The American Kennel Club has opened up some of its activities to Mutts.  It took 125 years, but now the plain old everyday Mutt will finally be recognized by our very own AKC.

Mutts can’t compete in the confirmation rings.  In these rings the judges are judging the dog against the standard of the breed.  Those standards include height, weight, coat type, color, overall appearance and any distinguishing characteristics that the dog must have.  Since Mutts come in about any shape, size and color they don’t have a standard.  Consequently they have nothing to be judged against.

But, take heart Mutt lovers.  We all know that our very own Mutt pet has special talent.  So with a little training you can make your favorite dog into a champion in AKC skill-based contests — Agility, Rally and Obedience.

Personally, I think this has been far too long in coming.  I believe that some of the greatest dogs around are Mutts. I have been lucky enough to share my life with more than one mixed breed and you could not find better companions, friends or pets.

From the Washington Post;

Otis is eating a cow hoof. When he is finished, he might beg his owner, with low gentle moans, for a piece of string cheese — Otis will do anything for string cheese — or he might lick his rear end. Otis is brown(ish) and fluffy(ish) and weighs about 65 pounds. Otis is the result of an illicit tryst between a purebred husky and a rakish Lab-chow neighbor dog.

Mutt lovers, rise. It is a historic spring for all of your shelter dogs, mixes, halfsies and whatsits.

For the first time in the 125-year history of the American Kennel Club — the venerable organization whose mission is to “advance the study, breeding, exhibiting, running and maintenance of purebred dogs” — mutts are being allowed to compete alongside the champion bloodlines.

You can read the rest and see a bunch of pictures here.

I don’t know about you, but Otis sounds like a pretty cool dog to me.  Quite like  the dogs I have lived with.

I guess what it all boils down to is this, your dog doesn’t have to be an expensive purebred to be the most beautiful best friend you have ever had.  Every one of us knows that our own dog is the best and most special canine in the world.  Right?  Allowing Mutts in the skill events at AKC just gives you the chance to show the rest of the world haw very great your dog is.