Pedigree dogs update - KC making changes

[crazywiggy]

I thought I'd update you - After the programme Pedigree Dogs Exposed that I posted about before, the Kennel Club has finally decided to do something about the problem of unhealthy pedigree dogs.

There main plans are:

1) Coordinate health plans for all breeds, and update the breed standards to emphasise health and remove exaggerations. The first one - for the Pekinese - has already been released and it is vastly improved. It includes clauses on how the dog should be able to see and breathe properly, states that dogs must have a defined muzzle (not a flat face!), should not have excessive coat etc. Judges are to be educated about the new standards so that unhealthy, deformed dogs are not rewarded in the ring.

2) Breed clubs are now required to abide by the KC's code of ethics (including not culling healthy pups).

3) Develop a new canine genetics centre to study hereditary diseases and develop tests.

4) Lobby the government to make their "accredited bereder scheme" compulsory - so that ALL breeders would be forced to abide by these rules.

Of course, the KC could do far more than this, but it is definately a start. Better breed standards alone could help to prevent GSDs with crippled spines, pekes and bulldogs that can't breathe etc. And if they can actually convince the government to make the accredited breeder scheme law this would also have a massive impact on overpopulation - by stoppping many of the BYBs and mills.

I was worried at first that the KC were in total denial of the problem and were not going to react - but this is certainly good news.

[daftscotslass]

Personally I think it's a VERY long way from being helpful.

The fact is the KC promotes breeding while dogs across the UK are euthanised (including those with pedigrees) because of lack of homes. It promotes prancing around a show ring for no reason other than the glory of the owner.

It will just serve to push the BYBs further underground. So they have a policy on not culling healthy pups - they'll do it in the background, dump them or sell them on as "pedigrees" when in fact they're genetic rejects and thus letting some other ignorant fool breed them.

I wonder how the KC plan to regulate all this? It's not as if they have any legal powers and as if the RSPCA don't have enough to do.

[crazywiggy]

Don't get me wrong - I agree these steps may be just a drop in the ocean and they will have no effect whatsoever if the KC doesn't actually enforce its own rules.

But I think it CAN make a difference.

Hereditary diseases aside, many dogs suffer purely because they are bred for physical characteristics that are harmful - like the sloping backs, flat faces etc. The breeders who work within the Kennel Club breed these deformed, crippled animals because they want to win rosettes. To do this they aim to breed dogs that fit the current "standard".
By changing the standards to penalise these harmful deformities, and insisting that all dogs in the ring must be able to see, breathe and walk freely, the KC breeders will be forced to change their practices so as to improve their dogs.
Within a few generations this could massively reduce the number of dogs who suffer and die for aesthetics.

This isn't going to make a difference to overpopulation - but it will make dogs healthier overall, and prevent a massive amount of suffering. I for one see this as a very good thing.

As for their plans to lobby the government - I also think this is a worthwhile goal. If the government wil not agree to it that is not the fault of the kennel club - at least they are trying. As you say - they don't have any legal powers themselves, which is why they want new laws to control breeders. If people had to have their dogs tested, meet certain standards of care etc then many of the crap breeders will cease to exist, because the cost and effort involved will be too high. I agree some will go underground, and that it is unlikely they will ever be eradicated - but every single BYB who gives up means overpopulation reduces slightly.

Believe me I would love to see all puppy farms and BYBs eradicated. I would like to see a time where "supply and demand" were equal - with no overpopulation. I would like to see no more dogs with poor health or poor temperament being bred to create more unhealthy, unstable pups.

I believe the KC has a great many faults - including the whole concept of judging dogs based on appearence. But when they could have done nothing at all, this is a start at least. No it won't stop dogs being destroyed, and it won't eradicate canine disease. But it will (if enforced) reduce suffering and save lives.

It may be a very small victory - but its a victory all the same.

[RainKindle]

Thank you for the update, and thank you for the well thought out responses also.