Welcome to Part 2 of our series on the Epagneul Breton and American Brittany. After delving into the EB's history in Part 1, it's time to explore the key players that contribute to the conversation:
Club de l’Epagneul Breton of the United States (CEB-US)
American Brittany Club (ABC)
American Kennel Club (AKC)
United Kennel Club (UKC)
Club de l’Epagneul Breton of the United States (CEB-US)
The Club de l’Epagneul Breton of the United States (CEB-US) was founded 26 years ago to be the parent breed club of the Epagneul Breton in the U.S. The CEB-US aligned with the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 2002 to officially recognize the Epagneul Breton as its own breed in the US. Prior to this, officially speaking, the Epagneul Breton did not exist (on paper) in the US and was lumped into a single classification known as Brittany.
American Brittany Club (ABC)
The American Brittany Club, founded in 1942 and aligned with the American Kennel Club (AKC), is the overseer of the Brittany - a designation including the Epagneul Breton and American Brittany.
American Kennel Club (AKC)
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is the largest K9 registry in the US. Founded in 1884, AKC currently recognizes 200 breeds. Like any registry, the AKC is a money-making enterprise. Dog owners pay the registry to register their dog, track the lineage of recognized breeds and host events. The American Brittany club aligned with the AKC in 1942 to oversee the Brittany in the US - a breed designation encompassing both the Epagneul Breton and the American Brittany.
United Kennel Club (UKC)
The United Kennel Club (UKC) is a competitor to AKC. The UKC carved out a niche to attract breeds to their registry, but they basically do the same thing. The CEB-US aligned with the UKC in 2002 primarily because the UKC allowed the CEB-US to design a field trial program modeled closely after the European rules/expectations and to construct confirmation standards that resemble the EB’s French heritage.
WHY IS THIS A TOPIC TODAY?
The American Brittany Club maintains a longstanding positive relationship with the Epagneul Breton and the CEB-US. This collaboration is evident in the field trials and sanctioned events where EBs not only participate but showcase their abilities earning podium positions alongside American Brittanys. With many EBs holding dual registration (UKC and AKC), the breed has greatly benefited from the shared history and infrastructure built by the ABC.
While the CEB-US adamantly opposes a breed split at the ABC, we would be remiss to not acknowledge that there are outside conversations that maybe it is time for the breeds to be officially recognized as two separate breeds at the AKC level. While reasons vary, the topic is up for discussion at the upcoming American Brittany Club annual meeting. Part 3 will explore this in more detail.
The Epagneul Breton and American Brittany continue to remain closely aligned. Similarly, both the CEB-US and ABC face outside critics and constant distractions, making it increasingly more difficult to expand and engage membership. Amid these dynamics, the potential noise generated by a breed separation would dilute advocacy efforts, emphasizing the need for combined strength and the strategic value of a unified voice for the preservation and promotion of the breed's heritage. Rather than adding to the hurdles, the CEB-US's stance looks to celebrate the breed's accomplishments and work harmoniously together to continue positive momentum into the future.
Anticipating Part 3: Unveiling the Dynamics
Part 3 promises a deeper exploration into the nuances that have propelled the discussion of a breed split to the forefront. Stay tuned for a comprehensive analysis of the factors influencing this noteworthy dialogue.
DISCLAIMER:
We realize this is a condensed version of a much larger and very important topic. While we aim to educate our members and Epagneul Breton enthusiasts of the basic fundamentals of the variables affecting the breed, a digital newsletter is limited as a medium for delivering detailed information. For more information or to join the conversation, please reach out to the CEB-US.
Comments