Watch this Tonight - Breeding

Having seen parts of this programme before, i was disgusted to watch it in full. The comment the breeder made about culling pups without a ridge on the back and killing perfectly healthy pups is disgraceful.
As a breeder of boxers, i know only too well what has happened to pedigree dogs in this country - i get calls and emails from owners who's pets have heart disease, cancer, hair loss, allergies the list goes on and on.

In my opinion the Kennel Club are most responsible - they over the years created Canine Breed Standards to suit human opinion - based on appearances alone ( eg' the german shepard showed on the programme last night yet still won despite hardly being able to walk straight). How many pedigree dogs now resemble their ancestors? It is shocking and this is what people have done over the years.

Secondly show people: They have over the years and continue to breed to try get "a perfect example of the breed" - this being achieved by inbreeding and line breeding - the health never taken in to consideration and thus creating the vast number of genetical diseases associated with breeds. The life span of nearly all pedigree dogs has been reduced greatly. To make matters worse those top male dogs that won the shows where offered to stud to females - thus over time creating a new breed of pedigree dogs that would inevitably would be related somewhere in the lines - not to mention the spread of inhereted genetical diseases and illness for specific breeds. Then the majority of show people move on to their new "winner" and then the cycle continues - how many older once "show winner, with champion lines" ads do you see looking for new homes. The trophies are won, the stud fees collected maybe an offspring kept to continue show line success and thank you very much and good luck! Sad but true.

Thridly: Bad breeders, they use a breeds popularity to make money from it. They breed from females twice a year and until the female is exhausted ( i must point out here again the kennel club has failed to ensure there are proper guidelines in place to prevent a female been bred from 2x in a year). Breeders that dont spend the money to health test there dogs prior to breeding and breeders who inbreed and line breed.:mad::mad: Yes the cost is expensive but you are effectively improving the health of a breed by doing so. Education and research needed also - and last nights programme will certainly create awareness to this problem.

Fourthly: Those who continue to buy pedigree dogs that have not been tested and whose pedigree lines are closely related. People who are spending lots of money on PB's should be asking to see proof of hip scoring, heart testing, eye testing and up to date vaccine records of the sire and dam and written confirmation that the pups have been vaccined and vet checked. ( A reputable breeder will show these documents and explain the importance of testing dogs ).

This is just my opinion - not all breeders are bad, a small few are trying to improve it but it is a hard battle ( espically sourcing dogs not related to your own). And hopefully people will be more aware of the problems out there and what to look out for.

But the kennel clubs need to raise the bar and change rules and guidelines real fast otherwise nothing will change.

Just ban Crufts and all those , should take away the attraction for a lot of muppets.

the only appear happy cause of the face-lifts

bushy... wrote: »

Just ban Crufts and all those , should take away the attraction for a lot of muppets.

I've said previously that I don't show my dogs and have no interest in doing so, but I don't see why people can't have a hobby. There are a lot of dogs have a much worse life than a show dog, who spend a lot of their lives with their owner. Through another forum I have met and become friends with a few people who show their dogs. They care passionately about their dogs, and to a certain extent, their lives revolve around their dogs. During the show season they are off most weekends around the country, spending the whole day with their dogs, their dogs are also interacting with other dogs and are very sociable. They also put a lot of work into getting their dogs up to a standard where they can be shown, I don't mean grooming, washing, but instead I mean ringcraft lessons, obedience etc, all of which are good for a dog surely?

Yes, you get people with a bad attitude in showing, as you do in everything, and there are the stupid politics that go on in everything but don't tar everybody with the same brush. If these dogs didn't get proper exercise etc, they wouldn't be in a fit shape to show, so they have a good life.

andreac wrote: »

Oh you havent got a clue, have you ever been to a dog show? have you ever met any of the dogs at one? or know any of the owners of one? i doubt it, so please dont talk bullsh** when you dont know what you are talking about.
I own a dog that i show too and he really enjoys the shows, i wouldnt do them if he didnt. If you go to any shows you will see how much they enjoy them.
So please before you go making comments like that please wait til you have your facts straight, or evidence to back up your statements.

Like the evidence you had for the outrageous comments you made about my dog? I seem to remember you scarpering from that thread.

There was evidence enough in that show to back up the comments made. One Crufts winner had a face lift for god's sake, doesn't that show the OP has plenty of evidence.

Different dogs like different things. I accept that. But the majority of dogs weren't bred for the purpose of parading around a show ring. That said, I have been to dog shows and there are genuine people. They are plenty of people who aren't so genuine too.

It's the same as anything.

andreac wrote: »

Now why would you do that?

You cant tar all dog owners that show their dogs with the one brush, the majority of people that show their dogs do because they have a passion for it and its a hobbie that both the dog and owner love.

Have you ever been to a dog show? Have you seen how happy the dogs are in the ring? tails wagging and in great form.

Same reason lots of things are banned.
Way too much damage done by a few people (out of many).

Think about it.
The dogs are happy because of attention , around other dogs/people etc
Not because they won because their ears are pointy or similar.

What are the KC making money on from allowing bad breeding that they can't make on good breeding ???

I've known for years now that they put down Dalmnations with blue eye's because they are deaf and most white GSD are drowned at birth by the breeders because they don't want to be found out but watching that program is more than disturbing. I've had lots of GSDs over the years and never had one with a slopping back or frog feet and all were kc reg.

My rough collie came from show breeders and her mam and dad were only ever breed together, if the first litter from a pair were great she only ever breed that pair together for life, and if not great pups she tryed other matches until she got it right, thats nearly 20 yrs ago, and up until her twilight years she never had any health probloms, it just go's to show how much can happen behind closed doors now a days.

I think the goverments of all countries should enforce new laws as to the standerd of breed, I'd much rader see a healthy dog in the show ring, than feel like I have to bring along bottles of oxygen to keep them alive.

But this is not only effecting dogs, I hear through the grape vine there is now problems with cats, rabbits and horses appearing to, it's sad to think people go to such lenghts knowing the animals will suffer in the long run, how can they say they love them, these people should be banned and the KC's shut down.