The American Kennel Club has issued a formal directive to all breed judges emphasizing that body condition must align with the standard requiring working condition without excess fat. We have achieved our objective of forcing an institutional policy shift regarding the presentation of Labradors in the ring. I will be …
January 13, 2021
Final supporters
This Petition is directed to the AKC, the AKC Labrador Retriever judges, and the Labrador Retriever exhibitors in the show ring. Twenty-five years ago, the Labrador Retriever breed standard was revised to bring to an end, among other practices, the showing of Labradors in overweight and poor condition. Dogs that weigh 20% above or more of their ideal body weight are considered obese. However, Labradors that are overweight and sometimes obese continue to fill show rings. It is highly unlikely that a Labrador will win routinely in the ring today unless it is at least overweight.
The Labrador Retriever is a purpose-bred breed and a member of the AKC sporting group. The Labrador was bred to retrieve both waterfowl and upland birds for long hours under difficult conditions. As such, the Labrador breed standard states dogs are to be shown in "working condition" and "without excess fat." However, since the revised standard's passage, the AKC judges, and in particular AKC breeder judges, have not enforced the requirement regarding the Labrador Retriever's conditioning. The problem of obesity in the breed has actually become much worse. We understand that not all judges reward overweight or obese exhibits. They do their best to make conditioning a factor. But judges can only judge the exhibits brought to them for their opinion, and excessive fat is not a disqualification under the standard. The problem is too pervasive for sympathetic judges to make a significant difference without a multi-focal approach.
We participate in AKC performance events, such as hunt tests, field trials, agility, obedience, tracking and the like, with Labrador Retrievers. We have Labradors as family companions. We would like to participate in dog shows, but we will not subject our dogs to as much as an estimated 20 lb. weight gain (over and above our dog's healthy weight) just to satisfy our wishes. The sport is supposed to be fun and fair for the dogs too. No dog bearing as much as an extra twenty pounds with a heavy show coat would be comfortable moving in the show ring in the hot sun. For us, our dogs' health comes first.
The Labrador Retriever is the most versatile breed on earth, and it is the most popular breed in America. The opportunity to enjoy the return of the dual purpose Labrador, a dog with both the conformation and intelligence to carry out the breed's purpose, has been effectively blocked on account of an unspoken understanding that a Labrador be overweight or obese in order to acquire a show championship. Some dogs are shown in appropriate weight, but they have to be extraordinary dogs to win at an AKC show.
The enabling has to stop for the sake of our dogs and our breed. The AKC has committed significant funding to canine health issues, but the number one avoidable problem for America's most popular breed has not been given appropriate attention by the Kennel Club or the Labrador show fancy. The life of an overweight Labrador will be shortened by approximately 2 years on account of its excessive weight. Surely the AKC understands the significance of this nationwide health issue for our breed. Addressing excess weight and obesity in the Labrador should not be limited to what the standard requires. It is first and foremost a health issue, and the promotion of healthy dogs at AKC dog shows is the responsibility of all so interested.
Fat is not substance nor is it lean muscle mass; and fat does not look like either. Assuredly when judges find a dog in the ring that is fit, when compared to the majority of overweight dogs, the fit dog appears to lack "breed type" and, chances are, will be disregarded by judges. Fat is not a feature of Labrador breed type under any reasonable definition.
We are petitioning the AKC, the judges of the Labrador Retriever and the exhibitors to take action. We do not include the Parent Club, the Labrador Retriever Club, among the parties petitioned. The Labrador Retriever Club invested ten years in seeing a well-detailed standard to passage addressing this issue. The LRC did its part but the AKC, AKC judges and Labrador exhibitors in AKC shows have not done theirs to address this problem.
The AKC and AKC judges control all aspects of Labrador Retriever shows and all aspects of judging of the breed's conformation. Exhibitors have created the problem by continually showing overweight and obese dogs at AKC shows. Our breed's future is solely at their mercy. Please STOP awarding overweight and obese dogs champion points. Please STOP enabling Labrador exhibitors who bring overweight and obese dogs with a win. Exhibitors please STOP entering poorly-conditioned, overweight dogs expecting that doing so is somehow necessary to win. Exhibitors and judges, please reread the standard before entering the ring and think about the consequences of your decisions regarding this breed's future. Many of us have dedicated our lives to end the division in this breed. It's time to confront these shameful practices that impact our breed's health first and foremost.
Thank you for your attention,
Christopher G. Wincek, Esq.
Updates
November 2, 2020
We have reached one hundred signatures which provides the necessary leverage to initiate formal outreach. I am currently drafting a letter to the American Kennel Club leadership to request a meeting regarding the enforcement of the breed standard. Expect further updates once I submit these materials for their official review.
Reached 250 supporters
October 31, 2020
Reached 100 supporters
October 30, 2020
131 Comments
Should seen the heat I took on facebook 2 years ago for saying the Lab that won breed at Westminster was fat. He WAS fat. In the UK it is in the standard labs are to be shown in WORKING CONDITION! Most of the US conformation Labs would sink a duck boat.
The dog featured belongs to me. I have two Master Hunter passes on him. I also have titled 4 labs to UDX , Rally Master, and agility titles . I,would have loved to go for a championship but absolutely will not put weight on my dogs to achieve this.
I showed my male in AKC conformation at correct weight and fit condition (81 lbs.) and although we earned 4 points owner handled, he looks ridiculously small compared to the other males that weighed about 20 lbs. more than him.
I compete in hunt tests with a gal who tried showing her champion bloodline Lab and was told by a judge "put an extra 10 pounds on him and he will start winning" this was 15 years ago. She stopped competing in co formation right then and there. Absolutely disheartening what has happened to the Labradors.
I have had seven Labs in my lifetime. I have competed in agility with five. None have been overweight. They have all lived healthy lives all living between 13 to 14 years old. I am hoping that Labs will return to being the healthy, athletic dogs I have always loved.
also stop obesity in humans, by not producing or selling refined sugars and fats.
When most pets are already overweight to obese, it is imperative that we stop rewarding obese dogs in the show circuit.
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The American Kennel Club has issued a formal directive to all breed judges emphasizing that body condition must align with the standard requiring working condition without excess fat. We have achieved our objective of forcing an institutional policy shift regarding the presentation of Labradors in the ring. I will be …
January 13, 2021
Final supporters
This Petition is directed to the AKC, the AKC Labrador Retriever judges, and the Labrador Retriever exhibitors in the show ring. Twenty-five years ago, the Labrador Retriever breed standard was revised to bring to an end, among other practices, the showing of Labradors in overweight and poor condition. Dogs that weigh 20% above or more of their ideal body weight are considered obese. However, Labradors that are overweight and sometimes obese continue to fill show rings. It is highly unlikely that a Labrador will win routinely in the ring today unless it is at least overweight.
The Labrador Retriever is a purpose-bred breed and a member of the AKC sporting group. The Labrador was bred to retrieve both waterfowl and upland birds for long hours under difficult conditions. As such, the Labrador breed standard states dogs are to be shown in "working condition" and "without excess fat." However, since the revised standard's passage, the AKC judges, and in particular AKC breeder judges, have not enforced the requirement regarding the Labrador Retriever's conditioning. The problem of obesity in the breed has actually become much worse. We understand that not all judges reward overweight or obese exhibits. They do their best to make conditioning a factor. But judges can only judge the exhibits brought to them for their opinion, and excessive fat is not a disqualification under the standard. The problem is too pervasive for sympathetic judges to make a significant difference without a multi-focal approach.
We participate in AKC performance events, such as hunt tests, field trials, agility, obedience, tracking and the like, with Labrador Retrievers. We have Labradors as family companions. We would like to participate in dog shows, but we will not subject our dogs to as much as an estimated 20 lb. weight gain (over and above our dog's healthy weight) just to satisfy our wishes. The sport is supposed to be fun and fair for the dogs too. No dog bearing as much as an extra twenty pounds with a heavy show coat would be comfortable moving in the show ring in the hot sun. For us, our dogs' health comes first.
The Labrador Retriever is the most versatile breed on earth, and it is the most popular breed in America. The opportunity to enjoy the return of the dual purpose Labrador, a dog with both the conformation and intelligence to carry out the breed's purpose, has been effectively blocked on account of an unspoken understanding that a Labrador be overweight or obese in order to acquire a show championship. Some dogs are shown in appropriate weight, but they have to be extraordinary dogs to win at an AKC show.
The enabling has to stop for the sake of our dogs and our breed. The AKC has committed significant funding to canine health issues, but the number one avoidable problem for America's most popular breed has not been given appropriate attention by the Kennel Club or the Labrador show fancy. The life of an overweight Labrador will be shortened by approximately 2 years on account of its excessive weight. Surely the AKC understands the significance of this nationwide health issue for our breed. Addressing excess weight and obesity in the Labrador should not be limited to what the standard requires. It is first and foremost a health issue, and the promotion of healthy dogs at AKC dog shows is the responsibility of all so interested.
Fat is not substance nor is it lean muscle mass; and fat does not look like either. Assuredly when judges find a dog in the ring that is fit, when compared to the majority of overweight dogs, the fit dog appears to lack "breed type" and, chances are, will be disregarded by judges. Fat is not a feature of Labrador breed type under any reasonable definition.
We are petitioning the AKC, the judges of the Labrador Retriever and the exhibitors to take action. We do not include the Parent Club, the Labrador Retriever Club, among the parties petitioned. The Labrador Retriever Club invested ten years in seeing a well-detailed standard to passage addressing this issue. The LRC did its part but the AKC, AKC judges and Labrador exhibitors in AKC shows have not done theirs to address this problem.
The AKC and AKC judges control all aspects of Labrador Retriever shows and all aspects of judging of the breed's conformation. Exhibitors have created the problem by continually showing overweight and obese dogs at AKC shows. Our breed's future is solely at their mercy. Please STOP awarding overweight and obese dogs champion points. Please STOP enabling Labrador exhibitors who bring overweight and obese dogs with a win. Exhibitors please STOP entering poorly-conditioned, overweight dogs expecting that doing so is somehow necessary to win. Exhibitors and judges, please reread the standard before entering the ring and think about the consequences of your decisions regarding this breed's future. Many of us have dedicated our lives to end the division in this breed. It's time to confront these shameful practices that impact our breed's health first and foremost.
Thank you for your attention,
Christopher G. Wincek, Esq.
Updates
November 2, 2020
We have reached one hundred signatures which provides the necessary leverage to initiate formal outreach. I am currently drafting a letter to the American Kennel Club leadership to request a meeting regarding the enforcement of the breed standard. Expect further updates once I submit these materials for their official review.
Reached 250 supporters
October 31, 2020
Reached 100 supporters
October 30, 2020
131 Comments
As a veterinarian who also owns performance Labradors who compete in agility, the obesity In conformation Labrador Retrievers is a disservice to this wonderful and versatile breed.
Should seen the heat I took on facebook 2 years ago for saying the Lab that won breed at Westminster was fat. He WAS fat. In the UK it is in the standard labs are to be shown in WORKING CONDITION! Most of the US conformation Labs would sink a duck boat.
The dog featured belongs to me. I have two Master Hunter passes on him. I also have titled 4 labs to UDX , Rally Master, and agility titles . I,would have loved to go for a championship but absolutely will not put weight on my dogs to achieve this.
I showed my male in AKC conformation at correct weight and fit condition (81 lbs.) and although we earned 4 points owner handled, he looks ridiculously small compared to the other males that weighed about 20 lbs. more than him.
I compete in hunt tests with a gal who tried showing her champion bloodline Lab and was told by a judge "put an extra 10 pounds on him and he will start winning" this was 15 years ago. She stopped competing in co formation right then and there. Absolutely disheartening what has happened to the Labradors.
I have had seven Labs in my lifetime. I have competed in agility with five. None have been overweight. They have all lived healthy lives all living between 13 to 14 years old. I am hoping that Labs will return to being the healthy, athletic dogs I have always loved.
also stop obesity in humans, by not producing or selling refined sugars and fats.
When most pets are already overweight to obese, it is imperative that we stop rewarding obese dogs in the show circuit.
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As a veterinarian who also owns performance Labradors who compete in agility, the obesity In conformation Labrador Retrievers is a disservice to this wonderful and versatile breed.