I personally think we'll never get the IMPORTANT part of the dog under control unless we impose PERFORMANCE requirements on them before they can have conformation recognition. What's wrong with simple obedience? Gee, EVERYONE should be doing that anyway (especially in America, which doesn't have a *true* dog culture and hence, spoiled-rotten dogs which half the population despises because they think it's "just how dogs are").
I'm not sure what you mean by this.
Just for the record, I have titled dogs in obedience and hunt tests in addition to conformation. I agree that dogs SHOULD be doing other things, however, that is available.
MOST people I know who show in conformation have dogs who are trained, so I don't see how requiring something like a lower level obedience title is going to improve the gene pool somehow. Virtually ANY dog can get a CD. So, what does that prove?
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!)
Accept AKC for what it is. A registry. They are not the dog or breed police.
susie
BTTT!
It is the same permissive society that has lowered its standards on everything. Don't get me started...