Pedigree Dogs Exposed

[Miss Z]

I wasn't exactly sure where to post this - it does concern dogs, but I thought it may be a bit controversial so I put it here. I'll move it if need be.

Did any UK residents (or anyone else who watches the BBC1 channel) watch a programme called 'Pedigree Dogs Exposed' last night? I found it shocking.

For anybody who doesn't know what I'm talking about, you can watch the full 1 hour documentary here. I really reccommend that you watch it, it is a real eye-opener, BUT I must mention there are some distressing scenes in the programme.

I was sick to my stomach listening to showing breeders condemn 'young' vets for refusing to put down healthy Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies simply because they were born without a ridge. It was even more overwhelming to discover that, up until now, the Kennel Club had encouraged the practice.

Also, looking at how we've squashed and contorted so many breeds, including German Shepherds, pugs, King Charles spaniels and basset hounds, really made me stop and think.

I know that here on this board we always champion shelters and 'good' breeders that love the breed and want to make it better. We always tell people not to breed unless their animals meet a 'breed standard'. But are these 'good' breeders the people on this programme, breeding father to granddaughter, furthering the development of genetic diseases, and creating animals to mirror a 'breed standard' that causes them a life of suffering?

I think we need a new definition of 'good' breeder.

[moosmom]

Hey Zara,

I got called into work and am running out the door but I will be sure and watch it when I get home. Thanks for posting it!!

Donna

[Catty1]

Zara - even good breeders have to conform to standards. I think it is the boards or whoever that determine the STANDARDS that should come under fire.

Although...breeders that are greedy won't want to spend the money to feed and raise a "defective" pup.

I wish there could be a national (every country) moratorium on breeding until the shelters empty out....I can dream, can't I?

[IRescue452]

Truely good breeders are like needles in a haystack. This is why we encourage research, research, and more research into the specific breeder if you choose that route over a rescue dog. Buying a dog from a breeder should take a good amount of time, not just an overnight venture.

[Giselle]

It's all subjective.

There is no definitive good or bad breeder. There is no definitive natural or unnatural breed. It's all completely subjective and open to your wildest interpretation. If you want to look at it fundamentally, ALL dog breeds are unnatural and to continue such unnatural bloodlines is unethical.


To many people, brachycephalic dogs with short backs, profuse fur, curved legs, and deep chests are abnormal and should not be bred. Yet, I've just described what a Pekingese is. And Pekingese have been around for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Yet, the modern Pekingese is a far cry from the olden Pekingese. Before modern Pekingese were molded into the hairy furballs of today, they looked like Ah Cum:

Yesterday's Pekingese did not have the coat, nor the legs, nor the nose, nor the backs of today's Pekingese. So how do we evaluate this? Is this normal? Does it fit your definition of normal or are these physical attributes hindrances? Are modern Peke breeders only breeding a bunch of deformed congenital defects? Should the breed be eliminated?

This is an extremely common trend with ALL breeds. German Shepherd are supposed to look like this:

Now, they look like this:


And for what purpose? For conformational purposes? For a flying gait to pizazz the pants of a judge within a 30 second time frame?

The whole fancy of dogdom needs to be re-evaluated, IMO. There are serious flaws within conformation. While I love dog shows deeply and was close to many Peke breeders/handlers, I've come to view the conformation ring with a tinge of disdain. What has been done to these dogs is all subjective, but in MY opinion, something drastic needs to happen. In my opinion, there are very very very few truly reputable breeders left in this world.

Most, if not all, breeders inbreed. Whether you think it's a good or bad thing is up to you. Whether you think a standard causes mental/physical suffering is your prerogative. Good breeders try not to further congenital defects, but even a great breeder will not spay/neuter her winningest dogs because a single puppy got cancer or hip dysplasia.

And so that begs the question: are we breeding for our benefits or for the dogs'? I do believe in furthering breeds, but I believe we have lost sight of our original, honorable intentions.

[Whisk_Luva]

Yeah, I saw that too.

I thought the king charles spaniel thing was awful... how could anyone breed a dog with that... its so cruel to the pups

It was interesting when they did the skull things as well showing how much the dogs had changed.

The kennel club really needs to change some things in my opinion- especially the ridgebacks....

Really makes you think.... dont think I will be able to watch crufts again without thinking about that show.....