AKC Canine Partner Program: From Morkies to Making a Better Future for AKC?

A Morkie Puppy:

Will AKC "Papers" from Pet Shops Help AKC's Future?

NOTE: This post is part of the Dog Agility Blog Action Day event on Improving Agility Organizations. Once you're done reading, please visit the other posts!

Last week, I posted a discovery that AKC Canine Partnership enrollments can be used by pet shops to to sell puppy mill dogs with "AKC papers". The only condition is an unenforced "promise" to neuter the puppy once it reaches an appropriate age. 

It's not just about mixed breeds: The enrollment can be applied to both unregistered "purebreds" and mixed breeds alike.

The problem? Uninformed buyers easily can mistake the term "enrollment" or "listing" for full AKC "registration". 

The incident that brought to this to light was a relative who described a second hand puppy she had purchased as an "AKC registered Morkie".

On inspection, the papers actually were from the American Kennel Club, not some off brand registry. The certificate came in the same AKC-logo emblazoned envelope that your dog's title certificates arrive in.

At the time I was writing the post, I also made a phone call to the AKC Inspections and Investigations Department. I received a phone call back the next day from one of their representatives explaining the rationale for the AKC Canine Partners Program.

Some of the reasons seemed worthy and valid:

• The program exposes new puppy buyers to all the activities available to them as an AKC participant.
• The program supports their development as responsible pet owners through a variety of communications.
• It offers a coupon for low cost spay or neuter (which is not required or enforced).

But there are some portions of the program that could result in some potentially negative outcomes for both the AKC and its communities:

• The "enrollment could be intentionally presented as "AKC papers" by unscrupulous puppy merchants to gain a price that is often in the $1,000 range.
• The uninformed, impulse buyer could misinterpret the enrollment as an "AKC registration"
• No enforceable neutering requirement could result in litters from these dogs being sold intentionally or unintentionally as from "AKC registered parents".
• Puppies could be intentionally sold or resold as "AKC registered" by the uninformed or unscrupulous buyer/sellers.
• The enrollment does nothing to support or protect the quality or origin standards of the puppies.
• No barrier currently exists for unneutered Canine Partner dogs to participate in AKC Companion events such as agility and obedience. As long as the dog is not "caught," it can potentially participate and even earn titles and championships. AKC participants should not be put in the position of being default "neuter police" for this program.

I was told that the main reason for the Canine Partners program was to help shore up the sagging registration numbers for AKC registered breeds and entries in AKC conformation shows. 

The 2010 AKC National Agility Championship begins:

Agility is the bright spot in AKC growth today.

I understand the dilemma, and as an active participant in AKC agility, I don't wish to see the AKC fail. Instead, I would prefer to see future plans that strengthen both the AKC mission and its real support for the dogs it represents.

For this reason, I made the following recommendations to the AKC representative:

• Provide a limited enrollment to all unneutered dogs. Provide full enrollment (including ability to participate in AKC events) upon proof of spay or neuter.
• Shore up the language on the AKC Canine Partner online enrollment form to include language that states that an enrollment does not constitute an AKC registration.
• Put penalties in place for sellers who are found to be misconstruing AKC Canine Partner enrollments as "AKC papers" or "AKC registration."
• Include clarification of Canine Partner rights and privileges with owner communications including what the AKC Canine Partner program means and does NOT mean.

I requested these be forwarded to the Advisory Board for the Canine Pet Partnerships program. If you share concerns, I was advised that the best course for agility participants to pursue was to contact the AKC Agility Advisory Committee or AKC Director of Agility, Carrie DeYoung.

To be honest, AKC registration is not a super big issue for most agility trainers and competitors. Being a part of an organization that supports the true well being and future of dogs is. After all, there are other valid and established venues will happily accept our entry fees.

As a growing power within the AKC, the agility community needs to let their voice be heard on how we want this organization to grow. 

If you have further ideas that might improve this program or the future for AKC, leave a comment below.

AKC Canine Partners Program Can Be Used by Pet Shops to Sell Puppy Mill Dogs as High Priced "AKC Registered" Dogs

What a shame. We believed in you, AKC!

The AKC Canine Partners Program can easily be co-opted by Pet Shops and their puppy mill cohorts to mislead puppy buyers that their mixed breed and randomly bred "purebred" puppies are "AKC registered" and thus worth asking prices of close to $1,000.

Here is a letter of complaint I sent to the AKC today on this poorly monitored program. Please share this information with your show contacts, public pet owners and AKC reps. Stop in pet stores yourself to check to see if puppies are being offered as "AKC registered" when in fact the seller merely submitted an online Canine Partnership enrollment. Report any misrepresentations to the AKC Investigations and Inspections Department. The AKC will not take action to tighten standards on this program unless they receive reports. 

Letter text:

A relative recently bought a second hand dog that was originally sold from a retail chain pet shop in St. Louis for $900. The seller led the buyers to believe it was an "AKC registered Morkie". On inspection of the certificate, this was found to be a Canine Partnership enrollment. 

I believe this program is seriously faulty in that it allows dogs to be "registered" with no spay or neutering or any other requirements other than a blind sign up through an online form with no proof of identity or enforcement of enrollment requirements. For example, there is no timeline stated for the neutering to be completed and no stated enforcement or penalties (such as revocation of the enrollment) if the dog is not neutered.

Pet stores can use this easy method to sell puppy mill mixed breed and randomly bred purebred dogs as "AKC registered" allowing pet shops to charge hundreds of dollars for dogs that would be worth much less without the implied "AKC Papers".

The AKC should seriously examine its motives in running such a program that is in effect aiding and abetting both profit earning potential of pet shops and puppy mills and also opening a channel for the easy confusion and scamming of puppy buyers who are easily led to believe they are buying an "AKC registered puppy."

It is too easy for an uninformed impulse driven puppy buyer to misconstrue the difference between and "enrollment" and a "registration."

I will be letting everyone in my dog training community and show circles know about this hugely ill considered program and its consequences for the dogs AKC organization supposedly supports.

I believe this program should be immediately brought up for serious review to prevent the misuse of Pet Partnerships as a vehicle that opens the door to potential fraud against uninformed pet shop puppy buyers.