How did they decide which dogs are purebred and which are not?

Question

Okay, most of us know that all dogs were created from inbreeding and crossing breeds way back when. I'm wondering who and how it is decided which dogs go on to become AKC recognized dogs as opposed to a mutt, because in a real sense, all dogs are mutts? Such as many of the new designer dogs that people are making. I'm sure it's just a matter of time before one of them gets the label "pure bred" and becomes a recognized breed by the AKC. Who sets the standards? How do they make this decision?

Hope this question makes sense.

Answer 1

That's an excellent question and one that not enough people take the time to think about.

Definition of purebred depends a bit on who is doing the defining. Typically a "breed" comes into being when a group of people establishes a breed standard, and typically a breed club (or sometimes clubs). Does it sound silly that a dog is just a dog one day and special breed the next? Well, it can be. Now, not everyone has to go and *recognize* that breed, which is what you see with the controversy over dogs like Labradoodles.

AKC is one organization that oversees the management of breeds, and oversees some 150 breeds. In order for AKC to recognize a breed, the breed must have I think 5 generations of records on dogs bred and must have a closed stud book, which means that all dogs that are available for consideration are on record, and you can't willy nilly bring in new dogs and call them X breed. This is good for overall consistency (who gets to decide what dogs to bring in?), but bad in that it creates some rather serious inbreeding problems. I will note that every AKC breed has a parent breed club that sets the actual standard for the breed... AKC just sets the overarching rules. There are breed clubs that have nothing to do with AKC, too, like Jack Russell Terrier Club of America (JRTCA), which tracks its own pedigrees and has its own rules about what dogs need to do in order to qualify. Then there are organizations like CKC (Continental Kennel Club) and dozens of other junk registries who cheerfully hand out pedigrees but don't do anything to actually verify them... they just print out whatever information a breeder gives them. Some of these registries do serve a valid purpose, (like National Kennel Club, NKC, does performance events) they will NOT be verifying pedigree.

There are a couple of different ways a breed come come into being to the point where someone would choose to form a breed standard in the first place. One is that a certain "type" of dog develops in a given region due to conditions in that region and some level of indirect human intervention -- Basenji and some of the livestock guardian breeds are good examples of this kind. The second kind is a breed that someone deliberately sets out to create a breed of dog -- Shiloh Shepherd is one example of this, Labradoodle could fit in this category too if you count it as a breed. The third kind might be where a breed of dog emerges out of a breeding program to create a certain kind of dog without the explicit intention of creating a breed -- I can't think of any examples off-hand from today's AKC world, but dogs like the Border Jack and the Lurcher (popular in the U.K.) are a few that could possibly qualify here in the future.

The reason that AKC breeds tend to be recognized over many others is that AKC has very high standards for what can qualify as a breed. This isn't always for the best, but it does mean that a breed has to be pretty well established to qualify for AKC-recognition. You asked specifically about Labradoodles. IF the parent club for Labradoodles (which I'm not sure if one even exists) were to decide to push for AKC recognition, they could organize and apply for recognition when they meet all the requirements for establishment. The problem with most of the designer dog breeds, including Labradoodles, is that a majority of the breeders are only in it for the quick buck and not really trying to create a breed. Furthermore, my understanding is that most of the time, breeders always cross a Labrador and a Poodle to get the Labradoodle. You can't get down 5 generations if everyone is always starting with generation #1! The thrust seems to be in keeping Labradoodles as a hybrid rather than developing it into a true breed, which is what would happen by that fifth generation.

There's nothing inherently wrong with breeding dogs that are not part of an established breed if there is a plan and purpose around the breeding. SOME designer dog breeders, including the original Labradoodle breeder, meet this criterion. The problem is that the designer dog phenomenon is a puppy-millers dream... no one is asking for AKC papers, no one is asking for health clearances, dogs don't even have to look like any specific expectation AND you can charge full price or more? Sweet!

Answer 2

Not all breeds are recognized by the AKC, about half I think. Just look at the winners in European shows and you will see breeds that are not AKC.

A breeds breed club sets a standard and works towards AKC acceptance and there is much work involved and steps you have to take.

It is not a matter of time before designer dogs are accepted. They are no closer to becoming a breed than they were 20 years ago. They are still at the F1 stage (ex. Lab X Poodle), they don't even have a standard, there is no purpose for the 'breed', and the 'breeders' are not even trying anyway. They are not working toward uniformity and setting of type, not that they have a standard to breed to anyhow.

If you want to learn of a real breed in the making, read about the Silken Windhound, (NOT to be confused with the long haired Whippet, there is NO such thing and they are Sheltie X Whippet). They have a purpose, are breeding true to a standard, and a dedicated group of people who have been working towards breed status for many years. They WILL be a breed. However, the designer dogs are no closer than they were 20 years ago.

Answer 3

Every dog that is Registered with the AKC was bred for a purpose. Breeders got together and formed a breed by mixing and inbreeding (Some dogs were also just discovered with the type and temperament in place already) until they got the temperament type and structure for what they wanted the dog to be used for. When they felt that the dog had reached all of their goals, this is when they wrote the standard and from then on, all the breeders of that particular breed should strive to meet those standards to keep the original purpose in place. It is a very complicated and would be a long winded answer for me to go into completely. :0)

Answer 4

Im not sure. Buttt if its a purebred i think its two of the same breed but if its a muttor a mixed dog its Like two different breeds put together? yeah hehe srry i dont know more! gl

Answer 5

They make different breeds to accomplish desired characteristics. If someone likes the characteristics of the 2 breeds, they cross them so hopefully they pick up both desirable characteristics.

Answer 6

"MOST OF US" are ***WRONG***!!!

The "most of us" you refer to are IGNORANT "pet-people" who don't know SQUAT about ANY dog,let alone a QUALITY pure bred animal.

The Moron League is HUGE & ever-growing & "fad-following-fools" that *imagine* all sorts of ERRONEOUS crap.

NO MUTT/MONGREL will EVER be "recognised as a breed" BECAUSE they are MUTT/MONGRELS!