While AKC has a long history of promoting “Barbie-doll” show breeding (harmful to dogs and detrimental to the future of working breeds); its active promotion of PAWS is a direct attack against dog breeders.

The PAWS legislation will force most people who raise puppies or kittens to conform to a one-size-fits all standard, a ‘Walmart-ization’ of puppy rearing, without regard to the physical and social needs of separate breeds, or individual dogs. Every puppy will be raised by the same set of rules, as determined by government bureaucracy. Good or bad.

In human terms, it is the equivalent of the government raising your children – and you have no input.

Not only does the AKC seem to believe in this approach to puppy-rearing, it is trying to force that belief on all breeders of dogs, even those that don’t choose to register with AKC.

http://www.cfainc.org/exhibitors/alert-US-PAWS.html
http://www.dfow.org/paws.htm

For the AKC to force this is unethical and irresponsible. And so is supporting the organization that does this to it’s own breeders.

AKC’s unflattering history.

While AKC is attacking ethical breeding practices with PAWS, AKC has undermined the health and well-being of purebred dogs for many years.

AKC and it’s member clubs promote conformation competitions, where breeds compete for AKC titles - not based on their ability to do the work they were created for, but based only on interpretation of a written description of what the breed looks like.

History has long shown interpretation of written descriptions not only varies between individuals, but between generations as well. Far from acting as a preserver of appearance, a written description used as a goal for competition, creates fashion trends. The pressure to win titles and ribbons prompts selection for traits that match the dogs that win, not the general description. Eventually the written description is changed to match fashion trend.

These activities have resulted in severe and unnatural physical deformities and dog breeds that can’t survive without intense human intervention in basics such as reproduction.

In addition, the AKC has actively selected as “Breed Clubs”, those that promise to promote conformation shows. Not those dedicated to preserving the heritage and purpose of the breed.

Further AKC has contributed to the downfall of breeds by encouraging its member Breed Clubs to impose breeding restrictions based on feelings, not science. Examples are restrictions against breeding before a certain age, limits on the number of litters a bitch may have in a certain number of years, and recommendations to spay or neuter puppies before 6 months of age.