Re: Breeder & Breeding Information
I'd take that particular article with a very large grain of salt. In the first place, it's almost 15 years old; times have changed (and the two breeds mentioned as rejecting becoming an AKC-recognized breed are now, in fact, AKC-recognized), the AKC contributes $1M per year to their Charitable Health Foundation, which funds research into canine diseases (genetic or otherwise). Secondly, it's very heavily AR-influenced (well, the numerous quotes from Michael Fox are a big tip-off) and as usual, promotes the myth that mutts are somehow healthier than purebreds (despite the fact that not only do many different breeds share the same genetic diseases, but a dog from two different breeds is thus at risk for the genetic diseases from *both* breeds). As well, it's quite a stretch to blame the AKC for the fact that some breeders don't do health screening and some buyers don't know or care about it; of course this was written before the advent of all the sham registries like ConKC popped up - as a result of AKC tightening their registration requirements.