BBC Dropping Crufts?; tv documentary tonight - Page 3

This program addressed the fact that show breeders have "improved" breeds beyond recognition with exaggerated features detrimental to the dogs health and it needed to be addressed.  We can argue about working ability til the cows come home, but without a basic dog, with full physical and structural health, it doesn't mean a jot.

Margaret N-J

Watcher - I have dogs with much less angulation and I'm really happy about it!

Watcher - I have dogs with much less angulation and I'm really happy about it!

I am no expert in showing, by any means. However, doesn't it all come down to the judges in the end? After all, if an unsound, badly angulated dog wins, the temptation is there to breed and show more of the same. And if they win they are bred from and the faults passed on...

I have been at shows where I have seen dogs with obvious temperament problems including nervousness and aggression win or be placed. In one case a bitch slipped her lead and immediately flew at another several metres away, who had done nothing to provoke the attack. Isn't that the judges fault? Shouldn't these dogs be disqualified?

And in the programme last night, didn't the Ridgeback breeders come over as badly as the Cavaliers?

I quite agree that the Ridgeback breeders were terrible - glad I'm not in that breed.

As for temperment - I was at the Welsh Show last weekend and one of the table breeds the puppy backed away from the owner before being placed on the table and ducked when the judge approached - where did it end up??? Best Puppy in Breed, so yes the judges need to be more critical.  Also a couple of years ago when I went to crufts and there was quite a few English GSD's there they were predominantly bags of wind, they were hiding behind their owners and all but cowering on the benching - and they had all obviously been well placed or winning to get there.

VERY WELL SAID WATCHER,

 I think most of us know who the offending GSD show people are that you so brilliently portrayed, & sadly it happens in all breeds.Until the KC get their act together AND judges have the balls to judge  the correct end of the lead this senario will always go on, so contiuning the breeding of cripples by those who only see a CC ( or several  as the collectors of CC's show) as being the important part of dog showing & breeding.

Every breed has its bullies who think they can intimadate people ( other compeditors & judges alike) the truth is that most are actually very disliked & people only suck up to them if they are earning something from them, ie handlers & trainers.These sort of people see it as perfectly ok to critise others dogs & slay peoples opinions on the excuse that 'what do you know, you've only been in the breed five minutes' I would say in answer to that attitude, 'you may have been in the breed for far longer, but you show you obviously have grasped very little of basic animal conformation to be happily breeding & showing dogs of such appallingly unsound construction.

I feel the program highlighted the patheticness of the Kennel Club in doing little to stop people breeding from dogs with horrendous genetic problems.I hope the cavalier breeders feel suitably ashamed.

Newbee

The breeders came over badly full stop, and yes judges have their role to play in this but if they insist they are judging to the breed standard,!!!!!!

If you have a breed standard that allows the problems  the Pekinese and the pugs  have!!!    then the standard should to be changed  

The ridgeback breeders putting to sleep what we believe to be healthy puppies was a disgrace. Why not just neuter them and put them in pet homes.

It

Any form of unsoundness is a fault - whether it be the hind angulation on the GSD, the breathing issues found in Pugs and Peks etc.

I have a 12 year old GSD (show lines) who has less wobble behind than many of the top winning GSD's and good hips to boot.  He is of correct size and many people ask if he has progeny as he is so ideal.  I cannot believe the changes that have come about since I got him and I will not purchase a dog from those lines.  There are many dogs out there that have some angulation but not excessive but in today's show ring they are not making the grade - that is such a mistake.

As for changing the breed standard - for the GSD's I dont think its needed - just remove room for too much interpretation, after all if 1 standard fits both English and German lines its got way too much flexibility in it.