<p>i don’t get it, why is the AKC against neuturing dogs? Why aren’t neutured animals allowed to compete?</p>
<p>I find this appalling and pretty selfish </p>
<p>THe logic escapes me and makes me angry</p>
<p>Because dog shows are a place for dog breeders to show off their merchandise. The prizes go to dogs to enhance their value as breeders. The whole function of AKC is to promote the breeding of purebred dogs. </p>
<p>I believe that it is o.k. for neutered pets to participate in AKC obedience & agility trials, which can be a lot of fun.</p>
<p>The AKC is in favor of the neutering and spaying of dogs that are not purebred, and dogs that are not good candidates for breeding.</p>
<p>Neutered/spayed dogs compete in agility (my poodle is one of them), obedience, rally, tracking, hunt tests, and more. Only the “breed ring” is limited to intact dogs, for exactly the reasons calmom identifies.</p>
<p>The AKC has done a lot to promote “responsible dog ownership.”</p>
<p>As far as neutering/spaying goes, you should be aware that there is evidence that early neutering and spaying are actually detrimental to the long-term health of the dog. <a href=“http://naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf[/url]”>http://naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf</a></p>
<p>There are also many dog rescue people who feel that the quality of “mutts” has declined as a result of the emphasis on early spay/neuter, because nice family dogs no longer are part of the breeding pool. The theory is that only irresponsible owners fail to neuter their dogs now and those people are more likely to allow aggressive dogs to breed. I’m not sure I agree, but it’s an explanation for the large number of aggressive mutts I see at the dog park.</p>