Who develops breed standards?
Who develops breed standards?
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With all the types and sizes of pedigreed dogs these days, who gets to set the standards? Who says that a “standard” Standard Poodle must be taller than fifteen inches at the shoulders? Or that a Minature Poodle should be shorter than fifteen inches, while a Toy Poodle is less than ten?
The American Kennel Club, or AKC, maintains the standards, in cooperation with the national clubs for each dog breed. The AKC recognizes about one-hundred fifty canine breeds. Another dozen breeds are on the waiting list to be recognized by the Kennel Club—the Icelandic Sheepdog, for example.
Even those new breeds have standards. The eyes of the Icelandic Sheepdog must be brown. No blue eyes are allowed.
– Dr. Larry McDaniel, DVM for the “Purina® Animal Instincts” Podcast Series