AKC vs. ACA vs. CKC
I have been asked the difference between AKC, ACA, and CKC. The American Kennel Club, or AKC, and the Continental Kennel Club, or CKC, are known throughout the world. AKC recognizes approximately 150 breeds, while Continental Kennel Club (CKC) recognizes 450. They both deal with the registration of dog breeds but there are a few differences. Well here is the answer. With an AKC registered dog, it's a purebred and usually the pedigree/lineage of the dog is available to see. Even though they are purebred it does not mean that all dogs that are AKC registered meet the breed standard, but that's what good breeders strive for. Also, not all, but many AKC dogs' parents and dog’s “down the line” have health clearances. The AKC requires genetic testing and inspects breeders. This association is the oldest registry group in the USA for dogs. All registries are designed to keep the breed standard up to par, but AKC is just way pickier and directing the dog to a higher standard for the breed. By the organizations own admission, American Kennel Club registration is not a mark of quality or breed standard. Dealing with an AKC breeder indicates that the breeder has taken some steps to assure that the puppies meet the breed standard in some fashion. This means that the animals are sold with papers, and they look and act like the breed with which they are identified. The fact of registering a dog, which is a process that requires both the sire and the dam of the litter to be registered with the association, may indicate that the breeder not only cares about the dogs but also the breed itself.
ACA, is a registry that people who are breeding dogs use to “register” dogs that can't be registered with AKC due to the standards that are set for that breed. This can be for many reasons including but not limited to mixed breeds or they just don't meet the standard. So there is a good chance that the animal registered with the ACA is not a pure-blood breed. Many times there is a loss in the genetics in the sire or dam. This does not go against the manner or even the look of the dog. These dogs can have a health certificate, but that just means a veterinarian has looked at them and didn't see any obvious health problems. In no way does it mean that the animal meets the breed standard that is in question. ACA dogs cannot be registered with AKC no matter what. Whatever was the questioned item that made it so it has to be registered ACA means it will always be there and has some reason why it was placed there whether it was a mixed breed, it just doesn’t meet the standard, or the animal’s records were lost in the past.
The CKC is another club for dogs. The AKC requires that all dogs must have their parents previously registered. In general, the original group of purebred dogs constituting a breed was accepted by AKC at the beginning of the breed and that breed was then closed to additional stock. CKC decided not to have such a closed registry, because its founders felt that closing off the gene pool contributed to genetic disorders within the breeds of purebred dogs. CKC is a registration that will allow new dogs into the registry based on two witnesses verifying validity of the breed even though they not meet any of the full-blooded standards and the standards of AKC. So, the owner just needs to submit three pictures to the CKC for approval. As you see, it is only based on the physical appearance. If CKC determines that any dog submitted is not of proper breed type, it will not register the dog. There is no genetic proof that the animal is not a cross breed and even if the off springs look like the named breed. It excepts applications and registration based merely on external appearance and not true genetic heredity.
On the other hand, puppies without papers might be fine examples of their breeds, but they are less likely to be so. The understanding of the three dog registration associations needs to be taken into consideration. The chances of receiving a pure-blood are decreased when a dog is purchased from a seller who has registered the dog with an association other than AKC. This is an issue that needs to be addressed before you purchase a “PURE BLOOD DOG” that is registered with another association other than AKC. A dog of whatever breed without papers is also likely to be less physically or mentally sound than a dog of the same breed with papers. While it is not always true that “you get what you pay for” when buying puppies you just need to research the breed and associations before purchasing the animal.
Buyers should still ask what else they get for the registered puppy. The buyer should be aware and advised on how the puppies were raised, fed, housed, treated, and interacted with. Some animals live their entire life in a cage. This does not mean they are not a loved pet, it just means they might be treated differently due to the way the breeder views the dog. If the sire and dam have been screened for genetic diseases, the puppies are clean, healthy, and well-socialized; the breeder will usually offer a contract that protects the breeder, the buyer, and the puppy. So when purchasing a puppy, your best bet is to visit the breeder and look at the surrounding. If those things are not available and you do not get to look at the breeder’s environment, whether from a private breeder or a pet store, the quality of the puppy could be questionable.
This information about the English Springer Spaniels are from the AKC web site.
I hope this helps in the understanding of the great breed of dogs that we have come in love with at Wilde Plum Farm of Georgia.
English Springer Spaniel
The English Springer Spaniel has been endowed with style, enthusiasm, and an "eager to please" quality common to most spaniels. He is recognized for his ability to keep going and going under adverse hunting conditions, which is partly due to his medium-sized, powerful body. He has long, hanging ears and a moderately long coat that can be black or liver with white, blue or liver roan, and tricolor.
A Look Back
English Springer Spaniels and Cocker Spaniels were originally born in the same litters; the smaller "Cockers" hunted woodcock while their larger littermates were utilized to flush, or "spring," game. In 1902 the Kennel Club of England recognized the English Springer Spaniel as a distinct breed (separate from English Cockers). The Springer Spaniel became even better known in North America after 1924, when the English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association was formed and field trials were started for the first time.
Cheerful and affectionate, Springers love their families and like to stick close to their owners. They make excellent house pets, but require daily exercise and need regular brushing and trimming to keep their coats neat and free of mats.
If you are considering purchasing an English Springer Spaniel puppy
- Sporting Group; AKC recognized in 1910.
- Average size: 40 to 50 pounds and 19 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder.
- Gun dog, versatile competitor.
English Springer Spaniel Breed Standard
Sporting Group
General Appearance
The English Springer Spaniel is a medium-sized sporting dog, with a compact body and a docked tail. His coat is moderately long, with feathering on his legs, ears, chest and brisket. His pendulous ears, soft gentle expression, sturdy build and friendly wagging tail proclaim him unmistakably a member of the ancient family of Spaniels. He is above all a well-proportioned dog, free from exaggeration, nicely balanced in every part. His carriage is proud and upstanding, body deep, legs strong and muscular, with enough length to carry him with ease. Taken as a whole, the English Springer Spaniel suggests power, endurance and agility. He looks the part of a dog that can go, and keep going, under difficult hunting conditions. At his best, he is endowed with style, symmetry, balance and enthusiasm, and is every inch a sporting dog of distinct spaniel character, combining beauty and utility.
Size, Proportion, Substance
The Springer is built to cover rough ground with agility and reasonable speed. His structure suggests the capacity for endurance. He is to be kept to medium size. Ideal height at the shoulder for dogs is 20 inches; for bitches, it is 19 inches. Those more than one inch under or over the breed ideal are to be faulted. A 20 inch dog, well-proportioned and in good condition, will weigh approximately 50 pounds; a 19 inch bitch will weigh approximately 40 pounds. The length of the body (measured from point of shoulder to point of buttocks) is slightly greater than the height at the withers. The dog too long in body, especially when long in the loin, tires easily and lacks the compact outline characteristic of the breed. A dog too short in body for the length of his legs, a condition which destroys balance and restricts gait, is equally undesirable. A Springer with correct substance appears well-knit and sturdy with good bone, however, he is never coarse or ponderous.
Head
The head is impressive without being heavy. Its beauty lies in a combination of strength and refinement. It is important that its size and proportion be in balance with the rest of the dog. Viewed in profile, the head appears approximately the same length as the neck and blends with the body in substance. The stop, eyebrows and chiseling of the bony structure around the eye sockets contribute to the Springer’s beautiful and characteristic expression, which is alert, kindly and trusting. The eyes, more than any other feature, are the essence of the Springer’s appeal. Correct size, shape, placement and color influence expression and attractiveness. The eyes are of medium size and oval in shape, set rather well-apart and fairly deep in their sockets. The color of the iris harmonizes with the color of the coat, preferably dark hazel in the liver and white dogs and black or deep brown in the black and white dogs. Eyerims are fully pigmented and match the coat in color. Lids are tight with little or no haw showing. Eyes that are small, round or protruding, as well as eyes that are yellow or brassy in color, are highly undesirable. Ears are long and fairly wide, hanging close to the cheeks with no tendency to stand up or out. The ear leather is thin and approximately long enough to reach the tip of the nose. Correct ear set is on a level with the eye and not too far back on the skull. The skull is medium-length and fairly broad, flat on top and slightly rounded at the sides and back. The occiput bone is inconspicuous. As the skull rises from the foreface, it makes a stop, divided by a groove, or fluting, between the eyes. The groove disappears as it reaches the middle of the forehead. The amount of stop is moderate. It must not be a pronounced feature; rather it is a subtle rise where the muzzle joins the upper head. It is emphasized by the groove and by the position and shape of the eyebrows, which are well-developed. The muzzle is approximately the same length as the skull and one half the width of the skull. Viewed in profile, the toplines of the skull and muzzle lie in approximately parallel planes. The nasal bone is straight, with no inclination downward toward the tip of the nose, the latter giving an undesirable downfaced look. Neither is the nasal bone concave, resulting in a "dish-faced" profile; nor convex, giving the dog a Roman nose. The cheeks are flat, and the face is well-chiseled under the eyes. Jaws are of sufficient length to allow the dog to carry game easily: fairly square, lean and strong. The upper lips come down full and rather square to cover the line of the lower jaw, however, the lips are never pendulous or exaggerated. The nose is fully-pigmented, liver or black in color, depending on the color of the coat. The nostrils are well-opened and broad. Teeth are strong, clean, of good size and ideally meet in a close scissors bite. An even bite or one or two incisors slightly out of line are minor faults. Undershot, overshot and wry jaws are serious faults and are to be severely penalized.
Neck, Topline, Body
The neck is moderately long, muscular, clean and slightly arched at the crest. It blends gradually and smoothly into sloping shoulders. The portion of the topline from withers to tail is firm and slopes very gently. The body is short-coupled, strong and compact. The chest is deep, reaching the level of the elbows, with well-developed forechest; however, it is not so wide or round as to interfere with the action of the front legs. Ribs are fairly long, springing gradually to the middle of the body, then tapering as they approach the end of the ribbed section. The underline stays level with the elbows to a slight upcurve at the flank. The back is straight, strong and essentially level. Loins are strong, short and slightly arched. Hips are nicely-rounded, blending smoothly into the hind legs. The croup slopes gently to the set of the tail, and tail-set follows the natural line of the croup. The tail is carried horizontally or slightly elevated and displays a characteristic lively, merry action, particularly when the dog is on game. A clamped tail (indicating timidity or undependable temperament) is to be faulted, as is a tail carried at a right angle to the backline in Terrier fashion.
Forequarters
Efficient movement in front calls for proper forequarter assembly. The shoulder blades are flat and fairly close together at the tips, molding smoothly into the contour of the body. Ideally, when measured from the top of the withers to the point of the shoulder to the elbow, the shoulder blade and upper arm are of apparent equal length, forming an angle of nearly 90 degrees; this sets the front legs well under the body and places the elbows directly beneath the tips of the shoulder blades. Elbows lie close to the body. Forelegs are straight with the same degree of size continuing to the foot. Bone is strong, slightly flattened, not too round or too heavy. Pasterns are short, strong and slightly sloping, with no suggestion of weakness. Dewclaws are usually removed. Feet are round or slightly oval. They are compact and well-arched, of medium size with thick pads, and well-feathered between the toes.
Hindquarters
The Springer should be worked and shown in hard, muscular condition with well-developed hips and thighs. His whole rear assembly suggests strength and driving power. Thighs are broad and muscular. Stifle joints are strong. For functional efficiency, the angulation of the hindquarter is never greater than that of the forequarter, and not appreciably less. The hock joints are somewhat rounded, not small and sharp in contour. Rear pasterns are short (about 1/3 the distance from the hip joint to the foot) and strong, with good bone. When viewed from behind, the rear pasterns are parallel. Dewclaws are usually removed. The feet are the same as in front, except that they are smaller and often more compact.
Coat
The Springer has an outer coat and an undercoat. On the body, the outer coat is of medium length, flat or wavy, and is easily distinguishable from the undercoat, which is short, soft and dense. The quantity of undercoat is affected by climate and season. When in combination, outer coat and undercoat serve to make the dog substantially waterproof, weatherproof and thornproof. On ears, chest, legs and belly the Springer is nicely furnished with a fringe of feathering of moderate length and heaviness. On the head, front of the forelegs, and below the hock joints on the front of the hind legs, the hair is short and fine. The coat has the clean, glossy, "live" appearance indicative of good health. It is legitimate to trim about the head, ears, neck and feet, to remove dead undercoat, and to thin and shorten excess feathering as required to enhance a smart, functional appearance. The tail may be trimmed, or well fringed with wavy feathering. Above all, the appearance should be natural. Overtrimming, especially the body coat, or any chopped, barbered or artificial effect is to be penalized in the show ring, as is excessive feathering that destroys the clean outline desirable in a sporting dog. Correct quality and condition of coat is to take precedence over quantity of coat.
Color
All the following combinations of colors and markings are equally acceptable:(1) Black or liver with white markings or predominantly white with black or liver markings; (2) Blue or liver roan; (3) Tricolor: black and white or liver and white with tan markings, usually found on eyebrows, cheeks, inside of ears and under the tail. Any white portion of the coat may be flecked with ticking. Off colors such as lemon, red or orange are not to place.
Gait
The final test of the Springer’s conformation and soundness is proper movement. Balance is a prerequisite to good movement. The front and rear assemblies must be equivalent in angulation and muscular development for the gait to be smooth and effortless. Shoulders which are well laid-back to permit a long stride are just as essential as the excellent rear quarters that provide driving power. Seen from the side, the Springer exhibits a long, ground-covering stride and carries a firm back, with no tendency to dip, roach or roll from side to side. From the front, the legs swing forward in a free and easy manner. Elbows have free action from the shoulders, and the legs show no tendency to cross or interfere. From behind, the rear legs reach well under the body, following on a line with the forelegs. As speed increases, there is a natural tendency for the legs to converge toward a center line of travel. Movement faults include high-stepping, wasted motion; short, choppy stride; crabbing; and moving with the feet wide, the latter giving roll or swing to the body.
Temperament
The typical Springer is friendly, eager to please, quick to learn and willing to obey. Such traits are conducive to tractability, which is essential for appropriate handler control in the field. In the show ring, he should exhibit poise and attentiveness and permit himself to be examined by the judge without resentment or cringing. Aggression toward people and aggression toward other dogs is not in keeping with sporting dog character and purpose and is not acceptable. Excessive timidity, with due allowance for puppies and novice exhibits, is to be equally penalized.
Summary
In evaluating the English Springer Spaniel, the overall picture is a primary consideration. One should look for type, which includes general appearance and outline, and also for soundness, which includes movement and temperament. Inasmuch as the dog with a smooth easy gait must be reasonably sound and well-balanced, he is to be highly regarded, however, not to the extent of forgiving him for not looking like an English Springer Spaniel. An atypical dog, too short or long in leg length or foreign in head or expression, may move well, but he is not to be preferred over a good all-round specimen that has a minor fault in movement. It must be remembered that the English Springer Spaniel is first and foremost a sporting dog of the Spaniel family, and he must look, behave and move in character.