | The American Kennel Club is trying to make coonhounds couth.
The nation's largest and most recognized dog registry is in the early stages of a major push to add coonhounds to its prestigious rolls, hoping both to increase its membership and to assure these sad-eyed symbols of country life stick around a while longer.
"We're interested in the registration of these dogs and their litters, but we're most interested in preserving these dogs for the future," said Steve Fielder, who moved to Raleigh in late 2004 to launch the club's coonhound initiative.
To meet its targets, the AKC has found itself negotiating with governments to assure there's ample hunting land for the dogs, setting up competitive hunts and working to enlist more of the estimated 1.2 million coonhounds in the nation.
It may seem like unlikely work for a club with headquarters on swanky Madison Avenue in New York City and more closely tied to images of pouffy poodles than howling hounds, but Fielder insists it's right in line with the club's mission.
"The AKC wants to be all things canine," said Fielder, one of about 300 people at the AKC's operations center in Raleigh.
To help with its initiative, the AKC began offering free registration last year to coonhounds already enlisted with two other national clubs. The move resulted in about 10,000 registrations, up from about 500 the previous year. The club expects to have another 10,000 registered by the end of this year, pushing the total number of AKC registered coonhounds to 22,000.
Still, coonhounds make up a tiny part of the club's registry. Labrador retrievers were the most popular breed in 2005 with nearly 138,000 registered by the AKC.
Registration costs just $15, but acceptance by the AKC is invaluable to breeders and others who need or want to prove their dogs have pure bloodlines.
For coonhounds, registering also opens the way for the dogs to compete in AKC-sanctioned hunts and competitions that offer titles, trophies and cash prizes of as much as $25,000. Just in July, the AKC is sponsoring about 70 coonhound competitions across the nation, including contests for youth, field trials, water races and night hunts.
Night hunts tie most closely to the tradition of the coonhound owners across the South who once led packs of dogs on late-night winter hunts, forcing the raccoons up trees where the hunters could get a clear shot at them. The raccoon hides fetched $20 to $30 each in the late 1970s, according to Perry Sumner, a biologist with the state Wildlife Resources Commission. With demand dwindling, a raccoon hide today is worth about $5, he said.
A good coonhound can sell for $4,000 to $5,000, with some bringing up to $100,000, said David Gardin, the president of the North Carolina Coonhunters Association..
The AKC first registered black and tan coonhounds - one of six coonhound breeds - in 1945, but during the past 60 years there had been little mingling between hound owners and the AKC. Coonhound owners were more likely to register with the Professional Kennel Club or the United Kennel Club and the AKC didn't seem to mind. Now, their interests seem to have merged.
"The coonhound has been kind of like a subculture in the world of dogs," Fielder said, "but with the AKC involved the spotlight is shining on the breeds."
It may have been USDAA because the classes sound familiar. They are a booger to work, it takes so many people. Our golden club here is toying with the idea of gettting into that, and I'm like, OH PLEASE regular specialties are plenty enough work! Have you done rally? It really looks like fun, I've stewarded that a couple of times (another pain to steward!) but it looks like it would be a nice step before novice obedience.
susie
"If you are interested in multi purpose dogs, by all means,use that as a gauge when looking for a puppy. Of course, be aware that a CD title does not really mean much. (OK, except when you get one you feel pretty darned good about it!)"
In America? Actually having a self-controlled obedient dog is a *rarity*! (I mean in the real world, not just those who actually go to shows.) Most cannot handle a CD (and only part of it is on lead, so there's no way most dogs in the US can do it - if only because their owners have let it be so). IMO, there are dogs who are virtually incorrigible, and if they truly can't manage a CD, they probably DO have a mental/emotional flaw (I can just see my Tara fitting in there). This is a minimal test - so is it so much to ask it be a requirement?
Agreed the AKC is technically "just a registry". However, they sure get their hands in a heck of alot of stuff to be just that. And there's no reason they could NOT expand their scope. Heck, FTM, if they're only a registry, why do they even come up with rules for conformation or any performance at all? Why have they forbidden "schutzhund" until the last month or so? They have alot of power for just a registry.
Yes, I know about misc too. (I was involved in the spinone breed for years as we tried and finally succeeded in getting them out of misc. and into regular AKC registration--I think the breed was in misc longer than any other breed).
I wondered if they weren't in misc at that time, but it doesn't really say. Somewhere out there is the info tho. ;)
susie
LOL
Maddie's new slogan
We manage to get the necessary staffing! (I have lots of free T-shirts in every conceivable color and design!)
Thanks
Maddie is so cute. Any new pictures?
Already seen that. All they show you is when the *CURRENT* STANDARD was approved. They do not even tell you what revision it is.
The latest GS standard was approved 1978. The GS has been in the AKC since 1913.
We need a real history, and even the AB&TCC doesn't give it to us on their site. But their winners history indicates it was c. 1980. I know B&Ts were recognized when I was running around shows c. 1985.
I agree with you about Chows and those modern show GSD.
They look like their rear-end is collapsing.
No wonder they have hip dysplacia problems. I can't see how anybody can find that attractive or useful.
I really don't understand your point. I'm going to just let you have your rant.
susie
Oh, I know all about the anti-AKC thing from the Border Collie lovers (my aunt being 1 and having had/bred some 20 of them by now).
BTW, again - if AKC is "just a registry", why do so many breeds want to avoid it like the plague? :D
You know, everybody has sort of a "picture" flash in their minds when a word, usually a noun is spoken or read.
That beautiful creature flashes in my mind whenever I hear "dog" or read the word.
I miss my Frieda.
I had a July hound. We called him a coonhound but he was really an American foxhound.
Got him to hunt but he turned into a pet.
Great with the kids.
Our club was a small start up, and we went to the bigger established club to help with their trials. It was a great learning experience, and fun, but it really was alot of work. Our specialty club here has trouble getting enough real workers for our specialties as it is, I can't imagine adding something as labor intensive as agility! However, I don't get to make that call, and if we do add it, heck, I'll be out tehre running my rear end off, I'm sure!
susie
OK. :)
I just think some kind of performance should be required before a dog can get a conformation title. You might be amazed how much it would do to keep the cliquish national-breed-club conformation snobs from ruling what "desirable looks" are.
I haven't read the standard. I wonder what it actually describes? I know in goldens we have had things that became popular, even tho they did not really follow the standard. (coat for instance!)
susie
I'm going to look at my old AKC book. Maybe it says. The 'net doesn't always have everything on it!
I've been curious about the American Eskimo (now that I find it is BACK in AKC recognition). My parents' old '40s set of Encyc. Americana had a dog section, where it showed the American Eskimo as a recognized breed! But in the '80s, it was not. Then apparently in the '90s it is recognized. Is this a breed that "disappeared" and then reappeared? I'm mystified that something like that could happen.
Thanks :)
Yes but I gotta make time to host them
Got some new horse pics too, I gotta host as well
See:
http://www.gsdca.org/Noframes/standard/IllStan1.htm
I'm not sure from the standard if that kind of build is really called for.
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