Why Not White?

Why Not White?

First, please understand that an AKC registration means only that the parents of the dog were also registered with AKC and the validity of that registration depends on the integrity of the persons doing the registering. For instance, a woman in the hospital with a new baby can name any male as the father of that infant. The integrity of the birth certificate depends on her, not the registry. Any dog may be registered with the AKC as long as both of its parents were also AKC registered. That registration says nothing about the quality of the dog.

You ask a very legitimate question, why are whites so bad? Let me try to answer that on a very simple level. There is a written definition of what each breed shall be. That definition dates back to the origin of the breed and is on paper for anyone interested to read. This definition is what makes a Great Dane a Great Dane, a Poodle a Poodle, a Dalmatian a Dalmatian, etc. etc. etc.. It is not up to each.of us to decide that we would like to change each of these breeds because we “like it” or “find it appealing”. Adhering to these definitions is what retains the individuality of the breed. Breeding to the definition is the challenge for the breeder. A brown Dalmatian might be cute - but he is no longer a dal; a tiny Great Dane would be more easily kept - but he is no longer a Great Dane, and a hard coated Poodle would be easier to groom, but he wouldn’t be a poodle. And in that same light, a white schnauzer is no longer a schnauzer; he is disqualified because he does not meet the definition of that breed.

The little white schnauzer is not “bad”. He is simply not a good specimen of the breed. I would suggest that the person who likes a small white terrier seriously consider the purchase of a Westie. (By the way, the Westie wouldn’t be a Westie if he were any color other than white.)

Marcia Feld, 3/97

American Miniature Schnauzer Club

AKC Licensed Judge