Breed Standards and distortion

[Freedom]

I agree with you Karen, 100%.

But trying to get the AKC Clubs to change their standard is a HUGE task.

[Varga]

I agree. I've been researching a bit about the AKC and CKC and what I am finding is really disturbing. They are waaay to lenient with the breeders, or at least that is what it seems like to me. Not to mention they don't seem to really be for the benefit of the dog, which is just sad.
FCI is not perfect either and they are most certainly just as guilty when it comes to cruel breed standards but my issues with them weren't as big (I used to be a member and worked for them as a trainer back in Europe) since it seems they are at least trying to move in the direction that benefits the dogs and not the people. For example with ear cropping and tail docking which is illegal in most member countries and there is definitely a strong push to make it illegal in any member country.

I also read that the collie who won best in breed was sired by a dog who was deaf and blind because of hereditary issues and that is is apparently just perfectly ok with the AKC! This sire was apparently never even shown, so I do not understand how he would even be allowed to breed within the club? What is the point of a club if it doesn't regulate the breeders more?
From what I know of the FCI is that a dog needs a minimum of two second best in breed in order to get a breeding certificate. Now, I am not saying that this can't also be misused and I don't personally think that showing always is the best way to see if a dog is a good candidate for breeding... but at least by requiring a minimum of winning (or second place, as it is ) in the show ring, you eliminate dogs with obvious defects and hopefully also some with more subtle lack of standard.

I dunno. I don't want to come across like I am bashing the AKC/CKC and praising the FCI but like I mentioned before, I just happened to have been researching a bit about the AKC in particular and am very surprised with the differences.

[Varga]

Oh and also one thing which really saddens me, is how some people who are into the show world just seem to be completely blind to the faults. I had this one friend who was also a trainer, great lady and all and she knew a lot about dogs. But she was also into showing and bought a Italian Greyhound specifically for that. Her first IG jumped of a table and broke it's leg so badly it had to be amputated. Her second IG also broke a leg but this time it was so bad the dog had to be put down
But despite this, when talking to her, she seemed to totally resist to even consider that maybe, just maybe, it should be possible to change a breed standard so you encourage sturdier dogs. Doing that is apparently impossible because "then it wouldn't be an Italian Greyhound"....

[Cataholic]

Docking of ears and tails in dogs is the same- to me- as declawing a cat. Inhumane. When we know better, we do better.

[cloverfdx]

Tail docking does not bother me, but it is illegal here. I think cropped ears look pretty bad, but again illegal here. I also think the showlines should be capable of working a full day and have some instinct (and be tested for it) before they can become show champions (I know a bit hard for the breeds bred for fighting). In saying that though i much prefer the showline JRTs over the working and american Jacks.

[Pinot's Mom]

I, too, think the time has passed for docking. It's a painful disfigurement for no reason at all.

GSD's - why DO they encourage that sloped shape? It most certainly has contributed to the hip problems with the breed.

[Karen]

I, too, think the time has passed for docking. It's a painful disfigurement for no reason at all.

GSD's - why DO they encourage that sloped shape? It most certainly has contributed to the hip problems with the breed.

I do not know. I asked, and was told their show "stack" - how they pose the dog, is meant to show the proper right angle the back leg makes in that position, but I didn't get any indication of why they'd want a lower back end when the dog is standing normally ...