Reform to protect pedigree dogs

Posted : 1/15/2009 8:36:12 AM

Did anyone else post this? From this link on BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7828455.stm

Reform to protect pedigree dogs

Some fear the British bulldog - symbol of defiance - could vanish

The Kennel Club has introduced new standards for 209 breeds, following concerns about ill health in pedigree dogs caused by years of in-breeding.

Last year, the RSPCA pulled out of Crufts, saying breeding to exaggerate certain features, such as bulldogs' jowls, had led to painful deformities.

Now new rules designed to prevent exaggeration and incestuous breeding have been brought in.

Ryan O'Meara, from the K9 dog magazine, said the changes were long overdue.

"When we breed dogs to a set of physical standards and ignore the health consequences, it's really unforgivable," he told the BBC News website.

'Heavily penalised'

The Kennel Club is changing its guidelines defining which features dogs should have to be classed as pedigree.

In future, the bulldog must be leaner and will no longer be encouraged to have heavy jowls and deep, overhanging wrinkles in its skin.

Rules now state "skin may be slightly wrinkled," but "must never adversely affect or obscure eyes or nose". Wrinkles which lead to "pinched nostrils" - potentially affecting breathing - "are unacceptable and should be heavily penalised".

It's going to take time, several generations, to have an effect

Kennel Club spokeswoman

But while they are aimed at making animals healthier, the change has angered the British Bulldog Breed Council, which fears the loss of a breed emblematic of defiance and pugnacity.

Chairman Robin Searle told the Times newspaper: "What you'll get is a completely different dog, not a British bulldog."

Other breeds altered include the German shepherd, whose forelegs must not be weak and overlong because it would "affect a dog's working ability," and the chow chow which "must not have so much coat as to impede activity or cause distress in hot weather".

Skin conditions

Mr O'Meara said the bulldog was "a vivid illustration of how wrong we can get it".

"Bulldogs have been bred to a point where they die at about seven years of age - in human terms that's just 45 or 46," he said.

"They can't breathe properly. They can't support themselves because their heads are too big. They have terrible skin conditions.

"The public must be educated to see dogs not for their aesthetic appeal but to think about their health."

He said people "shouldn't be scared or snobbish about interbreeding".

We question how the standards may be interpreted in the show ring

Mark Evans, RSPCA

"All dogs are one species and all breeds are man-made. They wont die out because we made them. It's like saying i-pods could die out.

"We have to start cross-breeding more in order to reconstruct these dogs and improve genetic diversity."

The Kennel Club said breed standards had been revised to exclude "anything that could in any way be interpreted as encouraging features that might prevent a dog breathing, walking and seeing freely".

Judges at licensed dog shows have been instructed to choose only the healthiest dogs as champions. Any animals at Crufts that show signs of ill-health are to be expelled.

Any dogs that are the product of incestuous breeding are also banned from registering, although this does rely on owners providing accurate information about their animals.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are also said to suffer health problems

A spokeswoman for the club said: "It's going to take time, several generations, to have an effect, but we think these exaggerated features can eventually be bred out altogether."

RSPCA chief veterinary adviser Mark Evans said the ban on incestuous breeding was "brilliant news," but the changes to breeding standards "don't appear to be radical enough to really make a difference".

"We also question how the standards may be interpreted in the show ring," he said.

Last year, a BBC programme, Pedigree Dogs Exposed, found animals suffering acute health problems, and following its airing, the broadcaster pulled out of showing Crufts in 2009.

The Kennel Club lodged a complaint about the programme with Ofcom, accusing the documentary of bias.

shamrockmommy

Posted : 1/15/2009 8:49:02 AM

I hope I don't step on any toes here, because I don't mean to, and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I agree with the article.

I did a 3 day show circuit and stayed with an aquaintance who bred/showed bulldogs. Now I was there because she had a poodle and wanted me to groom and handle her. I stayed in her motor home, slept in the convertable table/bed right across from 2 crated bulldogs. I didn't sleep a wink for 4 days. Those poor dogs snored and itched and scratched and snored and just listening to them try to breed was pathetic! It's like they're trying to breath through a straw or something! The breeder/owner said they had to do artificial inseminations on all their dogs because natural breedings were impossible. She also did c-sections because they couldn't whelp a litter on their own. Pekingese are like this as well, and even persian cats!

Then on to my other peeve breed- the GSD. I set up to next to a famous gsd breeder- you see him on westminster with these 'top winning' gsds. Anyway, I've seen them up close and their legs are so wobbly in the rears and so long in the front that they can't walk properly. This is supposed to be a working breed!

Anyway, it is a soapbox of mine, a little bit.

tashakota

Posted : 1/15/2009 8:51:35 AM

You're certainly not stepping on mine! Wink

mudpuppy

Posted : 1/15/2009 9:03:52 AM

It's about time. I hope the AKC follows their excellent example.

AgileGSD

Posted : 1/15/2009 9:53:12 AM

I think it is very bad that the KC has bowed to the demands of the Animal Rights groups and of course, PETA is now pushing for the same thing with AKC. This is a list of what they are looking to change in different breeds:

http://www.dogworld.co.uk/News/52-KC-changes

KC?s proposed changes to breed Standards
25 Dec 2008 08:00

THE NEW interim breed Standards drawn up by the Kennel Club are the main
topic of conversation within the dog world as 2008 comes to an end.
Breed clubs and breed councils have received copies of the new Standards
and have been holding meetings to consider their replies, which are due
in by the end of the year.
Here is a summary of the changes the KC is proposing to each breed.
Where breeds are not mentioned no specific areas of change are proposed.

HOUNDS
Afghan Hound: Eyes, dewclaws.
Basset Bleus de Gascogne: Ears.
Basset Griffon Vendeen, Grand: Ears.
Basset Hound: General appearance, characteristics, head, eyes, ears,
forequarters, body, hindquarters, feet, gait.
Bloodhound: Characteristics, head, eyes.
Dachshund: General appearance, characteristics, body, dewclaws, colour.
Finnish Spitz: Hindquarters, dewclaws.
Grand Bleu de Gascogne: Head, ears, neck.
Greyhound: General appearance.
Rhodesian Ridgeback: Characteristics.
Foxhound, Hamiltonstovare, Ibizan Hound, Pharaoh Hound, Portuguese
Podengo: Dewclaws.

GUNDOGS
Bracco Italiano: Neck.
Italian Spinone: Neck.
Labrador Retriever: Characteristics, body.
American Cocker Spaniel: Eyes.
Clumber Spaniel: General appearance, head, eyes, forequarters, body, size.
Sussex Spaniel: General appearance, eyes.
Hungarian Vizsla, Large Munsterlander, Chesapeake Bay Retriever,
Weimaraner: Dewclaws.

TERRIERS
Airedale Terrier, Australian Terrier, Bedlington Terrier, Bull Terrier,
Cesky Terrier, Fox Terrier, Smooth, Manchester Terrier, Norfolk Terrier,
Norwich Terrier, Parson Russell Terrier, Welsh Terrier, West Highland
White Terrier: Eyes.
Glen of Imaal Terrier: Forequarters.
Irish Terrier: Characteristics, eyes.
Scottish Terrier: General appearance, eyes.
Skye Terrier: General appearance, coat.
Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier: Dewclaws.

UTILITY
Akita: Temperament, Hindquarters, dewclaws.
Boston Terrier: General appearance, head, eyes, tail.
Bulldog: General appearance, head, eyes, neck, forequarters, body,
hindquarters, gait.
Chow: General apperance, Characteristics, hindquarters, gait, coat.
Dalmatian: Colour.
French Bulldog: Characteristics, head, eyes, ears, neck, body,
hindquarters, tail.
German Spitz: Coat.
Japanese Akita Inu: Dewclaws, gait.
Lhasa Apso: General appearance, head, coat.
Schipperke: Hindquarters.
Shar-Pei: Characteristics, head, neck, dewclaws.
Shih Tzu: General appearance, head, hindquarters, feet, coat.
Tibetan Terrier: Head.
Korean Jindo: Dewclaws.

WORKING
Bouvier des Flandres: Head, dewclaws.
Bullmastiff: Head.
Dobermann: Dewclaws, tail.
Dogue de Bordeaux: Head,mouth, neck, body, tail, gait, coat, colour.
Mastiff: General appearance, characteristics, temperament, head, eyes,
forequarters, body, hindquarters, feet, gait, coat, colour.
Neapolitan Mastiff: Characteristics, head, eyes, neck, body,
hindquarters, dewclaws.
Newfoundland: General appearance, head, eyes.
Russian Black Terrier: General appearance.
St Bernard: Hindquarters, dewclaws, size.
Alaskan Malamute, Bernese Mountain Dog, Canadian Eskimo Dog, Greenland
Dog, Hovawart. Leonberger, Portuguese Water Dog, Rottweiler, Siberian
Husky: Dewclaws.

PASTORAL
Anatolian Shepherd Dog: Eyes.
Australian Shepherd: General appearance, characteristics, head, eyes,
ears, mouth, neck, forequarters. body, hindquarters, feet, tail, gait,
coat, colour.
Bergamasco: Eyes, dewclaws.
Collie, Rough: Gait.
German Shepherd Dog: Forequarters, body, hindquarters, dewclaws, gait.
Maremma: Eyes.
Norwegian Buhund: Hindquarters.
Old English Sheepdog: Hindquarters, dewclaws, coat.
Polish Lowland Sheepdog: Dewclaws, coat.
Belgian Shepherd Dogs, Kuvasz, Komondor, Swedish Lapphund, Cardigan
Corgi: Dewclaws.

TOYS
Affenpinscher: Head.
Australian Silky Terrier: Eyes.
Bolognese: Temperament, dewclaws.
Cavalier: Eyes.
Chihuahuas: Head, size.
Chinese Crested: Feet.
English Toy Terrier: Eyes.
Griffon: Head, eyes.
Japanese Chin: Head, eyes, forequarters, gait.
King Charles Spaniel: Head, eyes, feet.
Lowchen: Eyes.
Maltese: Coat.
Papillon: Forequarters, dewclaws.
Pomeranian: Eyes.
Pug: General appearance, head, eyes, body, tail, gait, coat, colour.
Yorkshire Terrier: Coat.

JackieG

Posted : 1/15/2009 10:04:06 AM

mudpuppy

It's about time. I hope the AKC follows their excellent example.

Ditto!

rwbeagles

Posted : 1/15/2009 10:06:18 AM

tashakota

the chow chow which "must not have so much coat as to impede activity or cause distress in hot weather".

Skin conditions

LOL @ Chow Chow...umm excuse me? Are they also breeding Huskies with no coat? Mals? How offensive to the breeders that their dogs HALLMARKS are being done away with because of WEATHER? that has GOT to be the dumbest thing I've read in a long long time.

It's called FANS, AIR CONDITIONING, WALKING AT NIGHT, TILE FLOORS, SHAVING BELLIES,etc.

That one...is simply....ridiculous. You'd think they'd addres if anything the straight angulation which results in plenty of ACL tear...but no...the hair.

Lawd...have...mercy. Keep that in the UK...please.

AgileGSD

Posted : 1/15/2009 10:06:43 AM

It appears from the list that in many breeds anything that makes them unique, the KC is going change. Greyhounds have "general appearance" listed - this is one of the oldest breeds there is and they have had the same general appearance for hundreds of years. They are also a relatively healthy breed. Aussies they want to change "General appearance,characteristics, head, eyes, ears, mouth, neck, forequarters. body, hindquarters, feet, tail, gait,
coat, colour." Ummm....will they even look like Aussies after these changes take place? It is strange also that some breeds which are an extreme build, they don't have anything but dewclaws listed (Berners and Leonbergers for example, as they are giant, heavy boned breeds).

For GSDs they list "Forequarters, body, hindquarters, dewclaws, gait". An interesting note is that there really is nothing wrong with GSD standards. The AKC GSD standard is correct but the dogs which win in the ring are not.

This is the Illustrated AKC Standard on the GSDCA website, illustrated meaning an artist illustrated what is described in the standard and there is a draing of an ideal GSD at the top of it: http://gsdca.org/Noframes/standard/IllStan1.htm

And these are the dogs that win at the GSDCA National:

http://www.gsdca.org/GSDReviewed/tdogs/TrafalgarPremiumBlend.htm

http://www.gsdca.org/GSDReviewed/wdogs/WeloveDuChienArmyOfOne.htm

http://www.gsdca.org/GSDReviewed/cbitches/CastlehillTuffCookie.htm

Obviously the dogs that win do not look like the dog in the illustrated standard. I was told by a GSD show breeder that the GSDCA wants to have another illustrated standard done because this one is "outdated". But really the illustrate standard shows what is actually described in the standard and the dogs in the ring are not correct according to the standard. With GSDs the standard doesn't need to change, what judges put up and what breeders select for needs to change.

rwbeagles

Posted : 1/15/2009 10:11:50 AM

LOL just had to add this in here because it is relevant to the kind of control and AR folks that seem to be in charge over there...they are apparently going to restrict and regulate everything to do with dog ownership, based on the actions of a relative few....across the board?

ARTICLE ON DRESSING YOUR DOG POSSIBLY BEING A CRIME

Liesje

Posted : 1/15/2009 10:13:02 AM

AgileGSD
For GSDs they list "Forequarters, body, hindquarters, dewclaws, gait". An interesting note is that there really is nothing wrong with GSD standards. The AKC GSD standard is correct but the dogs which win in the ring are not.

That's my reaction as well. GSDs of ANY type still fall within the standard used, even working lines and German lines. The problem is not the standard, it's a few people's interpretation and the fads in the AKC ring. Go to any other GSD show ring and you will not see those dogs winning, heck those dogs don't even bother showing up to WDA and USA shows!

BEVOLASVEGAS

Posted : 1/15/2009 10:14:39 AM

mudpuppy

It's about time. I hope the AKC follows their excellent example.

I couldn't agee more.

pudel

Posted : 1/15/2009 10:34:28 AM

This is fantastic news.

All dogs are one species and all breeds are man-made. They won't die out because we made them. It's like saying i-pods could die out.

I wish more people would realize this point.

Anonymous

Posted : 1/15/2009 10:36:24 AM

I wonder what they want to change about the Aussie? "Australian Shepherd: General appearance, characteristics, head, eyes,
ears, mouth, neck, forequarters. body, hindquarters, feet, tail, gait, coat, colour."

What does this mean and what on earth would they change about things like the mouth? Is a scissor bite a bad thing now???

Like the GSD folks are saying, the standard isn't the issue. The dogs in the ring are.

ETA: I just read the new Aussie standard. Nothing huge changing, it adds more specific details which could be good or bad. What happens now when everyone starts putting more emphasis on the ear set of their dogs? Is that really that important? I'd rather see mandatory genetic testing for MDR-1, PRA and JC.

rwbeagles

Posted : 1/15/2009 11:19:04 AM

Pit_Pointer_Aussie
I'd rather see mandatory genetic testing for MDR-1, PRA and JC.

yep still in the end...ALL this is still focusing on the appearance of a dog, only in this case they want to fixate on different things, LOL...and it will backfire on them.

pudel

Posted : 1/15/2009 11:42:05 AM

rwbeagles
yep still in the end...ALL this is still focusing on the appearance of a dog, only in this case they want to fixate on different things, LOL...and it will backfire on them.

They are focusing on physical traits that breeders are deliberately breeding for that are causing physical harm to the dog, just for the sake of appearance. To me, this is animal cruelty. A lot more important than genetic testing.