Pedigree Dogs Exposed - TV Show to Reveal Inbreeding and Health Defects in Canines

[jules]

My only criticiscm (after lying awake for ages last night thinking about the programme!) is that they didn't feature enough breeders who were doing the right thing, I think there was only the one (cavalier breeder who also campaigns against syringomyelia). Otherwise, the rest were adamant that culling/breeding health defects/creating little frankensteinesque monsters is perfectly acceptable.... although I suppuse the people endorsing these the most were the Breed Club representatives. What a sad state of affairs, I hope the KC get enough crticism to force them to make changes. And as for the cavalier breeder (you know, the "blonde" one ), she should be prosecuted, her actions are disgusting.

Argh, this programme has made me even more angry, I want to do something!!

Jules x

[LOVEGSD]

Well what more can I add, I agree with everything you've all said and I thought the programme was brilliant but very upsetting. The GSD's made me feel sick, they could barely walk - how is this a good example of the breed?? I am so glad Diesel's straight backed..I thought the original pic of the GSD was so much more regal than the current offering - it was so disturbing!!

Imo the KC needs to be shut down and started again, sack them all...they are an absolute disgrace and as for those breeders well they should be shot!!! That blonde woman with the Cavalier KC, what a complete cow, allowing her defect dog to breed 26 litters after his diagnosis - she should be struck off and never allowed to breed again and as for the Ridgeback breeder, I can't type on here what I really think of her....

As always it's the owners my heart goes out to and to all you who are also going through difficult times with your furbabies.

I think the BBC did a great job and yes I do agree Jules they could have shown more of the good breeders because they are out there but otherwise they've thrown this issue wide open and I can't wait to see what happens next.

[GSDOWNER]

I tried to reply last night but I was really upset and every time I tryed my eyes welled up

Watching that programe last night confirms everything I have said about the KC for the last 3 years and I am glad Tazman you watched it because maybe you will understand the tears I shread fighting for this barbaric breeding to be stopped.

I am also glad the comments made about the GSD dogs shown at crufts, I dared to question the breeder of one of those dogs shown last night because I thought it was oversized and never met the breed standard, lol I was so shot down and put in my place for raising the question; how can a dog win at crufts (BOB) if it does not meet the breed standard? I so got the answer last night, as I have said many times the breeding/show world is such a corrupt world,

One of the gsd shown last night was the winner and should never have been shown in the way he was, and the other was reserve BOB at crufts which imo should not even have been placed.

I feel for the breeders who spend a fortune perfecting there breeding lines tho, its such a shame there is dimicks out there ! and that includes dimicks from the KC too.

I hope last nights programme does open the door for improvement, but I wait with baited breath.

I also think that the Chairman of the Kennel Club should resign.

[jules]

Kennel Club hits back at BBC Dog Documentary - The Kennel Club this is their statement on last nights programme, sadly, it looks like they have no intention of changing anything. They keep harping on about responsible breeders that do screen but it's the irresponsible breeders that need bringing to task. They know that KC reg dogs are worth more, I seriously doubt they would breed outide of the KC for the sake of the cost of screening tests, if they get £500 per reg puppy and only £150 per un-reg puppy, they are obvisouly going to choose the former, even if they have to fork out £200 per parent at the outset... perhaps they would look at their dogs more objectivly too, assess their conformation and decide if it will predispose their dogs to any conditions.

This is insane, why can't the KC see this!!!

[GSDOWNER]

All I can say to the KC on there recent statement - is what a load of ballucks

Kennel Club hits back at BBC Dog Documentary

20-Aug-08


The Kennel Club feels that the programme, Pedigree Dogs Exposed (BBC1 19 August) missed a real opportunity to progress the cause of dog health. It appeared to have a very specific agenda repeating prejudices, providing no context for the debate, and failing to put forward any constructive proposals. It left viewers with the mistaken impression that all pedigree dogs are riddled with a wide range of health problems and that the dog community is doing little or nothing to improve the situation.


click to read more >>>>>>>>Kennel Club hits back at BBC Dog Documentary - The Kennel Club

[zaclucy]

I missed this programme last night, but recorded it, and have just watched it.

I now feel such a sense of sadness, and indeed despair.

I cried tears for all the animals featured in the programme, and the owners, having to cope with such diseases. The King Charles Cavalier, is in my opinion, doomed, unless those people involved see the harm, and pain and suffering that they are causing. How can anyone knowingly condemn any animal to such pain? It beggars belief.

The KC are so short sighted, and are only concerned with generating money. If they had set standards then many breeds would not be in the state they are in now.

I now wonder what the future holds for all these breeds. WHo is going to do something? It is such a huge problem, which seems insurmountable, when the only recognised body, will not take the bull by the horns, and do something that will make a difference.

I wish with all my heart that there was something that I, and other like minded people could do.

Janet x

[LOVEGSD]

The ignorance of the KC and the blatant refusal to see the more than valid points raised in last nights programme is so infuriating imo....why can't they admit there are so many problems and start dealing with them? Although I guess we all know the answer....money!!!!!! The whole club needs a complete overhaul and the current staff should resign...imo

How they can say this "Dog show judges are also educated to judge to those standards ensuring that dogs with obvious problems that could affect their quality of life do not win, and that the rewards go to fit, healthy dogs" when the Crufts Best In Show was a Pekinese who had undergone surgey for his inherited defect is unbelievable!!!!!!

I think all the pictures of the dogs shown from years ago all looked better than they do now and they really were fit for a purpose. How distressing was is looking at the Neopolitan Bull Mastiff with his skin complaints and calluses, the Bull dog & Pug struggling to breathe, the CKC screaming in pain and the Boxer fitting and of course the GSD barely able to walk or hold it's own weight?! How can any dog lover accept that this? As always it's the pet owners picking up the pieces and being left heartbroken.....

As for this quote...."The Kennel Club has no legal standing, unlike some similar bodies in other countries. We have to work on these issues through partnership and persuasion – not coercion. The danger of introducing draconian measures is that some breeders could choose to operate outside the Kennel Club’s jurisdiction; with absolutely no controls. That cannot be the best way forward" What is the point of the KC if they have no control over the breeding of pedigree dogs????

Obviously this is only my opinion but I know I'm not alone!

[zaclucy]

Lynn, I agree with you 100%.

There is only the KC that can do anything constructive about this. If KC accredited breeders could charge higher rates for their pups, then this would cover the cost of the health screening. If only breeders that health screened their dogs could be accredited, then it would encourage breeders to screen. If the KC did this, then they themselves would be perceived as being a responsible organisation, that breeders could aspire to. Why can the KC not see this? It is just a joke!!!!!! The whole organisation needs a good kick up the arse, and an internal shakeup, that would see responsible people put into positions, where they could finally do some good for all breeds.

They could make me chairman,I'll show them how its done

[GSDOWNER]

omg just had a really horrible thought; if the jo public are now thinking that buying a purebred pedigree from either a KC Litter or from a KC Accredited breeder could result in the dog having inherited genetics faults!!! could this now result in people buying away from breeders who do all the health checks????

omg this programme last night was a result for the BYB because potential buyers will think this is now a safe way to go

[zaclucy]

No Jo, I don't agree with you on this. I think that what this programme should do, is make people more aware that they need to research the breed they are interested in, and ask the right questions, before they decide who to buy from. A byb is no better, and no worse than one who doesn't health screen. In my opinion, you could call the people who don't health check, and have no regard for their breed byb's, essentially, there is no distinction between the 2.