 This registry first acted as a means to document pedigrees and show the breed against its written standard.During the early years of the breed, a wide spectrum of dogs was shown, many displaying physical traits of the other introduced breeds; these were penalized heavily by the registry, forcing owners and breeders of such dogs to create new means to show their style of dog without being rejected.Within the ABKC, the four varieties are separated by height without specification of weight.