AKC has ruined several breeds.
Mike, AKC may not have helped, but generally the Breed Club sets the standard and AKC enforces it at their sanctioned events. The breed club can even change the standard if it gets the votes to do so. Recently accepted by AKC breeds already have standards in force when allowed to compete in AKC events.
https://breedingbusiness.com/who-creates-dog-breed-standards/What likely screws up breeds the most are the damn judges. Nearly every Best in Breed whippet at the shows we've attended is a white and brindle, hardly ever a tuxedo (black and white) or a fawn dog or bitch. And they for some reason tend to like them "pretty", for lack of a better term. It's mostly easy to tell whippets that come from racing/working stock against pure show dogs. Those are generalities of course, but I've seen it hold true in other breeds too. And, competitive show breeders are a copycat bunch, as you likely know. If a dog wins a lot of shows, ends up doing well at the Westminster and such, other breeders will try to get the traits they think won into their lines.
The breeders/judges combo has screwed up a couple of breeds for sure. Poodles from hunting lines are pretty cool dogs. Poodles from a long line of show dogs might hunt a Scooby snack, but likely be afraid of a wild duck!
