Quote Originally Posted by Freedom View Post
The second part, well, this is related to why the RSPCA decided not to attend Crufts this year, isn't it? The breed standards are not being set with health in mind, as much as with "looks." You are focusing on a specific type of genetic defect. So the boxer, Boston terrier, and pug get shorter and shorter noses / muzzles / snouts. The collie's nose gets longer and longer. And these lead to health issues. The brachycephalic (brak-ee-suh-fal-ik) short nose breeds have trouble breathing, over heat, and have a higher risk of death when flying. I was surprised to learn that bichons are considered in this grouping!
This is the problem with the show ring these days. Too many breeders are going for "type" above structure and practicality. Fact is, the standards are not being set for the downfall of a breed -- the breeders pick up on whatever type is becoming trendy, that becomes the new type, and standards have to be changed in order to compensate for what the new trends are doing to the breed. Belgians are supposed to have 45 degree shoulder angulation. Because people are breeding poorly structured dogs and getting straighter and straighter shoulders, there is talk of the Belgian Tervuren Club of American launching a proposal to change the standard to call for 35 degree shoulder angulation. This is not being set in place for the good of the breed -- it is being set in place for breeders who can't fix their mistakes. It takes a long time to improve a dog's front (Pat Hastings says four generations), and that would be four generations of breeders actually having to put "type" aside to focus on structure. It just isn't going to happen. So where does it end? How many years will it be before we're asking for 25 degree shoulder angulation? And how detrimental is this to a breed who is supposed to be active, running and jumping, and just how many shoulder injuries will we have to deal with before people realise just what they've done?
I love to show, and I always will.. but I will never put aside a dog's health just to win. As much as I feel that it is unfair to say which dogs you can show and which you can't (I feel that anyone with a purebred registered dog should be able to show, even if they know they won't win -- it's supposed to be a fun event!), maybe every show dog should have the required health certifications before being allowed into the show ring. After all, the majority of agility, obedience, etc dogs are still just pet dogs -- it's the show dogs that tend to be bred, and if people think they may not be able to show if their dogs don't pass the tests, maybe they will be more apt to breed with health in mind. This won't help structure any, but it's a start.

Zara -- do you ever see any cases of PRA? They are working on a blood test to dectect it in Belgians. I don't know why it is taking so long, as they have it for some other breeds (like tollers). There are some very nice dogs that I would consider adding to my breeding program, only there are PRA producers in the background. It's such a hard one because you never know if a dog carries it until it produces it -- I could have PRA in my lines and not even know it! What a frightening disease.