| Revision as of 02:44, 10 September 2004 edit128.172.212.59 (talk) →See also← Previous edit | Revision as of 02:52, 10 September 2004 edit undoElf (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users19,731 editsm removed comment about AKC; is more appropriately mentioned in kennel clubNext edit → | ||
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| American Kennel Club is the most notable kennel club. | |||
Revision as of 02:52, 10 September 2004
Dogs have been selectively bred for thousands of years. Initially the selections would have centred on domestication and useful qualities such as hunting ability. Later, dogs were also selected to give attractive and distinctive forms resulting in a vast variety of types. The point at which a new variety becomes a breed can be difficult to decide. National kennel clubs often differ in their recognition of breeds and rare breeds might not be recognised outside their home country. Usually, only dogs recognized by a kennel club are eligible to compete in the club's dog shows and dog sports.
Many traditional dog breeds recognised by the main registries are said to be "purebred". Only individuals whose parentage consists only of other purebred examples of the breed are regarded as part of that breed. This concept has caused controversy both because of the difficulty of regulation and because of the possible genetic consequences of a limited population.
See Selective breeding for a detailed discussion on open versus closed studbooks and some of the issues concerning purebreds.
See also
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