Pedigree Dogs

[Lance Morgan]

Did anybody watch the programme on pedigree dogs and kennel club breed standards?. It was quite shocking to see how some breeds are now suffering ill health and pain caused by in breeding etc

[zan]

I didn't see it, but I know that a lot of purebred dogs (and any animal really) suffer all kinds of health issues from inbreeding. Aside from that, they cost waaay more to buy, and can be waaaay more in vet bills - give me a good old rescue mutt any day

Zan

[demicav]

I made a point of watching this programme, it's something that's interested me for quite some time. I would recommend it to anyone who cares about animal welfare. As an owner of two Cavalier King Charles spaniels I found it deeply shocking although I was already aware of the problems facing the breed. To see a dog screaming in pain is upsetting as is the fact that some breeders (not all) are turning a blind eye to it. To see a woman knowingly breed more than twenty litters from a dog that has been diagnosed with a serious genetic disease is a disgrace. Something seriously needs to be done.

[ellie_w]

Originally Posted by demicav

To see a woman knowingly breed more than twenty litters from a dog that has been diagnosed with a serious genetic disease is a disgrace. Something seriously needs to be done.

I agree

The attitude of some of the breeders shown on the programme was absolutely disgusting

[shei111]

Its not good at all ,glad the prog has highlighted this terrible thing. shei

[ron1863]

A lot of these so called "dog lovers" are only breeding dogs for money, they don't care about the animals welfare.

[nutmeg]

I've just watched it - and was disgusted at the attitudes of so many of the breeders (and Kennel Club).

I'm not anti pedigree dogs - I own a 10 yr old Leonberger who has had no health problems - but the programme highlighted that many breeders prefer to disregard the health of the dogs in favour of bizarre aesthetics and making money. The Cavalier King Charles is a wonderful dog and I was considering one as a pet, but not now. I just hope the breed overcomes the damage done to it.

[big bill]

Originally Posted by ron1863

A lot of these so called "dog lovers" are only breeding dogs for money, they don't care about the animals welfare.

I agree 100% with you on this Ron I used to show West Highland White Terriers when I first came out the forces,and gave it up as it was a rat race the judges where not interested in the dog it wasd more of what you as a breeder and potential Judge could do back in return for them ,scratch my back and I`ll scratch yours.
Packed it in and got a border collie and took up agility and obediance showing and it was all down to the dog more than the handler,she lived to a ripe old age of 15 died of cancer then got a couple of Lhaso Apso and they are a right pair of characters they will argue back just like all woman.

[Ukwildlifeo]

I not sure why this is considered 'News' since despite never owning a dog (Im a fan of them though, when there not chasing/killing wildlife/me! lol) I knew all about them being inbred - the old facts about dalmations being deaf and smaller breeds having disproportionately sized organs etc. Plus you just have to compare the size and shape and things like leg length to a wolf to know somethings not right. But Im glad the RSPCA have brought this to the centre everyones attention. Watching the breakfast news interview the Kennel Club basically showed there more worrried about losing members by excluding bad breeders. Watch the video near the bottom of the page here: BBC NEWS | UK | Pedigree dogs plagued by disease

Though the fact the BBC are going to have talks about showing crufts has got to be a good sign.

EDIT: just watched the other videos one showing a frankly deformed german shepard witha a curved back taht means it can barely walk with its back leags and the other has the head of the kennel clubs say "I dont what a bunch of scientists telling me they no more about the dogs Ive known for 40years..." - yea how dare those scientists use imperical facts to disprove his iignoreant state of denial wrong

[ron1863]

It's not rocket science to realise where some pedigree dogs are going to have problems - Pekinese and King Charles - eye problems, Cocker, Springer Spaniels - ears, Bulldogs, Boxers - breathing and looks.

[agrumpycow]

I too was shocked, but not new, to the issues raised in the programme and agree with all the sentiments you guys have said here.
Maybe people looking to purchase dogs should do their research first and not just fall for a cutie little pup. Programmes like that help to inform people and, hopefully, deter some people from buying a pedigree pup with potentially such devastating problems.

[birding dave]

I've had border collies for many years - I always get my pups from farm working stock. The worst thing that ever happened to collies was when the Kennel Club recognised them as a breed. These people are not dog lovers, they are dog users in the worst possible way, seeing them only in terms of pounds and pence (or guineas as I believe is the preferred monetary unit)

[Garden Carpet]

hear hear birding dave. I have a pedigree chihuahua who was rescued. He has various alilments some related to breeding and some to his previous owner's treatment of him. Most breeders are in it for the money. And the requirements of some breeds for the dogs is unreasonable leading to major problems for the poor dog in the future.

For instance, my vet tells me that it is quite common for dogs the size of Chihuahuas to have heart problems due to breeding for smaller and smaller dogs. I love these little dogs and would be delighted to have another. I wont however go to a breeder. I will have another rescue.

I have another dog, a pedigree mongrel who has hardly had a days illness in the 10 years I have had her. She too is a rescue.

It will be interesting to see if the beeb decide to screen crufts after this programme.

I dont think any dog or cat should be used for making money!

Jaki, gizmo and twizzle!

[agrumpycow]

I just hope that people listen and take notice. Legislation about docking of dogs tails ended (at last!) and hopefully other cruel practices will too.

[badger426]

They remind me of "TheMaster Race" and Hitler!

[Tricia]

I saw a documentary some time ago about dog owners in America paying for cosmetic surgery for their dogs - re-shaping their ears, their eyes etc.

For a lot of people their perception of beauty is a surgically constructed face - skin ironed out and pulled tight, nose sculptered to a tiny snub and eyes de-bagged and fat siphoned away and I guess it is their money and their choice but, to subject a perfectly happy, healthy animal to the same nonsense is unbelievably cruel.

[ellen h]

give me a good old rescue mutt any day 

Zan

Yes my dog is a rescue,I got him from WoodGreen Animal Shelter.He is a cross breed,one of many amongst the many more pedigrees looking for a home there.It angers me to know that such breeders as was seen on the programme last night exist.I was especially appalled at the Rhodesian Ridgeback breeders,that extols a feature on the dog that is apparently a genetic fault!!
ellen

[Wild-Woman]

It was a shocking programme. You can't do better than a good old heinz variety dog. If I had the time and the money, I'd home a mixed mutt from a rescue. I would not give a breeder money to breed more of these sad, deformed canines.

[cybershot]

As the owner of a perfectly happy, healthy 3 year old 'Reject' Rhodesian Ridgeback (his sire is the only INT CH RR in the country, but Chaka has only one crown to his ridge so doesn't meet the breed standard - Shame, I don't think!) I was shocked but not that surprised by the attitude of both the Kennel Club and so called concerned owners who clearly have no regard for the their dogs' welfare, but only the kudos of a rosette.

Did I really hear that statistic correctly: Pedigree owners spend £10 million per week in vets fees looking after their charges

David

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by badger426

They remind me of "TheMaster Race" and Hitler!

When they made that comparission on the programme I thought hear we go again but then they had a ridgeback breeder on who discussed how when a ridgeback is bred that doesnt have the desired ridged-back they want to put it down but, and I quote (italics by me for clarity) "and we do have trouble nowdays with the young vets who tend to see everything in black and white and wont put them down (the young vets say) "Its a healthy beautiful puppy, theres nothing wrong with it except it hasnt a ridge" and you say well actually there meant to have ridges <laughs> its not easy and erm usually we end up having to go to and old vet that we've known for years, to just quietly put them to sleep." is there not a code of ethics in the vetinary community covers not putting down healthy animals!?
she then 'justifies' this: "I would rather they were put down under my care than they landed in the hands of the fighting people, which is appaling" - oh the irony. I sometimes wonder if these people are more inbred than the animals they breed...

[ron1863]

Originally Posted by cybershot

As the owner of a perfectly happy, healthy 3 year old 'Reject' Rhodesian Ridgeback (his sire is the only INT CH RR in the country, but Chaka has only one crown to his ridge so doesn't meet the breed standard - Shame, I don't think!) I was shocked but not that surprised by the attitude of both the Kennel Club and so called concerned owners who clearly have no regard for the their dogs' welfare, but only the kudos of a rosette.

Did I really hear that statistic correctly: Pedigree owners spend £10 million per week in vets fees looking after their charges

David

Do you know any poor vets

The people who breed and show these dogs have an entirely different mentallity to "ordinary" people. They see the dogs as show animals and a cash crop as breeding stock. They don't see them as pets, companions or working animals.
We had an Irish Setter who was descended from a Crufts champion who we got for £50 as a six month old dog from a man who's wife had died and he was unable to care for him, he just wanted a good home for the dog. As a pup he had got his tail jammed in a door and it had a slight kink. A breeder in our area told us to get him put down and get another Setter as Clancy was no use with the kink in his tail.

[Fairy-wren]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

When they made that comparission on the programme I thought hear we go again but then they had a ridgeback breeder on who discussed how when a ridgeback is bred that doesnt have the desired ridged-back they want to put it down but, and I quote (italics by me for clarity) "and we do have trouble nowdays with the young vets who tend to see everything in black and white and wont put them down (the young vets say) "Its a healthy beautiful puppy, theres nothing wrong with it except it hasnt a ridge" and you say well actually there meant to have ridges <laughs> its not easy and erm usually we end up having to go to and old vet that we've known for years, to just quietly put them to sleep." is there not a code of ethics in the vetinary community covers not putting down healthy animals!?
she then 'justifies' this: "I would rather they were put down under my care than they landed in the hands of the fighting people, which is appaling" - oh the irony. I sometimes wonder if these people are more inbred than the animals they breed...

*Shakes head* That's unbelieveable!

It's funny how two people can claim to love animals, yet go about it in such different ways - I'm not talking about any two people in particular; I mean that there's people like myself who can't understand having an animal put down based on looks, and then there's people like the lady Ukwildlifeo mentioned who believes she's being kind by putting down a dog that doesn't conform to the breed's standard, thinking that would stop it from landing "in the hands of the fighting people"...

(I hope that makes sense, I'm not being very articulate today!)

[at]

Glad to see something so unethical finally brought to the public eye.

I've had dogs all my life and although I know to what goes on, i was disgusted to see to what extent. If dogs were human, most of those people would be in prison right now.

[Lance Morgan]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

When they made that comparission on the programme I thought hear we go again but then they had a ridgeback breeder on who discussed how when a ridgeback is bred that doesnt have the desired ridged-back they want to put it down but, and I quote (italics by me for clarity) "and we do have trouble nowdays with the young vets who tend to see everything in black and white and wont put them down (the young vets say) "Its a healthy beautiful puppy, theres nothing wrong with it except it hasnt a ridge" and you say well actually there meant to have ridges <laughs> its not easy and erm usually we end up having to go to and old vet that we've known for years, to just quietly put them to sleep." is there not a code of ethics in the vetinary community covers not putting down healthy animals!?
she then 'justifies' this: "I would rather they were put down under my care than they landed in the hands of the fighting people, which is appaling" - oh the irony. I sometimes wonder if these people are more inbred than the animals they breed...

Ridgebacks are an interesting breed. This is essentially a hunting dog that has been bred to emphasise the ridge. The ridge itself is a defect similar to spina bifida. German shepherds (alsations) are now being bred to meet the standard that they can hardly walk crouched with wonky back legs.