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AKC NEWS

Proposal of the Group Realignment Committee

[Tuesday, November 15, 2011]

The American Kennel Club Board of Directors voted to accept and approve the report of the Group Realignment Committee. The rule changes necessary to implement going from 7 to 11 groups will be read at the December, 2011 Delegate Meeting for a vote in March, 2011. The final decision on assigning breeds rests with the AKC Board, which will consider the input of the breed parent clubs. If adopted, these changes would become effective in 2015.

Realignment FAQ

Why realign the groups?

The proposed Group Realignment will

•Align breeds that are similar in conformation, structure or function

•Improve judges’ education by building on similarities

•Accommodate new breeds within the groups

•Increase entries/enhance exhibitor experience by providing additional opportunities for group placement

•Improve spectator understanding of dog shows

Why now, when the proposal two years ago was set aside?

A number of factors influenced the decision to postpone the Realignment Initiative. Most of those issues are

now resolved, or are on parallel timelines to implement solutions. Revision is inevitable, or the current

scheme becomes unmanageable.

With entries declining, how can AKC justify enlarging the number of Groups?

AKC recently revised the process for accepting new breeds. As these breeds gain full recognition, and begin

appearing in our events, the current groups will become unmanageable. Additional groups bring additional

positive competitive opportunities for our exhibitors.

If we do nothing what happens to sizes of the Groups?

As of 7/1/2011 Current 2014 Projected (adding Miscellaneous)

Sporting

Hound

Working

Terrier

Toy

Non-Sporting

Herding

Can’t we just divide fix the large groups and avoid moving other breeds around?

Incremental solutions only solve half of the problem, but not at half of the cost. After reviewing the comments

from the previous proposal, and understanding the impact that new breeds will have, the committee felt that a

comprehensive revision now would mean we should not have to revisit the groups in 3, 5 or 10 years.

What’s different about this proposal?

A major concern with the 2008 proposal was that the projected size of the working group was not addressed.

This proposal answers that concern.

How long will this take to implement?

Current estimate is 3 years from approval to implementation. Assuming approval would occur in/before mid-

2012, implementation would be mid-2015.

How do these groups align with other organizations?

There was no attempt to mirror any other organization’s structure. There are similarities - and differences - to

FCI and others.

What input do Parent Clubs have in this process? Will they have opportunity to determine what which

group their breed is assigned?

The committee took into consideration the previous comments of all stakeholders. Cogent, well-supported

Parent Club inputs will be given due weight by the AKC BOD in placing breeds into groups. In the long term,

however, the groups will be based on an overall plan to enhance the Sport.

Eleven groups?

Group 1: Sporting - Pointer & Setter

Group 2: Sporting - Retriever & Spaniel

Group 3: Scent Hounds

Group 4: Sight Hounds

Group 5: Working – Utility

Group 6: Working – Molosser

Group 7: Working – Spitz

Group 8: Terriers

Group 9: Toy

Group 10: Non-Sporting

Group 11: Herding

•Sporting group: Divided into Pointer/Setter and Retriever/Spaniel breeds by considering both physical

form and function

•Hound group: Divided into Sight and Scent by function and the physical characteristics related to each

•Working group: Divided into Working-Utility (multi-purpose breeds which vary in ancestry and function) ,

Working-Molosser (generally dogs of the Mastiff type) and Working-Spitz (breeds which have common

physical characteristics and ancestry.)

•Terrier Group: Unchanged

•Toy Group: Toy Group: one breed moved to another group and one breed added.

•Non-Sporting Group: Based on similarity of form and function, Spitz-type breeds were moved to Working-

Spitz. Non-Sporting name is retained

•Herding Group: Several breeds moved to other groups. Remainder of composition unchanged

With this many groups won’t shows take longer? The administrative time to move additional groups in

and out of the ring(s) should not add more than five to ten minutes. Groups can also be judged concurrently.

Of course, more entries resulting from realignment could mean shows would become longer---and that would

be a good thing.

How much more will this cost for AB clubs?

The club determines actual costs based on what it decides to award. Should the club opt for rosettes,

estimated pricing is $35-$50 per each additional group. Prizes are also at the discretion of the show-giving

club. Note: Rosettes and/or prizes are not required by the Rules.

How will realignment affect the approval of judges?

AKC has developed a favorable package for judging approval which relaxed some requirements and enables

judges to attain approvals on a compressed time frame.

What about existing group clubs?

When realignment is implemented, Group Shows may only offer competition for breeds in the new groups. A

breed or variety may only be eligible to compete in one group and that would be the new group to which it is

assigned. Existing Working, Hound, Sporting and Non-Sporting clubs eligible to hold AKC events at the time

of implementation, may concurrently hold shows for the two new Sporting or Hound Groups, the three new

Working Groups, and the Non-Sporting Group may hold shows for the Non-Sporting and Working-Spitz

groups. There may be no inter-group competition, nor Best in Show at these events. When a club offers

competition within the new groupings, they would be treated as two separate, but concurrently held, Group

Shows. There are currently nine approved Sporting, eighteen approved Hound, ten approved Working and

seven approved Non-Sporting Group Clubs.

Realignment Suggested Breed List

The Groups – projections with breeds currently in the Groups, Miscellaneous Class and Foundation Stock Service

(numbers based on inclusion of new breeds and some movement within the groups, as some breeds are recommended for reassignment)

Group 1: Sporting – Pointers & Setters

(18 breeds)

Bracco Italiano

Brittany

Drentsche Patrijshond

Pointer

Pointer (German Shorthaired)

Pointer (German Wirehaired)

Portuguese Pointer

Setter (English)

Setter (Gordon)

Setter (Irish

Setter (Irish Red & White

Small Muenstenlander Pointer

Spinone Italiano

Stabyhoun

Vizsla

Weimaraner

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Wirehaired Vizsla

GSpaniel (Welsh Springer)

Group 3: Scent Hounds

(21 breeds/varieties)

American Foxhound

American English Coonhound

Basset Hound

Beagle (13 in)

Beagle (15 in)

Black & Tan Coonhound

Bloodhound

Bluetick Coonhound

Dachshund (Longhaired)

Dachshund (Smooth)

Dachshund (Wirehaired)

English Foxhound

Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen

Harrier

Otterhound

Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

Plott

Portugese Podengo Pequeno

Redbone Coonhound

Treeing Tennessee Brindle

Treeing Walker Coonhound

Group 5: Working-Utility

(19 breeds)

Anatolian Shepherd

Appenzeller Sennenhunde

Bergamasco

Bernese Mtn. Dog

Black Russian Terrier

Dalmatian

Doberman Pinscher

German Pinscher

Giant Schnauzer

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Great Pyrenees

Entlebucher Mountain Dog

Komondor

Kuvasz

Newfoundland

Portuquese Water Dog

Saint Bernard

Slovensky Cuvac

Standard Schnauzer

Group 7: Working-Spitz

(24 breeds)

Akita

Alaskan Malamute

American Eskimo Dog

Chinese Shar-Pei

Chow Chow

Eurasier

Finnish Lapphund

Finnish Spitz

German Spitz

Icelandic Sheepdog

Jindo

Kai Ken

Karelean Bear Dog

Keeshond

Kishu Ken

Norrbottenspets

Norwegian Buhund

Norwegian Elkhound

Norwegian Lundehund

Samoyed

Schipperke

Siberian Husky

Shiba Inu

Swedish Vallhund

Group 9: Toy

(23 breeds/varieties)

Affenpinscher

Brussels Griffon

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Chihuahua (Long Coat)

Chihuahua (Smooth Coat)

Chinese Crested

English Toy Spaniel (B& PC)

English Toy Spaniel (KC & R)

Havanese

Japanese Chin

Maltese

Manchester Terrier (Toy)

Miniature Pinscher

Papillon

Pekingese

Pomeranian

Poodle (Toy)

Pug

Russian Toy

Shih Tzu

Silky Terrier

Toy Fox Terrier

Yorkshire Terrier

Group 11: Herding

(30 Breeds/varieties)

Australian Cattle Dog

Australian Shepherd

Bearded Collie

Beauceron

Belgian Lakenois

Belgian Malinois

Belgian Sheepdog

Belgian Tervuren

Berger Picard

Border Collie

Bouvier des Flandres

Briard

Canaan Dog

Cardigan Welsh Corgi

Catahoula Leopard Dog

Collie (Rough)

Collie (Smooth)

Czechoslovakian Vicak

German Shepherd Dog

Lancashire Heeler

Mudi

Old English Sheepdog

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Polish Lowland Sheepdog

Puli

Pumi

Pyrenean Shepherd

Schapendoes

Shetland Sheepdog

Spanish Water Dog

Realignment Proposal

Realignment Judging Procedure

2011 Point Schedule

Effective: May 11, 2011

* All Divisions

* Division 1: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont

* Division 2: Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania

* Division 3: District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia

* Division 4: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina

* Division 5: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio

* Division 6: Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Wisconsin

* Division 7: Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas

* Division 8: Oregon, Washington

* Division 9: California

* Division 10: Alaska

* Division 11: Hawaii

* Division 12: Puerto Rico

* Division 13: Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming

This is the same Point Schedule in effect for calculating points

For Grand Championship

Point Schedules for prior years can be found at

http://www.akc.org/events/conformation/point_schedule.cfm

Group 2: Sporting - Retrievers & Spaniels

(21 breeds/varieties)

Barbet

Koolkerhondje

Lagotto Romagnolo

Retriever (Chesapeake Bay)

Retriever (Curly-Coated)

Retriever (Flat-Coated)

Retriever (Golden)

Retriever (Labrador)

Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling)

Spaniel (American Water)

Spaniel (Boykin)

Spaniel (Clumber)

Spaniel (Cocker) ASCOB

Spaniel (Cocker) Black

Spaniel (Cocker) Parti-color

Spaniel (English Cocker)

Spaniel (English Springer)

Spaniel (Field)

Spaniel (Irish Water)

Spaniel (Sussex)

Spaniel (Welsh Springer)

Group 4: Sight Hounds

(15 breeds)

Afghan Hound

Azawakh

Basenji

Borzoi

Cirnecco dell’Etna

Greyhound

Ibizan Hound

Irish Wolfhound

Italian Greyhound

Pharoah Hound

Rhodesian Ridgeback

Saluki

Scottish Deerhound

Sloughi

Whippet

Group 6: Working-Molosser

(20 breeds)

Boerboel

Boxer

Bullmastiff

Cane Corso

Caucasian Ovcharka

Central Asian Shepherd Dog

Chinook

Dogo Argentino

Dogue De Bordeaux

Estrela Mountain Dog

Great Dane

Leonberger

Mastiff

Neapolitan Mastiff

Perro de Presa Canario

Rafeiro Do Alentejo

Rottweiler

Spanish Mastiff

Tibetan Mastiff

Tosa

Group 8: Terriers

( 31 Breeds/varieties)

Airedale Terrier

American Staffordshire Terrier

Australian Terrier

Bedlington Terrier

Border Terrier

Bull Terrier (Colored)

Bull Terrier (White)

Cairn Terrier

Cesky Terrier

Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Fox Terrier (Smooth)

Fox Terrier (Wire)

Glen of Imaal Terrier

Irish Terrier

Kerry Blue Terrier

Lakeland Terrier

Manchester Terrier (Standard)

Miniature Bull Terrier

Miniature Schnauzer

Norfolk Terrier

Norwich Terrier

Parson Russell Terrier

Rat Terrier

Russell Terrier

Scottish Terrier

Sealyham Terrier

Skye Terrier

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Welsh Terrier

West Highland White Terrier

Group 10: Non-Sporting

(14 breeds/varieties)

Bichon Frise

Boston Terrier

Bolognese

Bulldog

Coton de Tulear

French Bulldog

Lhasa Apso

Lowchen

Poodle (Miniature)

Poodle (Standard)

Peruvian Inca Orchid

Tibetan Spaniel

Tibetan Terrier

Xoloitzcuintli

For more information go to:

http://www.akc.org