In a move which is more controversial than most people might think, the American Kennel Club has approved mutts (which they have dubbed "All-American") as entrants to certain AKC events.  The skill-based contests, Agility, Rally, and Obedience, now allow mutts to compete.

This move has hackles raised on both sides of the fence.  On the mutt side, if you ask a lot of people involved in animal rescue and animal welfare, the AKC is the single worst thing that ever happened to dogs.  

Until the 1800s, there was no such thing as a "dog breed."  There were just dogs of various sorts, and people chose the dog that was either closest (i.e. "neighbor Bob's dog had pups") or most suited to their purpose ("I hear Nancy has a dog that's great with sheep, and she just had pups").  It wasn't until kennel clubs came along and wrote up breed standards that people began mentally dividing the world of dogs into "purebreds" and "mutts."

By enforcing and encouraging a breed standard, the AKC invalidated most dogs in the world.  By writing their breed standards such that looks are the only thing that counts, the AKC has contributed to the inbreeding of purebred dogs, whose limited genetic heritage leaves them vulnerable to a bewildering array of diseases and birth defects which are largely unknown in mixed breed dogs.

On the purebred side, the entire point of AKC events is to single out the "best and brightest."  A dog which both wins its breed class on looks, and wins an Agility trial, is a better dog than one who wins only the breed class.  The first dog will improve the breed as a whole.  (And can command a higher price for its offspring - no small consideration, despite all the airy philosophical talk.)  

Early on in the decision process, some breeders worried that if a mutt won the Agility trials, it would waste a slot that could have gone to a purebred.  Thus defeating the entire purpose of the AKC, which is to regulate and advance the quality of purebred dogs in America.  The AKC honored this argument by creating a "separate but equal" rule.  Mutts will only compete against other mutts, and purebreds will only compete against other purebreds.  Separate titles will be awarded for mutts and purebreds.

For its part, the American Kennel Club has cited two reasons for the change allowing mutts under the AKC tent.  First, it wants to be "more inclusive."  There is talk of bringing mutt owners "into the fold," and of advancing the cause of all dogs; not just the pretty, ribbon-winning, breeding dogs.  Second, the AKC has seen a decline in revenue over the past few years, and opening the floor to mutts will definitely help to bolster their bottom line.

In a larger philosophical context, it can be argued that since the AKC is the reason there are so many unwanted mutts in the world, the least they can do is acknowledge their existence.  

Because so many people demand a purebred dog, thousands of perfectly good mixed-breed dogs are euthanized every year.  At the same time, the desire for a purebred dog drives the horrific puppy mill industry, which churns out thousands of sick, injured, and abused dogs for sale to gullible buyers who are willing to pay hundreds of dollars for a so-called "purebred" dog.

Creative Commons-licensed image courtesy of Flickr user rcoder