Pedigree dogs are suffering from genetic diseases following years of inbreeding, an investigation has found. A BBC documentary says they are suffering acute problems because looks are emphasised over health when breeding dogs for shows. The programme shows spaniels with brains too big for their skulls and boxers suffering from epilepsy. The Kennel Club says it works tirelessly to improve the health of pedigree dogs. http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/1993/23/5/3 Pedigree animals make up 75% of the seven million dogs in the UK and cost their owners over £10m in vets' fees each week. Poor health The programme, Pedigree Dogs Exposed, says dogs suffering from genetic illness are not prevented from competing in dog shows and have gone on to win "best in breed", despite their poor health. It says physical traits required by the Kennel Club's breed standards, such as short faces, wrinkling, screw-tails and dwarfism, have inherent health problems. Other problems occur because of exaggerations bred into dogs by breeders trying to win rosettes, it adds. The programme shows a prize-winning cavalier King Charles spaniel suffering from syringomyelia, a condition which occurs when a dog's skull is too small for its brain. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7569064.stm I'm watching the programme now. After only five minutes...my heart is breaking.
Kennel Club Defends Pedigree Dogs 19-Aug-08 The Kennel Club is aware that a BBC documentary, Pedigree Dogs Exposed, is due to air on Tuesday 19 August and will explore the issue of the health of pedigree dogs. We have not seen the documentary, despite repeated requests and so cannot comment on its content. However, the Kennel Club did agree to participate in its making on the understanding that the programme would be balanced and fair and contribute to the Kennel Club’s primary objective to promote in every way the general improvement of dogs. The number of healthy pedigree dogs is very high. Comparatively, pedigree dogs are healthier than the human population which suffers from some 4,000 different types of disease, compared to only about 400 in the dog population. Furthermore, around 90% of dogs will not suffer from health problems that have a detrimental impact on their quality of life – and that figure is improving, thanks to advances in science and the continued investment of time, care and money from the Kennel Club and responsible breeders. The Kennel Club: • Works directly and indirectly through funding research bodies, to develop health tests for pedigree dogs. The most common of these, hip scoring, has seen breeders invest £20 million in testing since the scheme began and the mean hip score across the top 20 most commonly tested breeds has reduced year on year, meaning the likelihood of these dogs suffering from hip dysplasia has significantly lessened. More and more DNA tests are being developed as the science becomes available. • Encourages responsible breeding practices and the Accredited Breeder Scheme is a kite-mark of quality that was developed to ensure the breeding of healthy, well adjusted puppies. Accredited Breeders use all of the health tests required for their breed and will breed their dogs to ensure that they have the healthy characteristics that are incorporated within their breed standard. A common method of breeding is called line breeding, which is used to breed an animal for particular healthy characteristics. All responsible breeders have an intimate knowledge of the dogs that appear in pedigrees – and they use that knowledge to breed for positive traits in health and breed standard. • Collaborated with Imperial College so they could analyse the level of ‘inbreeding’ in pedigrees and identify the genes involved in inherited disease in the future. Unsurprisingly, the inbreeding coefficients were high because of the very nature of pure-breeding populations and the fact that many decades of dog breeding have led to problems. It is clear from the research that mating close relatives (mother/sons, fathers/daughters etc) is now uncommon and not the reason for the high inbreeding coefficients. • The Kennel Club would never put ‘looks’ above the health of pedigree dogs, and we actively discourage the exaggeration of features in any breed. The standards have been, and will continue to be amended when necessary to ensure the breeding of healthy, well conformed puppies; and dog show judges are educated to judge to those standards ensuring that dogs with obvious problems that could affect their quality of life do not win, and that the rewards go to fit, healthy dogs Caroline Kisko, spokesperson for the Kennel Club, said: “We welcome any discussion that will help to improve the health and welfare of dogs and we hope that this documentary will focus on what is being done and what can be done in the future to ensure the good health of pedigree dogs ultimately becomes first class. “We fully acknowledge that there are still some health problems that belong largely to a time when less was understood about animal health and we continue to work to eliminate them. “As successive generations of pedigree dogs come through – and with the investment of time, care and money that the Kennel Club and breeders are putting into education, improved testing and carefully planned breeding programmes - the number of healthy pedigree dogs, which is currently high, will improve even further.”
CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIELS UK ONLINE Syringomyelia This condition occurs in many small breeds but is common in the cavalier King Charles spaniel (CKCS) (conservative estimates at least 50% of the breed have a degree of occipital hypoplasia although only a proportion are severe enough to have syringomyelia). Read more about the Condition click Carol Fowler continues her story: http://www.arkwebshost.com/nonprofit/cavalierkcsuk/Health/Rosie_s_Story.shtml http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=OTYyM2Y4YzEyNDJmYWIzNjNmYjE0M2NlY2MzYzlkMDA=
This is very good information to put out here for people to see, and I for one have always detested the breeding of pedigree dogs, since it is obvious to anyone that it is detrimental to the genetic health of the dogs. I have read many books on canine evolution and discovered that 99% of all breeds in England and the US have only been around for the past 100 or so years and are a result of people being sexually stymied during the Victorian era which resulted in dogs being breed to fill the empty human emotional void of the late 19th century. In terms of the defense offered by the kennel club--it is nothing more than delusional subterfuge. It should be noted, that if we humans ever become extinct; it would be the best thing to ever happen for the health and longevity of dogs in the long run, since they will revert back to what they were before these demented people screwed them up for their own selfish purposes.
people have known this for a very long time, chesapeakes are very likely to get hip dysplasia, great danes are likely to get gas colic, those wrinkly fuckers sometimes have to have skin trimmed around their eyes so they can see. been going on for decades, if not centuries.
I keep mutts. They need homes. The problems with the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are something from our own times. Charles II's dogs, especially Cupid, were known to be energetic and feisty. It is one thing to breed a general "type" of dog (think working farm collie-types in Scotland), another to stylize the dog into a fashion accessory (read Albert Payson Terhune ca. 1920 or so on the collie head being narrowed to the needle-brained dog we know today.) Now we have dogs with all kinds of problems, who need c-sections, air conditioners, medication and constant medical care. They can't do what they were bred for anymore, but they usually aren't fully adapted to apartment living, either. If somebody wants to spend a month's pay at a "reputable breeder's" for a dog that will suffer all its life, I just feel bad for the dog. If you want a dog, there's probably very good dogs about to be gassed, not far from where you live. Alright, off rant. Oh, hi, I'm Fennario, I was going to be Dire Wolf, but the name was already taken. R u kind?
To be fair, many of the breeders shown did care, especially Carol Fowler. But, some of them were pure evil. Dragging their poor dogs around (because they could barely walk). It will probably still be on the BBC in 2009. Hypocrites.
i've seen a lot about this recently, it's so awful that animals are being bred to be ill and suffering. i have two dogs, both cross breeds and there beautiful healthy dogs full of life. to me they are much better to look at than these pedigree dogs are anyway and they are healthy and happy. all dogs should be fit and well, it's not a fashion contest, it's a living creatures life, and we should be making sure they have the best and happiest life they can, not be delibratley making them unwell. I hope the BBC and the Queen who is linked with the kennel club both decide this is wrong and cut there links with this!!
Unlikely. Watch out for a carefully worded cop out in about 10 months time. Like this one: http://www.doggenetichealth.org/response.php Kennel Club hits back at BBC Dog Documentary The Kennel Club feels that the programme, Pedigree Dogs Exposed (BBC1 19 August) missed a real opportunity to progress the cause of dog health. It appeared to have a very specific agenda repeating prejudices, providing no context for the debate, and failing to put forward any constructive proposals. It left viewers with the mistaken impression that all pedigree dogs are riddled with a wide range of health problems and that the dog community is doing little or nothing to improve the situation. This is patently not true. Whilst the Kennel Club was shocked by the dramatic imagery used in the programme, and accepts some of the important issues raised. What it does not accept is that these problems apply widely across the 200 plus breeds in the UK. Pedigree Dogs Exposed also failed to show the real progress being made by both the Kennel Club and responsible breeders in improving dog health or to recognise that 90 percent of dogs will not suffer from health problems that have a detrimental impact on the quality of life. More than that, the programme drew upon a new study on dog genetics by Imperial College to underline its criticisms of dog breeding, without acknowledging the fact this study was entirely enabled by the Kennel Club as part of its commitment to health research. This research will now provide the Kennel Club with a valuable scientific platform to enlist the support of breeders in tackling key health problems where they occur. Commenting, Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club spokesperson, said: “in reality the gap between some of the views expressed on the programme and those held by both the Kennel Club and most responsible breeders is very small. Over the last 20 years we have been working to develop tests and health screening schemes to identify and eradicate problems, many of which are historic. One example of this is the elimination of canine leucocyte adhesion deficiency (CLAD) in Irish Setters, that caused early death in puppies which was eradicated through the concerted efforts of both the Kennel Club and Irish Setter breeders. “However, it is important to put this into context. The Kennel Club has no legal standing, unlike some similar bodies in other countries. We have to work on these issues through partnership and persuasion – not coercion. The danger of introducing draconian measures is that some breeders could choose to operate outside the Kennel Club’s jurisdiction; with absolutely no controls. That cannot be the best way forward. “The programme also made some sweeping, and far from accurate assertions. The Kennel Club refutes that it would put ‘looks’ above the health of pedigree dogs, in fact we actively discourage the exaggeration of features in any breed. The standards have been, and will continue to be amended when necessary to ensure the breeding of healthy, well conformed dogs. Dog show judges are also educated to judge to those standards ensuring that dogs with obvious problems that could affect their quality of life do not win, and that the rewards go to fit, healthy dogs. All of this of course is dependent on the responsibility of breeders and owners – and this is where our efforts must be concentrated.” “We can state categorically that the majority of pedigree dogs in the UK are healthy. We increasingly have in place checks to monitor health issues going forward. In those few breeds where there are problems, including those highlighted in the programme, we have been and will continue to work with breeders to improve long term health through the development of tests and screening programmes.” Kennel Club health initiatives include: funding research to identify problems and develop efficient screening for health, such as eye testing and hip scoring; the introduction of the Accredited Breeder Scheme, to act as a ‘kite mark’ for responsible breeders; and most recently the launch of a major campaign which seeks further to promote health improvements across breeds - ‘Fit for function – fit for life’. This, in conjunction with breed clubs, focuses on tackling unnecessary exaggeration in some breeds, whether that is of coat, weight, skin, angulation, eye formation or shortness of muzzle. All dogs should be fit for function, even if that function is to be a pet - all dogs should be able to see, breath and walk freely. “By their lack of context, programmes such as Pedigree Dogs Exposed, far from helping the situation run the risk of damaging the work already being done. This work will not be carried out by TV production companies – but by the hard work of the Kennel Club and the country’s responsible breeders.” said Caroline Kisko. In summary, health issues are of primary concern to the Kennel Club but changes cannot be made overnight. We are working proactively with breeders to make these changes – but we are dealing with the legacy of 100 years. What we need is the support of experts such as those featured in the programme, not their condemnation – support which we have indeed received from a number of respected bodies such as The Animal Health Trust, The Blue Cross and the British Veterinary Association.
This is exactly why I'd never buy a puppy from a breeder. These people only do it for the money, they don't care about the poor dogs or their wellbeing. It's just like any other business, all about making profit.. I'm not saying there is or isn't anything wrong with that, however it is wrong when poor innocent animals have to suffer because of people's greed and ignorance. Rescue shelters are full of dogs who need good homes and love. So what if they're not perfect pedigrees... they are still wonderful dogs. My pup is a cross breed and I've never met a friendlier or sweeter dog.
That is the key, these dogs are being bred to conform to some persons Ideal not how the naturaly should be. Who ever devised the criteria for a "pedigree" needs shooting in the head.
RSPCA boycotts Crufts in dispute over breeding of 'disabled' dogs: The RSPCA is to boycott Crufts because of concerns within the organisation that the show's judging criteria encourages the breeding of "deformed and disabled" dogs. The animal welfare charity, whose patron is the Queen, said the competition promoted breeding methods that were "morally unjustifiable", and announced yesterday that it would no longer hire a stand at the world's biggest dog show, as it has done for the past four years. The move comes after a BBC documentary last month alleged that unhealthy, and sometimes inbred, dogs were winning best in breed competitions at the show. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/sep/16/animalwelfare Well done RSPCA
