AKITA
CLUB OF AMERICA, INC.
from Lonny Cohen, ACA President
Report
from The World Akita Congress in Milan
July 8, 2000
Summary:
The 3rd World Akita Congress was held in Milan, Italy on Friday,
June 23, 2000. Delegates from
approximately 20 countries were present. The
Japan Kennel Club hosted the meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to establish the World Union
of Akita Clubs. Each delegate was
asked to report upon the progress of splitting the breed in his or her country. During the discussion about the purpose
of the World Union, it was stated by JKC officials that this Union was to
discuss the Japanese Akita only. Several
delegates from European countries stated loudly that only clubs that have split
the breed should be allowed to join the Union.
After a break for discussion, the delegate body overruled the JKC
position and voted that clubs that had not split the breed could not join. JKC did state, however, that those clubs
were welcome to observe.
Minutes:
The meeting was called to order, and a roll call of the attending delegates
was read. Mr. Hoshi was introduced
as the new president of the Japan Kennel Club.
The floor was opened to questions.
Belgium: Does the JKC consider the
two breeds to be equivalent?
JKC: JKC considers the Country of Origin of
both breeds to be Japan, and the Country of Development of the GJD to be
America.
England: How are the breeds being
split?
JKC: Three judges or experts will
decide if the dog is an Akita or a GJD. The
pedigree will be changed to reflect the name GJD.
If the 3 experts cannot decide, JKC will send an expert.
England: In Spain, only 1 man is
assessing 3000 dogs. JKC: We will check what procedures are being
followed. If there is a problem, we
will take proper procedures.
England: Based on appearance or
pedigree?
JKC: Most important are the
qualities, then pedigree, and the breeding direction.
Holland: Has split the breed based
on appearance. There is a problem
now because of 67 dogs, 51 were categorized as GJD. This leaves very few Akitas for the breeders.
Finland: In Finland, 30 dogs were
evaluated. Auto-immune diseases
have cut down on their breeding stock of Akitas.
They have begun an open registry to combat these problems.
Norway: Only breeders and those who
show dogs have had their dogs evaluated.
Denmark: A letter was sent to Akita
owners, but there were only 7 GJD, as most GJD are older and their owners did
not bother. They want a health
committee to fight diseases.
Sweden: Evaluated 169 dogs. 86 were GJD, and 83 were Akitas. Everyone is very pleased. Next year they hope to have a special
show. There are less than 10 Akita
breeders in the country.
Germany: A special judge evaluates
all breeders. There are no GJD in
Germany.
France: A judge must evaluate the
dogs before they are bred. There
are 10 GJD in the country. They
have been placed in Group 5, not in Group 2.
Holland: They have had two
assessments. In the first, 76 dogs
were evaluated and 51 were GJD. In
the second, just 5 dogs were evaluated as GJD.
The Akita population is very small, and there are many problems with
these dogs.
Belgium: They used 3 judges to
evaluate the dogs, and 4 observers. Of
48 dogs evaluated, 33 were Japanese Akitas, 10 were GJD, and 5 were of an
intermediate type, not fit to breed, and their pedigree was cancelled.
Austria: They are having problems,
as breeders are not coming to the evaluations.
So far there are 4 GJD, 4 Akitas. Others
are doing mixed breedings and at this time are still getting registration
papers. They are represented by a Nordic breed club, which has 2 Akita breeder
members. The owners of American
Akitas dropped out of the club.
Czech Republic: 217 dogs have been
assessed, 157 Akitas and 60 GJD. They will have evaluations 3 times a year, but there is a poor turnout.
Hungary: They have about 2700 dogs,
approximately 10% of which were classified as GJD. They noted that they need better education of Akita judges.
Poland: In Poland there is no Akita
club, it is a Spitz club. There are
4 committees to assess dogs, but less than 25% came. Many are interbred and have problems, and the breeders don’t
know what to do. They had gotten no
information about the World Congress until friends in Germany and Scandinavia
told them about it.
England: In England the breed is
not split. They support health
records access to be handed out. They
also support judge’s education.
Brazil: The split is moving along
at a good pace, there are 2000 Akitas and about 10 GJD. Breeders fill out a form and include two photos, and a new
pedigree is sent out reflecting the name GJD.
Mexico: There is little
interbreeding done now. Most of the
dogs are GJD, but more Akitas are being imported.
Italy: Almost all the dogs are
Akitas, about 30 GJD. There are no
GJD breeding kennels. 100 dogs have
been confirmed as Akitas, with 2 as GJD. The
evaluation is based on type. They
need more time to complete the split. At
this time, if the parents of a litter are not confirmed as one breed or the
other, the puppy’s registration is frozen.
They have many eye and skin disease problems.
Canada: Not an FCI country. They have no official position on the
breed split. Of the 4500 registered
Akitas in the country, less than 5% are of the Japanese type.
US: Also not an FCI country. Last summer a straw poll was conducted
and 57% of the membership was not interested in pursuing a breed split at that
time. We are now in a cooling off
period, according to the recommendation of AKC. We do not know when or if the issue will be brought up again. We would also support health studies.
JACA: Gets no help from either ACA
or AKC. Would like more cooperation
from the JKC in regard to selling dogs to the US for crossbreeding. If they (JKC) are against this, why are
dogs being sold to those who intend to crossbreed them?
JKC response to questions: As far as the problem with Groups in France, that
will be resolved at a meeting in Poland in the autumn. JKC can help those countries having
problems splitting with pedigree support. In
Hungary, 80% of dogs are mixed type, but no more interbreeding is allowed as of
1/1/00. Now only those categorized
as either Akita or GJD can be bred. Those
80% cannot be bred. If the type is
correct, however, those that are 75% pure will be registered. In Austria, breeders will not have their
dogs evaluated and are still breeding mixed dogs. The JKC stated that there is a
great difference in appearance between the Akita and the GJD but the present
standards are very similar. Therefore
the standards will be revised to reflect the great physical difference between
the breeds. They would like
the standards defined to describe the dogs more accurately.
Formation of the World Union
JKC stated that the World Union of Akita Clubs would be responsible
for the quality and health of Akitas, and would also define description in the
standard and work to educate judges. The
main office of the WUAC will be in Japan.
A question was asked, requesting that a health committee be put into place as
one of the World Union’s purposes. After
some discussion, this was agreed to. It was stated that the European Akitas have many health
problems and those countries want help and cooperation to solve them. Dr. Sophia clarified for the JKC the
differences between structurally sound dogs and genetically healthy dogs, i.e.,
dogs that did not carry autoimmune or eye diseases.
The World Union will meet every 2 years. It
will include a judging demonstration with 5-6 dogs to have a hands-on seminar to
show judges how to judge the Japanese Akita.
Canada asked if the World Union also included GJD (American Akitas). JKC
responded no, this union was for the protection of the Japanese Akita only. England, Canada, and the US were invited
to join because they do have those dogs in their countries. At this point the delegates from Germany
and Belgium stood up and stated loudly that they felt that only countries that
have split the breed should be allowed to join the World Union. With many outcries, the JKC called a
recess to discuss the matter. After
a period of about 10 minutes, the FCI countries in attendance voted unanimously
that only those countries that have two breeds could join the World Union. JKC noted that countries that have not
split the breed are welcome as observers. 10
countries joined immediately, with 6 others stating they would join but needed
Board approval. They would get that
approval within 3 months
Further discussion followed about dues ($300 USD per year, waived the first
year) and the makeup of the officers and board of directors of the World Union. Mr. Kariyabu was named President of the
Union. . The remaining officers and directors of the union were chosen from
those countries that joined immediately. A
number of countries could not join immediately because they had to report to
their boards in order to obtain a decision on joining. These countries agreed to make a
decision on joining within three months. There
was a discussion on establishing an interim board, but it was decided to start
with a Board of the members who joined at the Congress.