My point exactly. People have so many options these days, it's easy to research a breeder and pedigrees. By and large the public is more informed (I find this true of most of the people who contact me for a puppy, they have already done at least some homework and most know the basics to ask). Certainly people are free to petition the AKC to change their ways (good luck!) and if AKC sees fit to do it, I applaud (for the most part). I just have not seen a logical plan suggested, that would change the system as we have it.
Of course for field dogs you could add the requirement that they pass something like the golden retriever's WC test (not a very difficult test, I might add, I got a pass on my very first show dog with virtually no training. She had seen a duck before, and she was trained through novice obedience so she knew what sit and stay meant.) However, a basic obedience requirement such as a CD doesn't make sense, if your goal is to make sure the breed is fit for it's original purpose. Does a CD tell you if a bird dog will hunt? If a sheltie will herd? If a whippet will course? No, you would need different tests for each breed (and frankly, I don't think a lab and a golden were intended to be the same exact sort of hunting dog, just like a spinone and an English pointer hunt VERY differently, and for good reasons!). And what of the breeds that are only bred to be lap dogs?
However, it's all academic, because I doubt AKC will go that route. Their postition, I suspect is the same as mine. A conformation championship only says that a dog adheres to the standard, according to what a judge can see and feel in the show ring. If you want more titles, they are available as well.
susie
Well, I suppose they'd have to be tested for how well they sit a lap :~)