#2: Mimi Drake -

Mimi, thank you for quoting from our field research papers. But you cannot impress the believers of traditional  "Dogdom" with references to aboriginal  populations of a breed, appeals for the preservation of bio-diversity, natural functionality, health, genetics and other intellectual stuff of this kind. The Standard System has been created in the 19th century as a collection of rules for a social passtime: To "improve" dog breeds of arbitrary definitions. The respective "creativity" of a breeder is reimbursed by championship awards. serving vanity and material interests. Organisations like the FCI were meant to be the bureaucratic administrators of this competitive game. It will take a long time to change their "philosophy" - if ever. Only chance for people who want to preserve canine heritage is to proceed on their own without regard to so-called breed standards. And, of course, to voice their criticism of the existing "Dogdom"-system, as it is done here. Maybe, this could help to influence some of the most nonsensical details.

#3: Dr.Werner Röder - Re: Modification Azawakh Standard FCI

Werner - There is recognition that neither a popularity poll open to all-comers on the Internet, nor the exposure of relevant statistics in the same social media, may be effective means of political influence. We can only be realistic about this.

Yet, the exercise is not entirely futile.  We can still enjoy the fringe benefits developed from such efforts: the sense of unity, the enlightenment through shared data, perhaps the inspiration to dare look beyond for an alternative solution in order to preserve the canine heritage and genetic resource of this fascinating breed, the azawakh-idi.

This will not be the first time, or the first group of dog fanciers who have had to "bite the bullet", and march forward to establish the same animal, under a new "label" or name, as a varietal or otherwise; or to form a new organization to protect the breed resources.  Indeed, if one chooses to see, an alternate route is already available to begin this new journey.

No day dreaming here.  Been there and done that, Mimi Drake