MMESA

Margaret, Thank you for being tolerant of others views.The intolerance that has been shown here by what I also to believe is a small but vocal minority within the USBCA and ABCA. If a poll was taken it would have to be done by an outside organization and posted independently as to not cast doubt upon the results. I think people are thinking backwords about dual registry. The worry is AKC dogs being registered ABCA. Most of the dogs that I am familar with are ABCA dogs that have been registered AKC.If it was the other way around, the ABCA would not be losing numbers but instead gaining. There is no incintive for a dog that was born into the AKC registry to go to the ABCA but all of AKC Border Collies that do herding as well as agility(at least in the beginnig)came from the ABCA. Also the judges for the AKC trials in the beginning came from the USBCHA ranks. I guess one could say that at least some of the rank and file had a hand in creating the AKC herding program. I would not consider these people traitors but instead forward thinking and wanting to influence in a positive way that fledgling herding organization.It is too bad there are not more of them now. Also the finals that were put on in Va. had alot of AKC dog owners helping in the background and attending to watch. The organizers of that trial welcomed them with open arms. The AKC may in some peoples mind be the devil incarnate, but the owners of AKC dogs are not. Marc Mesa

I thought what was asked was honest opinions of dual registration. If you only wanted ageements to your positions you should have said so. Remember that a registry is just that, a place to register ones dog. It is up to the individual to determine what ones dog should look or act like. If you are not willing to take your working Border Collie out so the uninformed can see the difference, then they will only see the "ruined" dogs you speak of. So how would they know the difference? Instead of trying to alienate people who may disagree with you, try informing them of your views with fact and not allowing ones emotions to take over. And as far as seeing the dogs at a USBCHA trial, I held one at my farm several years back and used heavy wool sheep. More than a few dogs had trouble moving them at all. Alot of excuses were made for the dogs that did not complete the course. Of course there were dogs that did complete the course. Those dogs proved that they could work any sheep at any time and were the envy of the day and their handlers were inquired frequently on their breeding. All I am saying is that if the ABC wants to change peoples views, then the people have to see what it is the ABC is talking about.And if they can't come to you or don't even know about you,or you threaten them, then the ABC will fold in upon itself and become more of a cult than a registry. And we all know what most people feel about cults. Reach out with a helping,knowledgeable hand, not with snarling teeth. Marc Mesa

THE ONLY LOGICAL CHOICE IS TO DO NOTHING ABOUT DUAL REGESTATION. THE FIGURES SHOW THAT OF THE 1300 BORDER COLLIES ?LOST? IN ABCA REGESTRATION, ONLY 1/3 OF THAT AMOUNT REGESTERED WITH THE AKC. WHERE DID THE REST GO? AND IF WE DID NOT HAVE DUAL REGESTATION, HOW MANY MORE WOULD WE HAVE LOST. AS IT IS THE AKC OFFERS FAR MORE TO DO WITH ONES BORDER COLLIE THAN THE ABC, SO IF ONE HAD TO MAKE A CHOICE, I BELIEVE WE ARE SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR DISAPOINTMENT.ALSO IT SEEMS WE SUPPORT,OBEDIENCE, AGILITY AND TRACKING(THE USBCC WAS FOUNDED BY AKC OBEDIENCE PEOPLE) BUT YOU CAN ONLY DO THAT IF YOUR DOG IS REG. BEING ACTIVE IN THE AKC HERDING PROGRAM, I CAN TELL YOU FAR MORE PEOPLE HERD AND DO AGILITY WITH BORDER COLLIES THAN SHOW CONFORMATION WITH THEM. AND OF ALL THE BORDER COLLIES REGESTERED WITH THE AKC, I BELIEVE A GOOD NUMBER OF THEM DO NOT DO ANYTHING AT ALL (SAME WITH THE ABCA,there certainly are not 2000 Border Collies doing stock dog trials ). AND WHO ARE WE TO TELL A BORDER COLLIE OWNER WHAT THEY CAN OR CANNOT DO WITH THEIR DOG? A LITTLE ARROGANT DON?T YA THINK? AND WHAT WILL BANNING AKC DOGS FROM ABC REGESTRATION REALLY DO? THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN THINK OF IS TO ELIMINATE THEM FROM THE FINALS. AND HOW MANY DOGS MAKE IT THERE COMPARED TO THE AMOUNT REGESTERED? REMEMBER WE HAD A CHANCE TO BE THE PARENT CLUB(VBCA) FOR THE AKC BORDER COLLIE. THAT MENT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WRITE THE RULES. AND AS FOR THE AKC RUINING THE BREED, TAKE A LOOK AT THE USBCHA TRIALS AS OF LATE. WEAKER AND WEAKER DOGS ARE SHOWING UP TO THE POINT THAT IF LIGHT SHEEP ARE NOT USED, MOST DOGS BOMB OUT. AT THE BEGINNING I SAID WE SHOULD DO NOTHING, BUT I WILL TAKE THAT BACK. EVERYONE WHO TRIALS THEIR BORDER COLLIE SHOULD REGESTER WITH THE AKC, TRIAL THEIR DOGS AND SHOW EVERYONE IN THE AKC WHAT A REAL HERDING BORDER COLLIE IS.