MANASSAS, Va. — Mutt lovers, rise. It is a historic spring for all of your shelter dogs, mixes, halfsies and whatsits.
For the first time in the 125-year history of the American Kennel Club, mutts are being allowed to compete alongside the champion bloodlines.
Not in the “beauty contests,” Mattaponi Kennel Club show chair Katie Knepley said as she briskly walked around at a competition last weekend. In “conformation” events, judges evaluate how precisely a dog conforms to its breed’s standards, which mutts do not have.
But the skill-based contests — Agility, Rally and Obedience — were officially opened last month to mixed breeds, referred to at Mattaponi as “All Americans.”
Otis — the result of an illicit tryst between a purebred Husky and a rakish Lab/Chow neighbor dog — was one of two “All Americans” in a Rally event that included about 40 entries.
“AKC has always been best known as an advocate for purebred dogs,” the AKC’s Gina DiNardo said in discussing the change. “But (we’re) concerned about the welfare of all dogs. . . . We want you to become part of our fold.”
Otis, second in Saturday’s Novice competition, competed at the Advanced level Sunday on a more difficult course, and placed third. Good dog.
