I wouldn't ascribe any mysterious meaning to the choice of dates. AWDF is usually a pretty small time gig, and heck it's hard to schedule an event in the spring without conflicting with something. Plus you have to go with what's convenient for your host club or organizers. I hope someone from that area goes to the demo; would love to hear what it looks like.

Originally posted by Lee Baragona - Sch3FH2:
USA may be left without a chair when the music stops; it already looks like USA will be completely cut out of the world championships this year, with WDA controlling the team. I'm just curious where the helpers are going to come from for this AKC program. I like to be optimistic and think that expanding the base of schutzhund will maybe bring more guys into the sport to learn helper skills, cuz this country is soooooooo weak on talented helpers. What is the deal with the team this year? I am hearing alot of different things as far as how the selection will be made?

If this is the case then slowley but surley memberships will change and hopefull a crediable helpers program will get started over in AKC. I would think once all this starts getting into place the exposure will be pretty good, thus causing more people to get involved.

This is ony what I've heard and that for sure doesn't make it gospel... WDA is refusing to give any ground at all to USA. They are refusing any compromise offer to split the team between the two orgs. Many big names in USA who had planned to go to WUSV are going to the AWDF, just in case, so they can perhaps make the FCI team instead.

Here's a linkto what the CKC is doing:
http://members.shaw.ca/plentypaws/wt.htm

From what I was told by a person who is somewhat 'involved', the higher level is equivilent to IPO1. So the danger of the AKC representing (or emabarassing) the US at the FCI World Championships is going to be something in the future.
I'm with you VC, I'm not sure whether to be scared out of my mind or have some hope for this. I'm tending to be scared, though. I feel that the AKC is doing this simply to gain membership within the FCI & therefore strip away the chances for the USA and/or AWDF. Why else would the AKC reverse their position on SchH/IPO/Ring Sport, that they've held for 30+ years? This should either be fought tooth and nail or taken over by those of us that really give a damn about the working qualities of our dogs.
Again, I ask, why re-create something that already exists? The AKC is attempting to re-do what has been and is being done by the AWDF. Why doesn't the AKC recognize the AWDF, or even absorb the AWDF without somehow screwing it all up.
I'm very suspicious of an organization trying to re-invent and govern something it has scoffed at and denounced for so many years.

Just my opinion, but AKC is all about the money, and I really think that 9/11 stimulated a lot of interest in S&R dogs and working dogs in general. So now there is a new market for AKC to tap into. I'm betting you're going to see a ton of non-working breeds and owners competing at the lower levels, and AKC raking in the dough. An awful lot of AKC ob/agility competitors are title-hungry. They love adding new letters after their dogs' names, and to be the first in their breed to get the title, heck, that's the cat's meow. So if AKC can come up with new venues for offering titles that draw upon the resources that already exist in their ob/agility clubs (agility equipment, etc), then why not jump in feet first?

Yep, now after thinking it over this morning, I'm NOT encouraged by this news.

BTW, where are you getting this information Lee.

I wonder who is putting together the program and who is going to run it.

Dennis,

Our of curosity, what LEA or Military organization needs an AKC certificate on their dogs? Many of them have started to stop using regestered dogs, and the AKC program will only be open to AKC REGESTERED DOGS. There are not enough LEA or Military dogs for it to be a profitable venture for AKC even if you could convince them that they need to spend money they don't have on a certificate that means NOTHING, and does not test for the work they do.

The current AKC position, as they have PUBLICLY stated is to ban protection sports to try and PREVENT BREED BANS. We all know how well that has worked. In the last few years we havn't seen any breed bans coming about. Funny thing is that there were any breed bans in the U.S., that I know of, until AFTER the AKC adopted their policy.

While I agree that working dog people could do better in presenting what there dogs do, I fail to see how an orginazition that does not believe that ANY dog should be protection trained (or even capable of doing protection work) is going to improve that situation. THe best way for the public to understand protection dogs is by demonstrations of GOOD protection dogs in a public setting.

The AKC is looking to jump a bandwagon over which they have no current control because their current policy has failed. Why should we believe they want an improvement in a situation that they have created?

From what I understand gaining membership in the FCI is without doubt the plan.
I dont understand how it all works but isnt the AKC the only recognized kennel club in America? So when they gain memebership in the FCI doesnt that put them in the drivers seat? Once again Im not sure how it all works but I do know it doesnt look good.

Richard "Terminator" Cannon nailed that one.