On the subject of Crufts, is it time to dump the Bull Dog?

[RATTER15]

I always knew they had problems but I didn't realise how bad.

http://terriermandotc...-to-dump-bulldog.html

If this article is correct then I say stop the breeding and it should no longer be accepted as a breed recognised by the Kennel Club.

[lankeela]

I think this article is ill informed and biased, most breeders of Bulldogs are trying hard to work towards breeding dogs with far less exaggeration and the BOB at Crufts was certainly not as exaggerated and had no skin fold or wrinkle on the head, and was not having any problem breathing or running. It had been judged and won under many top judges in this country and abroad and what the vet declared was wrong with it was an old injury to the eye which could happen to any dog and was not one of the health problems that the breed was being checked for.

[lankeela]

Of course if dogs have problems breeding naturally that isn't right. However there is one breed that the Kennel Club allows to be bred using Artificial Insemination when they each 8.5 years when in all other breeds the dogs have to be 12 - can you guess which breed? Answers on a postcard please!

[FredPuli43]

It wasn't just the bulldog that was disqualified. Two breeds of mastiff and the clumber spaniel also had their best of breed barred. Clumber spaniel? That's surprising. It doesn't look odd or unhealthy, but it is on the KC's list of targetted breeds.
.Of all the breeds,the bulldog is closest to looking deformed, whether or not many are so.

[NOX]

I know, it's wolfhounds Lankeeela.
The problem is that whilst I fully accept the many issues that bulldogs have, you could write an article like that about almost anything you fancied.
It's easy to use sweeping generalisaitons, unpleasant comparisons and generally have a bob on your own opinion ( I've no idea how qualified the author is to have much of a meaningful opinion), but really it's just tabloid journalism on someone's personal blog, trumpeting about things he doesn't personally like, I didn't see any balance there at all, therefopre how accuratem, udeful or meaningful it is you couldn't possibly judge.

[RATTER15]

Why would they allow that with an Irish Wolfhound? To be honest I was not aware of that and the reason I was not aware of that is probably due to the fact that anybody breeding from a Wolfhound at 8.5 years is behaving totally irresponsibly and not undertaken except by puppy farmers and are breeding for money only! Wolfhounds often dont live much past 8 years of age but quite a few are now reaching 12 these days due to committed longevity programmes and research being done all over the world into these magnificent dogs.

Another fault with the kennel Club!!

[Ratty2E]

The bulldog has been in this state for years and plenty of other breeds are suffering too. It's up to the Kennel Club to radically change their breed standards and make sure judges choose for health and against crippling and life threatening deformity. Any breed that couldn't function or survive independantly of human intervention shouldn't really exist in it's current form. You can blame breeders but the Kennel Club needs to take the largest share of the blame for encouraging deformity.

[RATTER15]

Ratty I agree, With regards to Irish Wolfhounds the Kennel club says something along the lines, when judging the Irish Wolfhound, if two dogs are similar in quality, preference should go to the larger of the dogs. This of course leads breeders into breeding Wolfhounds to be even bigger than they are already, this does the breed no favours, some Wolfhounds we have seen are enormous and tower over ours, unfortunately these dogs will have a short life. Responsible wolfhound breeders are certainly not breeding this way in this country, the USA is a different story however.

[lankeela]

Requirements for registration following AI
• All litters produced by AI will be subject to existing Kennel Club registration regulations.
• The General Committee will not normally accept an application to register an AI litter if the donor male is alive and domiciled in the United Kingdom, with one exception namely, that Irish Wolfhounds of 8.5 years or older and domiciled in the UK may be used as donors in AI.
• In the case of sterile dogs which have become sterile simply due to general degeneration, Committee will accept applications but normally only if the dog is over 12 years age (or 8.5 years for Irish Wolfhounds) and with appropriate veterinary support.

[RATTER15]

So we are talking about taking semen from a male not inseminating a female!

Thats because Irish Wolfhounds rarely live to 12 years of age. No surprise there.

[Booldawg]

Most of the Bulldogs problems have been caused by what is fashionable in the show ring. I should imagine the breed standard as set by the KC has been around since the days of healthier Bulldogs.

[FredPuli43]

I have an Irish wolfhound who's twelve, a bitch. Suddenly her bloodline is of interest. She's in good heart, with just a touch of arthritis, which is controlled easily. If I'd known she was going to live that long, I'd have taken better care of her LOL I'd also have taken better care of her records ! Discussing this at Cruft's, there were people who had heard of bitches attaining that sort of age but nobody seemed to know of dogs attaining it.

[sandyRoe]

I got a Cairn Terrier from a rescue centre. I brought it to the vets to be checked out and she said it will have trouble with it's leg joints. But now it seems active enough.

[Ratty2E]

I recently watched Pedigree dogs exposed - three years on, the suffering endured by the breeds shown was enough to make me cry and the blinkered, single minded attitudes of some breeders and kennel club members enough to make me scream. I watched the original program and was hopeful that the KC would make some radical changes but it appears they've done next to nothing. Unfortunatey it doesn't appear to be available on iplayer anymore.

[Frank97]

I watched that too, well as much as I could stand, I was totally disgusted by the way some of the breeders were carrying on. Worse than puppy farmers IMO!

[ladybirder]

I too saw that programme and was so upset for the poor dogs and the attitude of the breeders and the KC. Anyone who speaks out gets ostracised and their attitude was Talk to the Hand. Appalling and very upsetting.

When I'm Dictator nobody will be allowed to breed dogs until every dog in a rescue centre has a home.

Sadly I fear it is too late for the Bulldog.

[jules77]

I dont think it is fair to comment on any breed/breeder without knowing the facts. The programme produced by Jemima Harrison showed only the worst breeders and didnt reflect any of the work the breed clubs are doing to eradicate hereditary diseases. IMO, any breed that has an average life span of less than 10 years needs investigating along with those that cannot give birth naturally, have Ectropion, Hip/Elbow Displaysia and spinal problems etc.

[LoftyLottie]

Ladybirder, I 100% agree with you.

[Lillymoon]

I watched both programmes too, Ihave to say these two breeders were supposed to be the top of their class, they should be trying to set examples and making changes for the sake of the dogs health. I do think the ancient Bulldog type was far more handsome than the monstrosity it is of recent times.

I have nothing but admiration for those that decided to change.

Who am I to judge? Parents are making designer babies for goodness sake.....what chance have the dogs got??

[jules77]

Unfortunately, a lot of the dogs in rescue centres have been bred by irresponsible and back yard breeders. We also have Designer Dogs sold purely for monetary gain to Jo Public who have no idea what the dog is going to grow into. Until the public are educated to buy from 'responsible' caring breeders who carry out necessary health checks etc etc, there will always been dogs in rescue centres. I would put a stop to sites our epupz etc to give these breeders less avenues to sell the puppies. We are fortunate with Rough Collies that we have more homes waiting than we ever have dogs needing homes for.

[jules77]

*need an edit button

would put a stop to sites *like* epupz