It's interesting to see various responses to the new program. Some are excited and others think it's a joke.

 

@lestat1978 that is the reaction we are getting at my club. Some think it is ridiculous (and another money grab from the AKC) while some see it as a nice way to get more people involved in dog sports. I am in the latter group. Anything to get people more invested in their relationship with their dog, the better.

 

Some people see anything except their preferred sport with their preferred breed(s) as a "money grab for the AKC". People screamed and hollered over letting mixed breeds compete. People screamed and hollered over scent work. I gave up and left one FB group over the screaming and hollering about Fit Dog titles. Of course the AKC is looking to make more money. There is a lot more competition for dog sports dollars than there used to be back in the day, from a lot more organizations. And a lot of them are more open and friendly to newcomers than some AKC sports (cough obedience cough cough).

For what it's worth, between them, the three dogs I currently own have a total of 133 titles in 7 (I think) different sports from a total of 11 different organizations. Only 12 of those titles are from AKC.

 

Impressive

 

And a lot of them are more open and friendly to newcomers than some AKC sports (cough obedience cough cough).

and there are some way less friendly to newcomers (cough Schuzhund cough cough)

 

Happy to see another option for people to try with their dog!
Fetch makes me giggle for my guys, though. Zyan will do it because I ask him to. Zany looks at me like "why did you throw it if you wanted it, doofus?"