FCI vs AKC: The Standards Debate That Divides Breeders
Two organizations, two philosophies, one breed. Why international exhibitors increasingly face impossible choices about which standard to follow.
The Standards Beat
Independent reporting on breed standards, show ring politics, and the ongoing debates that shape purebred dog breeding. I cover what happens behind the scenes at kennel clubs worldwide.
By William Hayes, Breed Standard Expert
Featured Analysis
Inside the Judge's Mind: What They Really Look For
After interviewing dozens of championship judges, I can tell you the written standard is only half the story. Here's what actually happens in their heads.
The Politics of Breed Recognition
Getting a new breed recognized involves more backroom dealing than most exhibitors realize. I followed three breeds through the process.
Why Some Working Dogs Fail the Show Ring
The best herding dogs I've watched would lose to couch potatoes at any conformation show. That disconnect isn't accidental.
Working Dog Standards Series
By William Hayes, Breed Standard Expert
Working Line vs Show Line German Shepherds
The gap between working and show German Shepherds has never been wider. Understanding this divide is essential for anyone serious about the breed's future.
Structural Soundness in Working Breeds
Sound structure isn't about beauty—it's about biomechanics. Why working dog standards should prioritize function over form.
Temperament Requirements in Working Standards
Structure is visible. Temperament is not. This invisibility has allowed temperament to erode in show populations while physical type remains superficially preserved.
Breed Preservation Through Working Programs
Working programs preserve breeds more effectively than show programs. Function maintains type. When function is removed, breeds drift.
FCI Breeding Requirements Explained
The fundamental difference between FCI and AKC: FCI often requires working demonstrations before dogs can breed, and AKC never does.
Schutzhund and IPO Explained
Understanding what Schutzhund, IPO, and IGP titles actually mean—what they test, how scoring works, and what passing indicates about working ability.
AKC Standard Reform: Why Change Is Difficult
Reformers have proposed changes for decades. Almost nothing has changed. Understanding why reform fails helps assess what approaches might succeed.
Belgian Malinois and Dutch Shepherd Standards
How standards address working requirements in these elite working breeds, and why their working communities have preserved what others have lost.
The Border Collie Controversy
Working Border Collie enthusiasts predicted AKC recognition would destroy working ability. Thirty years later, their predictions have proven substantially correct.