Mixed Breed Dogs Can Now Compete In AKC Events

Recently, the American Kennel Club (AKC) announced that mixed breed dogs can now register and participate in AKC Agility, Obedience, and Rally competitions starting on April 1, 2010. So if you have a mixed breed dog, your four-legged friend can now compete in the same classes and earn the same titles as their pure breed cousins .

The AKC Canine Partners Listing Program

Mixed breed dogs are now eligible to participate in these events as part of the AKC Canine Partners Listing Program. As a requirement, all dogs listing in the program must be spayed or neutered.

Note: Wolf hybrids are not eligible to participate.

You can enroll your dog in the program at the AKC website or download an application and mail it in – Click Here (the application will open in a new window).

AKC clubs will offer these events on a voluntary basis. Each club decides whether or not they want to offer events that will allow mixed breeds to enter. Before submitting an entry, check with the club first to see if they are accepting entries for mixed breed dogs.

The Debate

Of course, this new development has led to some debate among current AKC competitors about accepting mixed breed dogs to compete in these events. Most of the debate is based on the fact that many of these events accept only a limited number of entries. This is usually because of the size of the facilities and the number of available judges.

These events can fill up pretty fast. So the argument is that by adding mixed breed dogs into the mix (no pun intended), some current participants may be locked out of the event as a result of the increased number of dogs trying to enter. That seems like a valid concern.

On the other hand, many people are happy that mixed breeds can now compete in these events. They point out that opening participation to other dogs will increase overall interest in Agility, Obedience, and Rally events. This in turn can lead to additional events and increased revenue for clubs – usually a good thing.

How To Participate

As I mentioned, participation in any of these events requires enrollment in the AKC Canine Partners program. Find a club that offer training classes in your local area. To find a club, go to the AKC events page, from there you should be able to find one in your area.

A good starting point is to work with your dog to earn an AKC Good Citizen certificate.

If your dog has already been competing in similar events then you just need to register your dog with AKC Canine Partners to get an AKC number. After that start entering events that are accepting entries from mixed breed dogs.

If you will be competing in Agility competitions then you will need an AKC Agility Height Card. Contact your local AKC club for a measuring clinic schedule. You can also have your dog measured at the first event you attend.

Where To Find Events

To find events accepting mixed breed dogs, go to the AKC event search page. Click on the “Obedience, Agility, AKC Rally” tab and then check the box for “Mix Breeds” to narrow your search further.

Remember that the AKC Canine Partners Program is a new program so things may still change as they grow and become more established. However, the good news is that mixed breed dogs can now compete in AKC events in Agility, Obedience, and Rally. 

Both dogs and dog owners benefit when they are able to compete in a wider variety of events. So this is certainly a positive step in the right direction, especially considering that mixed breed dogs are given their due. They can compete just as hard as any pure breed dog.

What do you think?