Chalk, talc,Thick "n" Thicker, Ducky White, mousse and hairspray were all being used liberally.
'Cos nature doesn't make West Highland White Terriers white enough.
This in a dog breed that has a skin condition - Westie Itch - named after it.
Thursday, 7 March 2013
Westies: how to make-up a champion
The Kennel Club has caved in regarding the use of cosmetic products on show dogs - after a breeder-protest (memorably dubbed "The Ellnet Revolution" by Dog World writer Kevin Colwill). Although, technically, the rules prohibiting the use of enhancing "product" on dogs are still in force, no one was taking a blind bit of notice on the Westie benches at Crufts today and no one was policing it.
Chalk, talc,Thick "n" Thicker, Ducky White, mousse and hairspray were all being used liberally.
'Cos nature doesn't make West Highland White Terriers white enough.
This in a dog breed that has a skin condition - Westie Itch - named after it.
Chalk, talc,Thick "n" Thicker, Ducky White, mousse and hairspray were all being used liberally.
'Cos nature doesn't make West Highland White Terriers white enough.
This in a dog breed that has a skin condition - Westie Itch - named after it.
Good grief - what an unhappy looking bunch of dogs.
ReplyDeleteH
I have a westie. She has that "westie itch" too. And this thick hair, especially on the head, is totally annoying for such an active dog like westie is.
ReplyDeleteJemima come and watch the Japanese Spitz, beautiful white dogs with nothing added to the coat whatsoEver, yet strangely we never do much in the groups nor are they popular. I think you will see then not all are the same.
ReplyDeleteIn a way, they have to, as it is apart of our nature to do so. I think the most famous example is Chinese (I think) women who were forced to crush their feet to fit the ideal.
ReplyDeleteBut in relation to this, it is no different from what fashion models (mostly women) do. Just imagine if they didn't put any make-up or whatever else (including forced weight reduction) on stage and in photo-shootings. Then only show them as what they naturally are. No one in the mainstream media would accept them. It is much the same with Showdogs I think.
I don't get this with modifying the dogs *in* the show ring (or rather, right before). I used to be under the illusion that dog shows were actually for preserving breeds to a set standard (until 2008 when I found out more and more, but it was long before I ever heard of or saw PDE), but with all the hairspray, shaving "hairless" dogs, hair dye and etc. - it proves that it has nothing to do with honestly presenting your dog as it fits the standard (the judges' interpretation of the standard nowadays is laughable anyway), but that it is just a beauty pageant.
ReplyDeletewhat an existence - a noose around your neck as hideously scented products are sprayed and scattered on you, overwhelming your incredible sense of smell and making your skin itch and your coat sticky and foul.
ReplyDeleteAren't some human beings the most incredibly selfish and creatures?
SkyArk, People are able to consent to the cruelties inflicted on them in the name of fashion & walk away if they wish.
ReplyDeleteWhat next? Some of these loving owners would dunk their dogs in a bath of dilute bleach if they thought it would help them win.
Jemima, if you have concrete evidence that grooming products exacerbate skin conditions or cause skin conditions, please post it.
ReplyDeleteA dog should not need anymore than a bath, good groom and perhaps a trim to be presentable. There is indeed something very wrong when a dog needs a mountain of human products covering its fur and skin, can you be certain it doesn't cause or exacerbate skin conditions could you please post that evidence anon 19.06?
ReplyDeleteAnon 19.06....these are not dog grooming products...these are human grooming products..completely different. I liked the fact that tonight the dog groomer said that if the coat texture is correct etc., etc,. no hairspray, chalk, whitener or any of the rest is needed. Even when spraying hairspray on the poor wee soul she can't shield it's eyes! Does she do that to herself. Very sad indeed.
ReplyDeleteDo any of the dogs in the pictures suffer from "Westie itch"? I am NOT a Terrier person and have never heard of this condition but how prevalent is it? I am in the US, so you may not have that data. Pam
ReplyDeleteI see that the investigative journalism program on Channel 4, 'Dispatches', has an episode this week investigating Designer Dogs. Designer dogs as opposed to Pedigree dogs. Hmmmm...I wonder if this is addressing the cross breeds such as the ShiPoos and Labradoodles that some pedigrees breeders have their knickers in a twist about? Or perhaps just the rogue puppy farming trade. Interesting timimg given it is just after their Crufts broadcasting. Have they approached you for your comments Jemima?
ReplyDeleteNo. I've been invited to the preview screening in London on Monday, though. Too busy to attend but have asked them for clarification - awaiting reply. They are looking at the import of puppies from Eastern European. It is my understanding that most of these are purebred, not "designer" dogs, so slightly confused re the titling of this doc.
ReplyDeleteJemima
Well it's encouraging that they have asked you to attend the screening at least. Designer or pedigree can be interpreted as 'made to order' I guess. My own view is that responsible breeding is something that the KC have yet to understand fully. If they don't really get it, what chance is there for people to catch on who are churning out dog's in puppy farms. Make it illegal to buy dogs on the Internet perhaps?
DeleteThe programme was shocking. Some puppies were shown in the back of a white van that had travelled for 22hrs so the puppies had no food, water, fresh air and from what I could see the crates weren't even safe and probably jostled about which would mean that the puppies couldn't even sleep. Disgusting. They had "passports" but clearly the puppies were less than 12 wks so the information in the p/ports was falsified. And what happens when a family buys one of these puppies that hasn't been wormed/vacc - what about the danger to the children? The other shocking things was that the puppies aren't considered "animals in transit" they come in via a loophole as "commercial goods" so nobody has to do any checks. Isn't that appalling. The health danger to the population of the UK is huge and needs Government intervention via Defra. The Defra representative interviewed in the programme didn't even know about the trade - so what does he do to earn his salary. Disgraceful. So there are two major issues to be addressed following the programme: Care and welfare of the puppies and their documentation AND the danger to the UK of these unrecorded, unsupervised dog entries. It would only need some nitwit to bring in a chicken with foul pest, a pig, a calf, a lamb suffering from whatever and that could wreck our agricultural economy too. I couldn't watch it all it was so distressing but I have written to my MPs locally. Synsis
DeleteI am going to cry!! thank God for my beautiful, healthy, odd eyed blue Merle collie!! born on a farm and owned with love and joy by 2 besotted people! We have owned collies all the 35 years we have been married, all of them from working stock and loyal and clever as they come!! I have toyed with agility when I watch her walk on fallen trees, jump walls etc etc etc but I would NEVER take part in that evil competition even if (and she wouldn't be) she was eligible!! she is beautiful without any enhancing as a dog should be!!
ReplyDeleteAnn I feel that is a little strong, showing your dog doesn't have to mean participating in evil competition, the companion shows at local country fairs are proof of that, it can be an enjoyable social event for both dog and handler but I suppose it's back to that one golden principle "everything in moderation" sadly the modern champ shows are so competitive that common sense has gone out the window and welfare of dogs seems to have joined it in far to many breeds!
ReplyDeleteHorrible!!! When the Chinese crested were on telly last night Frank cane was asked if the were naturally like that he said yes... I think not!
ReplyDeleteand these people are supposed to be dog lovers . . . . . . . CRAZY !
ReplyDeleteMmm, and the KC should have been around the benches and stopped all of these grooming practices, disgraceful and damaging for the dogs. Poor, trapped dogs.
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