I'm confused as to why you think it's conflicted, they've had this program for years, it's not new, it used to be called something else, but they will not be able to be sold as an AKC registered dog, it's just so that they can compete in other activities the AKC has for dogs. What’s wrong with that? As many have said they HAVE to be neutered so there will be no breeding. The AKC believes like I do that "mutts" or crossbreeds or whatever you want to call them are wonderful dogs, and should be allowed every right that a pedigreed dog has, except they don't believe in breeding them, because no one can predict the results. It's hard enough with purebreds. If you can predict the result of breeding, with some certainty, you will be able to predict how and adult will behave and look. If you can do that, you cut down greatly in the number of dissatisfied owners who want a specific looking dog who acted in a certain manner. That’s one of the reasons shelters are filled with mix breeds, the owners didn’t like the way that they looked or behaved as adults. Of course you still have those who don’t study the breed before they buy them. :(

It appears that this program will increase revenue for AKC if it catches on. It does not encourage the breeding of mixed breeds. It does offer those who register their mixed breeds access to other programs that help raise money for AKC like pet insurance, etc.

The only official programs that members will have access to are obedience and agility trials. I think it is a good thing for owners of mixed breeds to be able to compete in obedience and agility. I have seen some very smart and well trained mixed breeds.

Even the Heinz 57 varieties of dogs are eligible for this program. It has nothing to do with the dog having a previous AKC registration.

That's so true that people just get rid of dogs because of their behavior, which a lot of time is really a genetic thing at its core.

Very true, my schnorkie was dumped at the pound in the middle of the night and was aleeady micheochipped which came back registered to both a known pup mill broker and a breeder-neither responded to calls from the pound.
So we got Scoobers at 5 months old...I assume he was dumped because he didn't sell as he is the most freakish undesirable result of a yorkie miniature schnauzer hybrid possible.
I didn't realize this was an older program through AKC-I can just imagine BYB and the like misinforming buyers about how a designer or hybrid pup can have some AKC acceptance as both parents were AKC...guess it's been a nonissue so far since it's not new. Thankfully, although I'm super interested now wish I knew if Scoobers parents were both AKC I'd love to have him participate-he's a neurotic hot mess but he love doing our pretend agility in the backyard with his boy (my son Milo) we have a ramp, tunnel and some jumps we made complete with mini cones-its hilarious!

AKC and for that matter CKC in Canada, do need to increase their revenues.

And I really don't get why the AKC puts the onus on the owners of the puppies to register them. Here we the breeders are responsible for registering the litter AND sending in the paperwork to show the sale and transfer of ownership to the new owner. Voila that puppy is always registered. And we are NOT allowed to charge extra for this. Papers are a "right" of the new owners; not something that needs to be "begged for".

In fact the puppy's registration certificate and pedigree are sent directly to the new owner.

I have no problem competing with "mixes" in the obedience and or agility ring. Each dog's performance is measured against how well they do a particular skill, and in the case of agility time to perform also counts.

I not too sure what it will mean for TOP DOG AWARDS though. Will the mixes count in when the points are counted for TOP OBEDIENCE Dog per breed, per group, et al? I guess they might have to have separate reporting mechanisms. And for many of us in the performance sports, those standings matter a whole lot.

As a working dog owner and trainer, our obedience scores and standings, reflect my breeding program, and are coveted.

There will always be those type of breeders, now they call the registered, by the registry is the CKC, not be confused with the reputable Canadian CKC. That's why it's important that people register their dogs with the AKC, that will keep breeders honest. If a breeder says "No need to register, you aren't going to breed or show" you can be sure something fishy is going on.

I guess the AKC doesn't want the breeder to increase the cost of the dog to cover that process of registering, etc., as one of the reasons?

The way it is now with AKC, if you don't want to register your puppy and pay for the process, you don't have to do anything and I guess overall save some money. I don't know if that is the main reason for how they do it here or what. The amount to register is so small you wouldn't think that would be the issue but maybe it is.

Your remark about whether or not those mutt(love the term and use it lovingly!) or mixed breed scores are going to compete with your and other AKC purebred dogs, there's a lot to think about. As a breeder, I sure wouldn't want my dog's scores in any way reflected on or somehow diminished by non-purebred dog competitors and I don't mean that in any elitist way. It just seems that all of the hard work in selecting and breeding for the qualities needed to perform any physical task, agility or other high-performance activities at a high level by studious breeders could be compromised if the scores aren't kept separate. I'll admit I know nothing about it all but it is worrisome.