This has been very interesting. I've been showing in both venues for 3 years. Depending on the competition in your area it can be very easy to finish an UKC champion. All you need is a dog of each sex where one is clearly a better speciman of the breed and you can finish in 3 shows, I know I've done it. I've also taken in my boy and have beaten AKC champions. I've seen lousy dogs in the UKC ring and I've seen Westminster winners in the UKC ring. It is good practice and less intimidating than AKC for a beginner.
AKC can be great fun but it does take a while to make friends and fit in. I guess it's like anywhere else that there is competition. Some of the judges in UKC are very educated, some judge in both venues like Sharon Griffin, and some are long time breeders like Joyce Lea-Hanson whose foundation goes back to England. Some like a couple of judges in AKC don't have a clue and would even put up a dog with sickle hock because it has a nice coat. I've seen excellence and crap in both but I do know that the AKC title is harder to obtain by far and is the most coveted title in the world.
I guess in the end it just depends on your goals and the assets that are available to you. As far as the sale of pups are concerned I don't think it makes a ton of difference to pet owners. UKC champions are listed as U champions on most of the pedigrees that I've seen. The quality of the pup is determined by the genes that are are given by the dam and sire and the prepotency of those parents for the desired traits. A title is desirable and a definite goal for me but it doesn't show the dog's genotype, it would be simpler if it did.
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Tami |