Date: November 10, 2009
Contact: AKC Communications
Phone: 212-696-8343
E-mail: communications@ akc.org
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
New Canine Partners Program Welcomes Mixed-Breed Dogs into the World of
AKC.
New York, NY - For the past 125 years, the American Kennel Club® has been the only organized group of dog lovers providing millions of purebred dogs and their owners with engaging, lasting and just plain fun ways to celebrate the canine-human bond. AKC programs span the entire spectrum-from highly competitive events to basic training, from funding research that advances canine health to returning lost dogs home safely- the overall well-being of dogs is the theme that runs consistently throughout all our efforts.
Purebred enthusiasts, by sharing their love of dogs with each other, have sprouted thousands of dog clubs throughout the country. These club members, a dedicated group of volunteers who rally around common goals promoting responsible breeding and dog ownership are the rich soil that all AKC programs grow and thrive from.
Now, we are pleased to be able to extend many of the benefits of AKC affiliation to a whole new audience-mixed breed owners. These millions of dog lovers will now be able to do more with their pets by enjoying the excitement of canine competition and accessing a myriad of other AKC resources and services.
I hope you will join me in encouraging the mixed-breed dog owners that you know to visit www.akccaninepartne rs.org and enroll in AKC Canine Partners. For the $35 enrollment fee, owners will receive benefits including AKC CAR lifetime enrollment, a free AKC collar tag, and a one-year subscription to AKC Family Dog magazine. Come next spring they can participate in stand-alone Agility, Obedience and Rally events. By providing these services to dog owners we can help educate them about living better lives with their dogs, and by including a certificate of recognition and decal with their enrollment, we can enable them to proudly display their association with an organization that stands for responsible dog ownership and canine welfare.
So far, the program is being enthusiastically embraced by the fancy with more than 300 AKC-affiliated clubs-Upper Snake Valley Dog Training Club, Inc. in Idaho being the first-having applied to include mixed-breed classes in an upcoming event. Equally encouraging are the more than 1,150 dogs that have already enrolled in just the first month of the program.
Please help us extend the welcome mat to our mixed-breed friends by encouraging enrollment in AKC Canine Partners and by adding mixed-breed classes to your club's upcoming stand-alone companion events. The program will bring many like-minded people together- those who share our passion for dogs and our commitment to responsible dog ownership, those with the power and desire to contribute to their communities via locally-based clubs and those who embody the AKC mission of being a powerful voice that is "the dog's champion" in every way.
Sincerely,
Ron Menaker
Chairman
“Hey there Delilah, what’s it like to have such pretty hair and match the leaves that fall brought here…” Okay, I’m not a lyricist but Delilah (full name: Hey There Delilah) is most definitely a giant silky smooth barrel of fun, worthy enough to write a song about.
She has a spunky personality, a little mischief hiding amongst that tousled fur and she could win an energy contest against the energizer bunny any day, paws down. I’m really not kidding. Three hours into our session she was still pretending she was the lead horse in the Kentucky derby. Spurts of crazy dog runs around the yard, her hoofs (yes, they sounded like hoofs) pounding on the wet ground, kicking leaves and debris into a swirl behind her. I can only hope she slept after I left. Champions needs their rest.
Speaking of those leaves, aren’t they absolutely gorgeous? Here in sweltering Central Florida, where we experience record highs (of 93 degrees!!) in October you don’t often see that sort of thing so I was kind of in heaven up there in Ohio.
Although we were lucky in that our session didn’t get rained upon, it did get pretty drenched the day before. Therefore, it only took a few minutes for li’l Delilah to soak up her paws and legs into a dog boot formation. I tried drying and brushing but my efforts were futile, I tell ya. The minute I got done, she was down the track again. But she was having SO MUCH FUN! She did laps, played with sticks, broke the sticks into pieces, fetched her toys. All the while, stomping around like the little tomboy that she is. Oh, Delilah, what are we going to do with you? I suppose just cuddle you and pet you and love you and play with you some more 
Thank you Delilah and Krista, of Rainmaker Ranch, for letting me get my workout in your beautiful fall weather.
Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a dog addict. Seriously - I've never met a dog I didn't like. Anyone who doesn't know me will probably get a little hint just by reading the title of my blog. I have three Border Collies, and they are my 'kids'. They truly own my heart, and they truly keep me sane. No matter how hard of a day I'm having, when I see my 'kids' come running to see me, my heart melts and my worries take a back burner.
My addiction doesn't just stop with Border Collies though. I've had mixed breeds, a Golden Retriever, a Great Pyrenees, a Boston Terrier, and several different dogs when I was growing up. There are many, many breeds of dogs which I would be thrilled to bring into my family. In fact, one of my dreams is to run a dog rescue. Since that's not a profitable dream, I'm meeting some resistance on that one. hehe
When I first started hearing about dogs people were referring to as "designer dogs", I was a bit concerned and skeptical. My concerns and skepticism no longer exist though, because I've met several people who have one of the various 'designer dog' breeds and/or have knowledge and experience to share with me.
The list of 'designer dogs' continues to grow. These dogs are usually (but not always) Poodle crosses, meaning it's either a Standard or Miniature Poodle crossed with another breed of dog. Some of the most popular are Labradoodles (Labrador X Poodle), Golden Doodles (Golden Retriever X Poodle), Puggles (Pug X Beagle), Schnoodles (Miniature Schnauzer X Poodle, and the Maltipoo (Maltese X Poodle).
One of the crosses I've heard a lot about is the Labradoodle. There are actually two types of Labradoodle. There are the Labrador and Poodle crosses. However, there is also the Australian Labradoodle, which was created by an Australian breeding team in an attempt to create a winning show dog breed. The Australian Labradoodle is made up of six different breeds of dogs.
As I said, our Labradoodles (or the designer dog creation of Labradoodles) are a cross between the Labrador Retriever and the Standard Poodle. However, this breed has been around for long enough now that it has become its own breed and is not considered a cross any longer.
I know some people who have Labradoodles, and they say they are excellent dogs. One common thing I've heard is that these dogs are very intelligent and easy to train. Another great thing is that their coats are non-allergic. So, someone with allergies could still have a dog as a companion.
So, my opinion of designer dogs has come a long way, especially when I hear firsthand experience promoting these dogs. Do you have any experience with these dogs? I'd love to hear what you have to say.
Goodness gracious, just look at them. Aren’t they just squeal-worthy? Abby, the silver coated delight, is a Yorkiepoo. 
She loves attention and cookies of course! She was all about the camera, giving me her best looks. She’s been through quite a bit with her health but you’d never know it by hanging out with her. She seizes the day and carries rays of sunshine in her pocket to hand out to everyone.
Gracie, a Yorkie, is a perfect compliment (and strong competitor for attention) to her sister. She didn’t quite approve of the click that the camera makes and hence, remained elusive so I had to make some bribes and back-end deals to capture her pretty mug. I’m not proud of it but a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. 
I kid, but seriously, Gracie is just DARLING! I love her little face, her hair is like champagne and her button eyes just make me want to bolt her to my lap and pet her till the cows come home.
I had a really nice morning with these two and their parents- thank you all!
