dog show

celdawn

dog show is tomorrow night at 8:00 pm who is will watch it tomorrow night ?

Sivaro

Not me, Im in Australia

ChathamHillKennels

Here's a reason to consider not supporting dog shows.

Documentary - BBC - Pedigree Dogs Exposed Video by Eric - MySpace Video

AshleyC

I watched the introduction to the documentary. Not the whole thing, I could tell where it was leading and it is very sad. I will tell you now, at least in the USA, any responsible breeder does genetic testing on these health problems before breeding the dog. Which is another reason not to buy from a pet store or Back-yard breeder.
PETA runs all over dog shows, but I can tell you know confidently that probably up to 95% of show people, if not more, are responsible in this area.
It does seem that in the UK it is a lot worse than it is here. Let's just hope they get the breeding practices up to par.

I'm really confused why you posted what you did??? I can tell by your web site you are involved in showing your dogs.

AshleyC

Sorry for the double post, but I did some research on the film and yes PETA is all over them. The producers aren't to happy about it either. I came across a quate from one of them. They aren't condoning showing they just think they should be improved.

“In stark contrast, and the reason we made the film, is that we believe pedigree dogs are of tremendous value to society and that something needs to be done to arrest the damage caused by decades of inbreeding and selection for ‘beauty’. The film is a passionate call for urgent reform to save them before it is too late. To do that, there needs to be urgent reform of breeding practices and dog shows."

I can't say I disagree.

Sivaro

Christ, not another PETA supporter

PETA are doing everything in their power to stop us ethical pedigree breeders. Are you going to go by a documentry that only shows bad dogs, what about all the crossbreds out their that have leg perthies, hip dysplasia, PRA (blindness) epileptic fits, slipping patellas, heart murmurs, and thats just to name a few bad stuffups. If PETA has their own way, not only will they make pedigree dogs die, but you can count after they have done that, crossbreds wont be around neither. Dont be fooled by these pricks, they arent stopping with just dogs, they are doing in all animal industries.

Reg'd breeders like myself do all the genetic health checks to irradicate problems, ppl think we are making a buck out of our dogs which is so not true as most of our money goes into the testing of our dogs. Some of the footage that was seen at the show was a setup also, which most ppl have no idea of. They showed german shephards almost collapsing, we see none of that here in Australia and to think we would even try to show a dog that badly conformed.

Yes this subject angers me, PETA needs a bomb placed under their A$$es.

ChathamHillKennels

Well, contrary to what you may want to believe PETA wasn't the sponsor behind this. Unfortunately many of the tests that show-breeders rely upon today do not rule out many of these disorders, as well most of the genetic DNA markers that flag for these defects have yet to be determined. And quite frankly, when you look into it even here in the U.S. there are many show breeders who will breed for cosmetics before health. PERIOD. Which is why when we go to shows it is to inform the public about proper breeding practices and to educate them. In doing so we have made many enemies in the show ring.

Pointing out Line-Breeding practices that are no better than inbreeding. The same practices that ruin many otherwise wonderful dogs. The GSD show dog as one example is really a disgusting result of generations of close minded breeders following a conformation standard put in place by people who really didn't know what they were doing themselves. You can't really witness a GSD in a show and tell me that is normal and healthy. There are few dogs that display in conformation the same way they were meant to in the field or as working dogs. The rest are cosmetic freaks. And generations of line-breeding and guessing has devastated the gene pool.

So in breeding for a healthier dog, you need to go beyond 4 generations of clean lines with enough diversity to truly do any respect to the purebred dog. And to change the standards that promote breeding freaks. Or to outcross with other breeds with clean health histories and improve the genetic diversity for both.

Sivaro

Breeders dont just rely on tests as such, they also rely on conformation, (type, temperament and soundness.) Agreed some of the GSD ppl have really changed the look of their breed, for what reason I have no idea and do agree they look shocking. Having said that, I have never seen one in Australia which have hip and leg problems like they showed on some of these videos.

The pug and other brachea breeds could do with a bit of a nose also, better for breathing. But they do cope well how they are. I use to own them, and mostly in hot temperatures do they suffer a little more than another breed.

PETA may not be a sponsor, but they have alot to do with changing ppls way of thinking. In the end they are hoping to kill off every creature on earth. Everything is affected in one way or another according to them.

AshleyC

Like I said before, the research I did on the film, the producers aren't happy about PETA loving all over them. But, they are. And it was that film and PETA that kept Crufts from airing on TV last year.

I don't know about all genetic testing, but in my breed you OFA the hips and clear the eyes and you are good to go. For testing that is. It is your responsibility to make sure that everything is conformationaly sound in body and in mind. Now if one of my dog's has a a seizure, or something I ain't going to breed it! That is just common sence.

The film confused me in a lot of points like saying some breeders just breed for body, not mind. If I take a sheltie out in the ring and it is to backward to strut it stuff it will not win. If my dog has back legs that wobble all over the place it won't win either, but maybe that is a German Shep. thing. I'm sceduled to take my dogs back out Feb 13 & 14. If time allows I'm going to watch the GSD's this time and see if we are facing the same problems the UK is. Personally that blows my mind.

Sivaro

Agree with you AshleyC. I have only ever had one problem which come from a USA imported dog that I used, and my pup had entropian. Never before have I had a problem with eyes before but this dog has a bad case of it. He is desexed now and I wont continue with that line. I have informed the owners of his brothers to keep an eye out just incase their pups get it, they are 1yr old now and dont have it.

I would never use a line that has had epilepsy, hip dip, slipping patellas, or anything else nasty. It makes no sense that they say we are breeding for body, cause who in their right mind would want to show a wobbly bodied dog like that. It certainly doesnt give them a hey look at me look, it just discusts you to see a dog in sufferance like that.