Friday 9 March 2012

Well done to the Kennel Club - I think

Ch Mellowmood One in A Million ("Jenny")... Best of Breed at Crufts 2012... not.



I don't write that headline very often. But all praise to the KC for having the cojones to appoint independent vets to check the Best of Breed winner of 15 highlighted breeds at Crufts, which started yesterday.

I was deeply sceptical about the superficial nature of these but yesterday both the Best of Breed Bulldog and Peke had their awards rescinded and did not go through to the Group. For some bonkers reason, the KC is not revealing why - although an anon comment just received to the blog maintains that the Bulldog was removed from further competition because "the vet pulled her eye about with a torch, found a tiny mark on the eye which he described as an old injury, not health issue, nothing wrong with the eye... you decide health or politics !!"

There is also already a Facebook site - Team Jenny Forever - claiming the dog was wrongfully stripped of her title. It is being claimed there that the dog has a current eye certificate and that it was politics that won the day.

This will sound plausible to the conspiracy theorists - and indeed my other half Jon raised a rather sceptical eyebrow when he heard the news, wondering if it was possible that the KC had made sacrifical lambs of the Bulldog and Peke to show the world how seriously they are taking health. (After all, many claim there was an orchestrated exchange regarding GSDs between the KC's Caroline Kisko and presenter Clare Balding in the 2010 TV coverage of Crufts).  But I'm minded to give the KC credit on this one (although, as ever, always open to new info...)  No vet I know would pull a dog for an old eye injury.

The Bulldog is Ch Mellowmood One in A Million and she's a big previous winner. The pictures of her here were taken yesterday and they show a Bulldog that, by Bulldog standards, isn't particularly exaggerated. (There were certainly far worse dogs in the ring today). I do think she looks a little anxious and/or uncomfortable  - over and above what's normal for a Bulldog that is - and that might be the sign of,  perhaps, an aggravating eye problem. But of course it's hard to tell from still pictures.

I have no inside info on the Pekingese, Palacegarden Bianca. But I was mildly amused to see that the judge was Bert Easdon. Who he? He is the owner of Danny the Peke, the 2003 Crufts winner that featured in Pedigree Dogs Exposed in 2008, essentially on account of having been photographed on an icepack in order to keep cool (another flat-faced breed in which we've selectively bred away the part of the nose that regulates temperature). We also revealed that Danny had undergone a soft palate resection before being crowned Supreme Champion at Crufts in 2003 - something Mr Easdon still denies, insisting that the dog had some minor op because of a recurrent throat infection. (We have no need to argue this - I have a copy of the veterinary diagnosis from Glasgow Vet School).

Again, we don't know why Palacegarden Bianca was excluded, so we will have to hold our horses until we find out.

In meantime, the news is not going down very well on t'other side of the Pond with this dog show blogger... Crufts' Campaign Against the Purebred Dog. Thank you to Peke breeder Susan Shepherd for giving me the biggest laugh of the day (see the comments on the above link): "This is by far the most disgusting thing I have ever seen in purebred dogs," she wrote. What, you mean breeding Pekes so they gasp for breath like guppies out of water? No, of course not.  The most disgusting thing she has ever seen in purebred dogs is disqualifying a dog for health reasons.

Boy is this one going to run and run.

I got the news about the Bulldog and Peke on my iPhone at 5.35pm while walking nine dogs on Salisbury Plain. 

The internet connection there is atrociously slow, so I knew I'd have to wait until I got home to blog.  And then one of the dogs - Luka - decided to go AWOL. Luka is 12 or so years old now - a rescue retriever/collie x who came from Dundalk in Ireland about six years ago - and he has always been an Irish wild rover. He's much slower now, on Previcox for arthritis (a miracle drug...), and he's increasingly deaf, but he still does his own thing on walks - pretty much seeing us as a chauffeur service to and from the outdoor venue of his choice. He knows the Plain like the back of his paw and so it's never a worry. I just headed back to the car; loaded up the others and waited while catching up with email and a few phone calls. One hour passed and then, before I knew it, another. The sun set and the moon rose.  Eventually Jon came down with a torch and set off across the Plain looking for the old fella (Luka is his dog). And silly me left the lights on on my car without starting the engine. When Jon re-appeared with Luka ("oh, is that the time?")  half an hour later, the battery was completely flat.

Long story short, we got home at 11pm. Dogs and us now fed and Jon's in bed asleep, it's 3am and I haven't taken my coat off yet.

This is Luka. The other dogs all hang on my every word, but not Luka. He worships the ground Jon walks on. Always has. Always will.

79 comments:

  1. I am just wondering how you can tell from a still picture that this bitch looks "a little anxious and/or uncomfortable-over and above what is normal for a bulldog"? As a breeder and exhibitor of bulldogs, I would be hard pressed to comment on her deamenor from a photograph. If pressed to do so, I would say she looks just fine---she is not panting nor is her mouth open which would lead me to believe that she was stressed. Her ears are down and in a relaxed position which would also indicate that she is not stressed. Additionally, if you checked the facts, you would see that this bitch has passed all her health clearances in the past, and the veterinarians were not supposed to use any type of instrument to make their determination. The vet chose to break the rules, and shine a light into the dog's eyes to find an old "mark" of which the cause is unknown. It was not, nor could not be determined to cause this dog any undue discomfort. This is all interesting because this bitch had just had her eyes checked in the near past and nothing of note was found. We are not fooled, and see this for exactly what it was...

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    1. I agree with Anon. I was never worried about the vet checks because I knew that no judge would send an unhealthy dog through, I know for a fact that this particular judge certainly wouldn't. The media were watching this Crufts decision and it's clear that this was totally polictical. We are awaiting the vet report with baited breath but I can't help but feel that damage has already been done.

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    2. olde bulldogge9 March 2012 at 22:30

      BulldogLady:

      If you think that the inability to breathe, poor bite that causes dental problems and screw tails that cause spinal problems more often than not should be allowed into the show ring then I hate to see yourself as a person who cares about the welfare of bulldogs but does nothing about it, and instead, excuses it.

      She is less exaggerated than most other bulldogs so bravo on that. But this dog is still in the negatives. So to reward a dog that still fails on the most obvious of problems defeats the purpose of bettering the breed.

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    3. I must agree with the Anon here (as much as it pains me to do so) that you cannot judge happiness from a photograph. I've worked with many shelter and mill dogs that can [in pictures] be made to look quite healthy and happy in their environment.

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  2. Congratulations! I seriously doubt that this could have occurred without PDE. It will be interesting to see what happens with the other 13 breeds getting vet checks. No doubt there a big brouhaha about to happen.

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    1. Agreed! Props to Jemima, who deserves a great deal of credit for the changes we are beginning, hopefully, to see

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  3. Why not do the vetting on the breeds identified as "of special concern" before the pageant judge ever sees them? DQ the ones that are beyond the threshold of appalling health that the KC has set, and allow the relatively more-healthy dogs to compete. Give the judges only the least handicapped dogs to choose from.

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  4. The "Team Jenny" Facebook page actually has a comment from someone complaining that the vet used a light, because "no devices" were to be used.

    For serious? This is their excuse? That the medical issue would not have been discovered without it?

    Shame, shame, shame.

    The big issue I see here is waiting until BoB to clear these dogs through an independent vet. They should require full clearances to even step foot on the floor - full current clearances. Why would any honest breeder NOT want this?

    One final thought - were this dog's eyes honestly the problem? How about the simple fact that this animal can't breathe or thermoregulate? So sad.

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  5. Exactly what health clearances are required for a bulldog?

    KC states the vet is supposed to check for the following things with bulldogs http://www.thekennel...surgeoninfo.pdf


    Bulldog

    The breed is prone to respiratory distress. Obesity may also be noted and may contribute to signs of respiratory unfitness. N.B hyperthermia appears to be relatively common in this breed.

    * Ectropion or entropion are considered to be conformational defects that are disqualifying signs

    * Damage (scarring or ulceration) to the cornea caused by e.g. facial folds, distichiasis, ectopic cilia, poor eyelid anatomy

    * Respiratory difficulty due to soft palate or small (pinched) nostrils

    * Dermatitis associated with facial wrinkles or at the tail root due to a tightly ‘screwed’ tail

    * Hair loss or scarring from previous dermatitis

    * Lameness

    So reading the above seems fair enough to me, if the dog has scarring then they should have known better to have entered it. However i do think they are making an example of these dogs. I think they are desperate to give the impression that they have some control over all these breeders and that they can stop them from breeding such deformed dogs.

    Back to speaking about all the health clearances this dog has passed,
    has this Bulldog passed hip and elbow screening with normal scores.
    I mean normal as in not dysplastic, not as in a normal score for bulldogs which is usually dysplastic. OFA ranks the bulldog as #1 worse affected breed with HD, 72% affected. 37% are affected with ED.

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  6. 7:19.. you beat me to it.. I was to say the same thing.. especially this comment by JH.

    . "But of course it's hard to tell from still pictures."

    lol.. surely you jest JH.. you make assumptions from still photos all of the time here on this blog..nice to see you are finally admitting that is "hard to tell from still pictures" but my guess is you will forget you ever said this and continue doing just that..


    But I digress.. you can see the video of this lovely free moving bulldog on Youtube anxious NOPE.. panting NOPE..lovely. and healthy as deemed by her exams and the 19 previous judges that put her forward on other occasions..

    Politically motivated bull pucky is what this was all about. I feel for the owners and breeders.. but I have a feeling they will get their just desserts..

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  7. Ah, Anonymous COWARD got in first. Ah well, no mater. A very good day for the dogs and a small glimmer of hope for change. If things do start to change, and the ice cracks at the KC it will only because they saw the light after feeling the heat. I have to say the back end of that Bulldog looks a little disorganized... wonder what's going on there. Full applause to you and Jon and hugs to Lula... all's well that ends well.

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  8. "No vet I know would pull a dog for an old eye injury. "

    well now you do.. and hopefully he/she will be censured and lose clients from their practice due to this. What political bunk

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    1. There's none so blind as those that won't see!

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  9. I believe in giving credit where it is due. Kudos to the Kennel Club and the very, very brave vet.

    I also nearly fell off my chair when I read this on the KC website in their response to PDE Three Years On:

    ‘The Kennel Club has supported research that shows the levels of genetic diversity in different breeds, which will enable it to work with Breed Clubs to develop solutions that might include outcrossing…’

    And this:

    ‘We will also work with breeders and breed clubs to look at suitable outcrossing programmes…’

    Kudos again.

    Jemima, I firmly believe that this is happening because of you and your commitment. Until PDE, criticism of what the fancy has done to dogs has gone unheeded for over a hundred years. Here’s to you.

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  10. There’re many good reasons to reserve judgement; - we don’t have the full facts, the waters are already muddied by conspiracy theories and, of course, triumphalism will backfire and help rally support for the exhibitors/judges in these cases. That’s not an exhaustive list by the way!
    I have been supportive of vet checks from the outset because I’ve always felt the show world couldn’t move on without opening up to independent scrutiny. After hearing recent comments from the KC I had, however, convinced myself that both sides would back away from the brink and we’d not see any dogs failing the inspections. It seems that neither side backed away, the KC’s bluff was called and the KC wasn’t bluffing.
    All the above notwithstanding, I have to applaud this as a very significant step on the path to genuinely health focused dog showing. My only cynical thought is to wonder what now happens with other “high profile breeds”. Will there be behind the scenes negotiations to avoid the other breeds boycotting Crufts?
    Kevin Colwill

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  11. sorry but the french bulldog looked more nervous,with the flinching when the judge was handling and the classic lip licking is a nerves trait in a dog,and then the whippet ,was trembling from head to toe,they all get nerves,they pick up on handlers and there are so many lights and lots of people,it is to be expected

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    1. You mean the Italian Greyhound, not Whippet. IGs were judged in the Toy Group yesterday; Whippets aren't being judged until Sunday. Whilst they may look quite similar, Whippets are a heck of a lot healthier than IGs and can actually live normal lives without breaking legs doing otherwise typical doggy things: playing with a large/boisterous dog, running up steps, or their owner accidentally treading on a paw. Unlike IGs, Whippets also don't suffer from luxating patellas, hip dysplasia, collapsed windpipes, epilepsy, or a liver defect.

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    2. It wasn't a whippet .Whippets are on Hound day Sunday . It was an Italian .

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    3. my mistake,it looked terrified,but still dont get how you can tell from the image that the bullie looked nervous,and as far as the kc gearing towards sorting out the genetics, i have a boxer related to the one shown on the program,have since been in touch with them ,as to where to go to get help in finding out how to get him ,tested,and still waiting for advice hmmmm

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  12. Lets face facts the Kennel Club has basically been dragged kicking and screaming into this position so let’s keep the congratulations at a modest level.

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  13. and if the vet hadnt used a light to examine the dog they would be saying , But he didnt examine it properly ! eye specialists use torches

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  14. Dog World previously reported on Danny's surgery and quotes the letter from the U of Glasgow to the KC. (http://web.archive.org/web/20081031232136/http://www.dogworld.co.uk/News/39-danny)

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  15. Why not just leave the Bulldog alone eh ? Nothing better to do ? Until you own one that IS HEALTHY you will never experience the joy it brings. Vets are liars, plain and simple.... well most of them. They see pedigree pound signs and are quite happy to tell you one thing and mean another....trust me, Ive been there.

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    1. thats right everyone is liars but the bulldog breeders, LOL....
      There is no such thing as a healthy bulldog as the standerd calls for deformity & the breeders breed the deformity to extreme levels. Bulldogs sit on ice because they can not cool themselves & regulate their core temp due to lack of oxygen & their for blood circulation is poor also.
      Do you know bulldogs actually enjoy having the tract tube left in after surgery as it's the ONLY time in their poor lives where they can breath freely.
      Any dog that needs a rape stand or AI to concieve & then not even be able to whelp easily meaning most need an op to give birth can not be called healthy EVER!
      They suffer skin irration from skin folds & lack of cirrculation, have terrible joints in a high % of cases, low life span & snore like troopers due to closed up airways. NOT A HEALTHY EXAMPLE OF A DOG!

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    2. Most of today's bulldogs look as though they should be stood in a field, with a ring through it's nose!

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    3. Sam, your ignorance is shining through... Have you ever spent time at a bulldog breeder's home to see how healthy the dogs are? Or are you just regurgitating what you heard on a ridiculous mockumentary?

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  16. Indeed they did - a month after we revealed the true nature of the op in Pedigree Dogs Exposed. |DW sourced the letter the same way we did via a Freedom of Information request to Glasgow University.

    As you can read in the above, Mr Easdon is still claiming that tonsillitis was the problem. Vets would never choose to do throat surgery when there is an infection present. It is too dangerous.

    I believe a soft palate resection is - absolutely - a procedure to correct a conformational problem and I think I'm right in saying that the KC no longer grants permission to show if one is reported. (Happy to be corrected on this though as not absolutely sure.)

    Jemima

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    1. The need for a soft palate resection of a brachycephalic breed should be a disqualifier, whether the procedure is performed or not. The dog probably should not be bred, so why show it? It is equivalent to castration in terms of the value of the dog for breeding purposes, which is what conformation showing is supposed to be all about. -- Rod Russell, Orlando, Florida USA

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  17. its now going around that both peke and bulldog had old scars on their eyes and that is why they where removed from the show.

    perhaps their old eye injuries where due to their conformation and that is why the vet decided to remove them ?

    Even if they had clear eye certs do they check for things like ingrowing lashes or weather the eyes stick out so much that the lids cant close to lubricate them ?

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  18. and all this from someone who states shes a dog lover, yet allows an old deaf dog to run around on the plains for almost 2 hours before they decide to go find it!!!!
    and we are the wrong people for showing love, giving love and most of all receiving love from our dogs

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    1. This is JH Bashing to the extreme! If the dog has been walked in the same place every day for six years and can find its way back to the parked car - it's not going to be genuinely lost, just distracted by something else.

      I wish my deaf, falling to bits with ill health, pedigree dog had the scent ability and spatial memory to find its way back to the car! I certainly wouldn't restrict it to a lead on regular, safe walks though, what pleasure would there be in its life?

      H

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  19. Anon (it would be, wouldn't it) wrote: "and all this from someone who states shes a dog lover, yet allows an old deaf dog to run around on the plains for almost 2 hours before they decide to go find it!!!! and we are the wrong people for showing love, giving love and most of all receiving love from our dogs"

    Knew that wouldn't take long. I think it was probably four hours in total, actually, as we were out for a couple of hours before he disappeared.

    There are dogs you wouldn't let out of your sight for two minutes, but not Luka. And, believe me, there were things I'd rather be doing than waiting for him. But that old deaf dog lives for that little bit of independence, he's sensible, perfectly safe, and none the worse for wear this morning.

    It might be sensible now to just take him for gentle strolls on a lead. But that is not what Luka is about. He'd wither.

    Jemima

    Jemima

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    1. I know someone who has clicker trained her young Lurcher to 'target' her old, deaf Lurcher. When her young dog touches (targets) the old dog, the latter knows to follow the former. This means when her deaf dog is heading off into the hills in the wrong direction, she can send her young dog after him and bring him back.

      I'm not fully clear on the details of how she managed to train this, but it has always struck me as highly useful.

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    2. Could be 'clicker' trained using a small torch, which could then be put into a pocket or bag.

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  20. Can someone explain what's going on with the UK Peke standard? The Aust National KC copied the UK KC standard (revised 2008) . . . which reads: (http://www.pekingeseaustralia.com/standard.htm )

    Head and Skull: Head fairly large, proportionately wider than deep. Skull moderately broad, wide and flat between ears, not domed, wide between eyes. Nose not too short, broad, nostrils large and open. A slight wrinkle, preferably broken, may extend from the cheeks to the bridge of the nose in a wide inverted V. This must never adversely affect or obscure eyes or nose. Pinched nostrils and heavy over-nose wrinkles are unacceptable and should be heavily penalised. Muzzle must be evident, but may be relatively short and wide. Firm underjaw. Lips not obscuring a well defined chin. Defined stop. Black pigment essential on nose, lips and eye rims.

    I don't think Bianca would have won if this standard was used for judging. Is the Peke Club sticking to the old standard?

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  21. It is important to wait for the vet report, which will hopefully be made public. There could be many reasons the dogs were 'pulled' and it isn't fair to speculate.

    I watched the group judging last night and thought great improvement had been made in some breeds; the shar pei for example seemed a much less overdone example and yet was still obviously a shar pei and the Bulldog on at the start of the More 4 show was a lovely example. Some exhibits remain too fat (the pug was perhaps the most obvious)and the movement of some was inhibited by tight leads. Some dogs did look nervous...but can anything prepare a dog for his first time in that ring?
    Can't wait to see what tonights gundog judging brings....
    VP

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    1. I'll put my cards on the table here. The Bulldog on More4 might well be an unexaggerated example of the show type but I’m afraid it still looked extreme to me. I also noted the breeder was keen to emphasise he very much wanted to keep the bulldog type and I’m not at all sure it’s a type worth keeping.
      I don’t know health records of Bulldog variants like the Dorset or Victorian and I’m well aware that looking healthier may not equate to being healthier. Sheer common sense, however, has to tell us that much longer muzzles, longer legs and relatively smaller heads is the way to go.

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  22. I thought the Pom was a fair and sprightly choice and thought the dog's owner was delightful and unassuming. Liked the Pap too. Was surprised the Pug went Group 2 - the dog did not look anything like as fit as last year's (Swedish?) pug and was a reluctant mover.

    Today's big question: will be Clumber pass the vet check given that ectropion is on the list?

    Jemima

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    1. The Clumber failed.
      As a long time supporter of vulnerable native breeds I hope this will be taken as a wakeup call. We can't preserve these breeds in aspic for a small number of (admittedly incredibly dedicated and passionate) enthusiasts. We need to consider serious programmes of outcrossing to related breeds along with a policy of encouraging new owners.
      Kevin Colwill

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    2. "I thought the Pom was a fair and sprightly choice" just what qualification do you have to judge?

      Delete
  23. It would, indeed be useful - although not with Luka. He's always been a loner and is just doing his thing. He's never lost. Usually, he times it perfectly so he meets you at the car as you walk up to it. He always knows where the car is and and will triangulate rather than back-track. You can check roughly where he is and what he's up to by the occasional bark. He has different ones depending on what he's doing. "I spotted a deer", "Oy - rabbit - I demand you come out of that hole!" or "I'm digging for voles."

    As he gets more deaf, though, and shows few signs of growing old gracefully, we might get him a GPS tracker.

    Jemima

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  24. The limited vet checks are a step forward, but it would be more meaningful to see proper checks being carried out with equipment on all breeds taking part, not just the "visible signs" referred to in the KC press release.

    H

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  25. The vet checks are only simple test it's not a full blown test its just checking simple things like breathing, eyes etc which are essential to be healthy and if a dog fails that simple test then it should not of won BOB and it's unfair that a healthy dog has lost out on winning the prize! The KC should have more power over breeders that a still ignoring the fact that bulldogs are unhealthy and need to change! As a OWNER of 6 BULLDOGS!!!! I am so glad the KC are finally doing something about the corrupt cruft comps! Fact is KC have allowed line breeding to go on for years and its unethical and wrong and we have unhealthy dogs now more needs to be done I am so glad the bulldog failed it has brought light to the fact that something needs to be done! Bulldogs struggle to mate/give birth/breathe the list can go on! I want my bullies to be healthy and anybody who doesn't agree to healthier dogs should NOT own one!!!!!!!!!!!

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    1. sound like you lose a lot

      "I am so glad the bulldog failed'"
      a bit of sour grapes?

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    2. Kim, you really don't make any sense to me. Why would you criticize your own favorite breed when in reality you say you have six bulldogs? A person whom is passionate about having a healthy dog wouldn't have six of the dogs that are in the breed standard that you are against. Your bonkers, if I do say so myself.

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  26. Clumber BOB has failed the vet check!!

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  27. The Clumber HAS failed the vet check.

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  28. http://pedigreedogsexposed.blogspot.com/2012/03/clumber-also-fails-vet-check.html

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  29. Jemima I doubt very much you have the rights to publish the pictures of this dog on your blog so maybe remove them?

    Although it shows of a fantastic example of our breed :) You preach about Bulldogs being unhealthy however there is no divide in your opinion between Show community and Pet community.

    People in showing, albeit not all, are striving to produce the best they can in the breed. All breeds have faults, no one is saying otherwise however this Bulldog is worthy of representing our breed and have the whole community behind her, not just due to what has happened yesterday. She was not in any way anxious yesterday, she strutted round the ring happily and proud, like she always does. Are you now saying that all the CC’s she has obtained and all her titles including Bulldog of the Year 2011 are unwarranted?

    Im sorry but all these judges would not put their reputations on the line for a mediocre example, Especially not the Judge who judged yesterday.

    I know we have a long way to go however alot is due to educating pet owners on who NOT to buy from and what they should be looking out for.

    All these byb dont care. They breed with their friends dog to get in the £££ and couldn’t care less about checking for faults, health tests etc.

    Yes the Bulldogs only have a suggested health check which is The Bulldog Breed Health Check. It is a simple yes or no to signs of issues or concerns such as eyes, trachea, tail, nostrils etc. Its is therefore up to the individuals to look at this and decide whether or not their dog/bitch is worthy enough to breed from.

    There was only 1 dog yesterday out of all who attended who was showing signs of being in distress and the judge rightly removed that dog from the ring.

    I cant see a witch hunt the answer Jemima – education is needed here for all breeds and unfortunately (as I hate to admit it) people are listening to you, so why not put your powers of bad journalism to use and begin to educate the public on do’s and donts of buying a puppy/dog??

    Surely that would make sense.

    And Kimberley, im not sure what your comment is getting at? You say you own 6 bulldogs did you buy/rescue these? Why if you believe these dogs cant breath etc? Im just rather confused why you would own 6......

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    1. "Im sorry but all these judges would not put their reputations on the line for a mediocre example, Especially not the Judge who judged yesterday."

      Yes they would. Witness the train wreck currently known as the German Shepherd. Someone is selecting dogs to win that have excessive laxity in their rear ends in violation of the breed standard. Dog in the front, frog in the back - and it just keeps getting worse.

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    2. "People in showing, albeit not all, are striving to produce the best they can in the breed. All breeds have faults",

      And by who’s standard do they strive so selfishly? Remind me again…

      Delete
  30. I'd like to see heart checks and patella checks added. Any obvious problems found could be easily demonstrated to the owner as proof.
    There are even websites with the different sounds of heart murmers so the owner of the dog could be shown the difference between normal and their affected dog.

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  31. Thanks for this blog. It really helps us all see how ignorant, uninformed and biased you are. I really love your judging a dogs "anxiety" level by photos. You are brilliant and I am guessing a trained vet as well since you seem to really know all. And your work is really going to stop all those puppy mills that could really care less about show dogs. I am so glad you chose to attack the people who want to preserve the breeds instead of the ones just looking to make money off them. Again, you really are top notch. ( and just to clarify, that is what is called sarcasm)

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    1. Whilst I disagree with your implied sarcasm regarding the merit of this campaign, I do have some sympathy with your view that unregulated dog breeding and back garden puppy mills have largely been left alone to ply their trade. This because of the totally ambiguous law on UK dog breeding.
      I say this because, only last week after the “Local Government Ombudsman's” yearlong investigation into the correct interpretation and definition of the UK dog breeding law they issued their findings which were supportive of a councils own singular interpretation of the UK dog breeding law, which in our case is that dogs can now be bred and sold totally commercially providing the total litters from each address do not exceed five per year. (police that if you can) This has unfortunately now given the green light for all other so called "hobby breeders" in different parts of the UK to try and claim the same rights to breed totally on a commercial basis without license or regulation.

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    2. Yep thats a healthy bulldog & alot closer in type to the origanal bulldogs. How they managed to make such a mess of the breed is beyond me.

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  32. If you ask me, this is what the bulldog should look like again. :) And it's closer to the original dog! "Boy" is from Margeta's Continental Bulldogs.

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    1. good job were not asking you then, as that looks like a boxer staffie cross!

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    2. olde bulldogge9 March 2012 at 22:22

      Doesn't matter what it's crossed with. What matters is if it is healthy or not. :) I can assure you this bulldog which looks like the original bulldogs of old is a lot healthier and functional than the dogs we see above.

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    3. olde bulldogge9 March 2012 at 22:25

      And because you seem to know nothing about bulldogs, anon. The boxer hails from the Bullenbeisser which is closely related to original bulldog (what we now call the english bulldog which looks a lot like a boxer pit bull cross. :) And because you seem to know a lot about dogs, look at this 1900 version of the boxer. Bet you would call that dog a staffordshire and not a boxer due to looks eh?

      Delete
  33. I am so enjoying what we call in the USA "armchair quarterbacking"

    Main Entry: armchair quarterback
    Part of Speech: n
    Definition: a person who offers advice or an opinion on something in which they have no expertise .. or

    armchair quarterback

    a person who watches sports and believes one could do a better job than the players or coaches.

    but of course Urban Dictionary nails it as always:
    1. Armchair quarterback

    some d-bag who is certain that he or she can make better decisions than the coaches or players while watching a competitive sport on television. as in:
    Watching football with Porter is a drag because he's an insufferable armchair quarterback; he doesn't know jack-shit about sports.

    what fun to read about all of you "experts"..and your "opinions'.. made my day

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    1. ostrich syndrome

      Denying or refusing to acknowledge something that is blatantly obvious as if your head were in the sand like an ostrich

      I am totally enjoying the schadenfreude.

      Delete
  34. you mean like breeders & judges who think they know better than a vet who's spent years at university

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  35. This is what Dennis Sprung, president of the American Kennel Club, had to say about the elimination of the bulldog, Peke, and Clumber at Crufts:

    ""AKC will NEVER allow any such practice to occur. Our Parent Clubs own their respective standard and we support them 100 percent. Furthermore a Judges' decision is final and we respect that as well. The situation is a very disappointing one here from the point of view of breeders, exhibitors and judges and fanciers from around the world. In summary while our PCs have a right to be upset and concerned I will never allow this wrongful practice in America. Never!!!"

    So, Jemima, when are you coming over to do PDE3? -- Rod Russell, Orlando, Florida USA

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  36. 2:43
    nope I mean you who sit at home and judge dogs by photos and find joy in the misery and humiliation of others who have meant or done you no harm.Wallowing in schadenfreude is like rolling in dog crap and thinking you smell like a rose.. you don't ..you stink. Enjoying the misery of others is about as low as you can go..
    2:42
    Many judges are veterinarians.. and many breeders as well...how's that tar brush working for ya??

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    1. like enjoying the misery of a dog that cant breath , oh look at his cute snoring , ooh arnt pekes cute they take soooo long to walk around the ring. look at his cute wrinkles and red eyes.

      as far as i'm aware the dogs who where disqualified where not owned by vet's otherwise they would have grounds to disagree on an equal level

      Delete
    2. Do you enjoy watching dogs suffer I sure as hell don't. I also think the breeders affected by this deserve all they get the writting was on the wall yet they toke dogs that could not pass the health checks.
      Bulldogs where a wonderful stubburn, althetic, working breed that was never meant to have their legs shortened, heads so out of proprotation to the rest of them that they can often not even whelp naturely, noses shortened so badly they can hardly breath & extra skin folds added to their heads. But no you show breeders decided to improve upon the breed & have created a crippled, oxygen deprived deformity of a dog that can not even regulate it's own temp. YEAH GOOD JOB!

      Delete
  37. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Original_Handsome_Dan_Yale%27s_mascot.jpg

    I think this is how the bulldog should look like.

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  38. Oh my god! It's the war between the anon's lol.

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  39. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkyTG-GgDLk
    here is a link of Jenny.

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  40. There is a lot of talk of breeders boycotting today as they know they wont pass.
    Its a shame crufts is not an open entry as I'm sure the breeders and owners of moderate neo's , bassetts etc would love the chance to win some prizes instead of the usual breed mafia taking all the top spots.
    The top winning breeders are going to have to start from the bottom and work their way back up instead of taking it for granted that they will win. & thats what showing is about not the dogs or the rossettes
    " I am important, everyone does as I say, The judge will give me BOB even if I take a 3 legged cat into the ring and the other breeders better do as I say or they wont be getting any prizes, pups or studs from me "
    Suddenly with the swipe of a vets biro they are told actually no you are not.

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    1. It's like when poodle judges pull out the height wicket before the dogs enter the ring. There are a lot of "miniatures" which get pulled at that point. -- Rod Russell, Orlando, Florida USA

      Delete
  41. The petty bickering of breeders is one thing, but without a quick consensual reform from the K.C, this whole unstable house of cards is in danger of collapse very soon.

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  42. "as far as i'm aware the dogs who where disqualified where not owned by vet's otherwise they would have grounds to disagree on an equal level"

    ..do all breeders of any animals that are judged need to be vets in order to breed healthy animals or question the ability of vets to decide if their animals are healthy? My vet has learned a lot about my breed from me. My last vet misdiagnosed my dog more times than I care to count and killed one of them.. so no all vets are not knowledgeable about all things. If they are going to DQ animals for eyes problems they should have vets who are specialists to look at the eyes.. not a vet who specialized in "felines" as one vet states on his bio.
    The boycott is not because the animals won't pass. It is in support of animals that should have passed

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    1. You don't need to be a specialist to diagnose a simple problem like ectropion. On the other hand, you need lots of training to be able to not spot ectropion when it is staring you in the eye.

      Delete
  43. I applaud the kc for bringing in these vet checks - I hope the judges that awarded these dogs be stopped from judging again , one of the judges that's bob got taken away is nothing but a puppy farmer disguised by the 'glory' of the one breed they are famous for ( they show the breed that was banned from group ring ) - they are constantly on epupz selling non kc reg in health tested dogs and as well as the breed they're known for they are breeding hoards of yorkies, poodles, shihtzu, bichons,dogue de bordeaux , bulldogs , French bulldogs, pugs - I could show you photos that would break your heart. I hope the kc stops this judge who obviously is clueless to what a healthy dog is.

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  44. What are your qualifications Jemima? Are you a Vet?? Or just a nasty piece of trash with an Animal Rights agenda to rid the world of pets!! You have to be one of the most hated people on the planet and those of us who see you for what you really are are getting the message out there. Your 15 minutes of fame is nearly up dear though you have done a lot of unwarranted damage in that short time!!!

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    1. Unfortunately your comment illustrates exactly the reason why this and other similar campaigns are needed. You seem to have no understanding of the long term advantages that this campaign will bring to restoring the credibility to the dog breeding world. People like Jemima are quite remarkable and should be supported. It’s relatively easy to agree or disagree with her on this blog, but not so easy to put yourself in the line of fire as she has done.

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  45. I would just like to say what a stunning Bulldog

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  46. I too would like to say what a stunning bulldog and yes look at the dog world she does it again Well Done Jenny Winner of CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS well deserved. Up Yours To the people who tried to mark you down for no reason you were robbed of your best of Breed at Crufts .......

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