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| No sex please... I'm Dutch |
Most notably, Bulldogs have to pass a fitness test before they are bred.
This is in contrast to the Kennel Club in the UK, the dog's country of origin. Here, there are no mandatory tests for the breed, not even under the KC's 'elite' Accredited Breeder Scheme. The KC merely suggests that Bulldogs undergo an assessment by a bulldog-friendly vet. As of April 2014, this assessment has a pass or fail - but KC registration of Bulldog pups is not dependent on it.
The Dutch KC's move is in response to loud calls calling for a ban on breeding Bulldogs in the Netherlands - loud enough to force the Dutch KC and Bulldog clubs there to act, or otherwise face losing the breed.
But whatever the reason, it's tentatively good news.
As of June 1st, the Dutch KC will only register Bulldog pups if the dam and sire have had a fitness test that requires all breeding Bulldogs to have walked 1km within 12 minutes and recovered from the exertion within a few minutes. (And yep, my dogs could walk 1km in two minutes and their heart-rate wouldn't budge... but still... it's something).
Other requirements for registration demand that the breeding stock:
• has a clear ECVO eye-test
• been judged conformationally suitable for breeding by a judge
• has had patellas tested (only grades 0, 1 + 2 allowed for breeding)
• been DNA tested for HUU
• has had a maximum of two C-sections (this is the same as the UK Kennel Club)
In addition, there is ban on not just first-degree relative matings, but half-sib and grandparent/grandchild matings, too. Also, no dog is allowed to sire more than 15 litters. The limit for bitches is three litters. This will help slow down the rate of gene loss in the breed.
The full guidelines can be found here.
Prediction? The world is not going to end.
1/7/14: edit to correct on number of C-sections allowed
Jemima this is worth celebrating! Ok UK KC, your move.....
ReplyDeleteGreat news! I hope other kennel clubs will start to follow their example!
ReplyDeleteLeaders is common sense and welfare...well done Dutch KC !!!!
ReplyDeleteGood news, hope our KC takes heed.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant news! Now why don't they do this for all dogs breeds, just increase the endurance test suitably for each breed?
ReplyDeleteI can see many Mastiffs just for example not making any of the same bulldog requirements except natural birth.
Not sure if this is going through....no confirmation messages...
ReplyDeleteBrilliant on the Dutch. Wonder if this will lead up to them having similar requirements for all breeds.
They will need to change the endurance test of course, tweak slightly but no reason pugs all mastiffs in fact all breeds shouldn't have similar requirements.
I wouldn't call it a witch hunt exactly but it seems unfair to single out one breed doesn't it.
Not sure if this is going through....no confirmation messages...
ReplyDeleteBrilliant on the Dutch. Wonder if this will lead up to them having similar requirements for all breeds.
They will need to change the endurance test of course, tweak slightly but no reason pugs all mastiffs in fact all breeds shouldn't have similar requirements.
I wouldn't call it a witch hunt exactly but it seems unfair to single out one breed doesn't it.
There is no mention in the guidelines provided that "...if the pups have to be delivered by C-section, the Dutch KC won't register 'em." It does state "A bitch is not allowed to mate after a second caesarean section. When a bitch gave birth naturally this should be reported within three days after the birth of the litter. If not, a caesarian section will be assumed and registered. " - Where are you extrapolating this idea that pups from C-section litters won't be registered or the bitch is our after her first C-section?
ReplyDeleteThat will teach me to blog while doing three other things at the same time. Yep, I managed to completely misread that... have corrected now...
ReplyDeleteWhilst the Dutch KC are to be congratulated for at least making headway, there really needs to be something about the length of muzzle and stenotic nares. Stenotic nares should preclude the dog from being bred.
ReplyDeleteOh wait, that would mean the end of the Bulldog in the Netherlands...
So a bitch may only have 2 C sections and no more, the rest before or after must be natural, and only a maximum of three litters allowed?
ReplyDeleteI think this is important.
I know some FBulldog breeders in other parts of the world, show breeders who subject their bitches to annual caesarians never mind the issue of annual litters, until the dog cant conceive anymore. So high is the demand for this breed of dog.
Im wondering why the French bulldog is so universally popular suddenly it can't be because of Hollywood's can it be, at all at all?
http://www.allstarfrenchbulldogs.com/FamousFrenchBulldogs.htm
Someone should write to each and everyone of these A lister and B and C stars explaining why it's irresponsible to promote this breed at the moment, and maybe help them understand the welfare issues these "cutie" dogs face.
Maybe Jemima would have the most effect on them.
How do you know some of those 'celeb' dogs aren't rescues, though? Is it ok to promote the breed then? Or should every owner of them hide them up indoors and never walk them? What do you expect, for example, hugh jackman to do at your request not to 'promote' his dogs? He clearly loves them to death, and takes brilliant care of them, and as I said, for all we know, they may be rescue dogs! I don't think writing to celebrities to whine about the breed of dog they have and tell them not to 'promote' it will help. If you're an A-lister, you can't exactly go for a quiet solitary dog walk without fear of being photographed and spread over the magazines, so what you call 'promoting' is likely just people trying to get on with their life and enjoy their dogs!
DeleteThe real issue is the general public being stupid enough to buy a breed based on what is 'fashionable', not the fact that some famous people happen to own a controversial breed.
Would you be happier if these celebs ditched their dogs at a shelter, or stopped walking them so they weren't 'promoting' them?
I don't. Does it matter if some of these might be rescues, though?
DeleteThe motives for wanting one might be seeped in the same ignorance or lack of information rescue or not.
".........The real issue is the general public being stupid enough to buy a breed based on what is "fashionable", not the fact that some famous people happen to own a controversial breed......"
I see so its okay for celebrities to buy or rescue a dog based on fashion but not the general public? French bulldogs are a fashionable dog amongst a set of Hollywood's stars and wannabes as much as they are amongst the general public.
The general public however don't generate quite as much publicity now do they?
Yes I think the Beckhams and Jack Osbourne for example are probably fashion victims as far as their pet choices go and are ignorant of the plight of this breed along with many other C an B lister celebs who went out and bought a French Bulldog because somebody higher up the list has one.
There is nothing celebrities crave more than publicity without it they are a non entity. This includes their dog choices, they are going to be noticed and their owners are fully aware of this believe me.
To your point many do get rescue dogs. Its also fashionable to "rescue" in itself and rescue non designer mixes, a fashion that is for once at least worthy at least as far as dogs are concerned but particularly for rescue dogs.
Wanting to portray a kind cool and caring image might be their only motive in rescuing a non designer cross breed but it still hopefully makes a lot of doggies happy who otherwise might not be.
The French Bulldog is not a worthy fashion, not until the breed is safely able to function as a dog with full expectations of being able to live a happy healthy normal life.
Yes a big YES if its a rescue French-bulldog with all the health issues they should go to lower profile adopters to lessen the risk of promoting deformed dogs whose lives are a misery.
"would you be happier if these celebs ditched their dogs at a shelter, or stopped walking them......"
I would be a lot happier if "these celebs" were informed before further promoting breeds that are a crippled mess.
I would be super happy if they actively helped these suffering breeds to improve rather than promoted them out of pure ignorance and lack of information. Im sure it is ignorance for the most. Hollywoods stars generally are not exactly known for being aware of anything other than themselves, even adopting social awareness is often no more than PR. The few that are genuine stand out a mile.
Obviously insulting them is not going to help in changing their minds either. Just takes informing them. Even better for them to then be informing others in turn through their divine enlightenment, down through the ranks to the "great unwashed" public itself. (:
Edited a month hence! I'm impressed, Jemima! ;)
ReplyDeletePrediction? No the world will not end . there will just be many more unregistered bulldogs being bred in Holland.. and elsewhere.. who cares if they are "registered"? it is only for a dog show. Right?/ this is a recipe for less healthy animals being bred underground or for the black market..or for imports to flood the market or for people to turn to "rescues" instead of registered dogs.so more people will be be breeding mixed bred dogs for the "rescue " market. Right up your alley correct? Programs like this that "mandate" are destined to fail..as mandatory laws regarding animals do do everywhere.
ReplyDeletePrediction the world will not end with no dogs at all.. that is where mandates like this end up
Those who do care and show will set the standard which will filter down, just as the mess and cruelty inflicted by breeding illnesses has filtered down to the general public.
DeleteAnon@ 16:39
DeleteYour scenario is very unlikely to happen in the Netherlands which is a small country with a very strong social democracy. I don't think Show Bulldogs as a breed will survive very long under this kind of pressure in their present form.
I wouldn't be surprised if they were already quite socially unacceptable as a breed there, registered or not.
** Not sure if that last comment posted **
DeleteWe must address breeders of pedigree dogs and the Kennel Clubs. The general public are under the impression that they are purchasing a premier product and this is not the case.
It is similar to people wanting to buy brands like Louis Vuitton and Apple products, they aren't necessarily better than their competitors but because people think they are, they will buy. Backyard breeders are the equivalent to people manufacturing fake brand products. You can't get rid of these people. Imagine how outraged people would be if they thought the genuine brands were palming products onto their consumers that were of equal or less value to the fakes - but charging full price and giving out "warranty" that had so many T&Cs that it was effectively invalid. People would be outraged.
So instead of iPods and Handbags, just think about dogs... and there's the problem.
Because Bulldogs being 'registered' all this time has done wonders for their health so far.
Delete/sarcasm
Pai, can you clarify who that statement was aimed at?
DeleteFinally, some good news. I was glad to read this today.
ReplyDeleteHow about natural mating as opposed to AI?
ReplyDeleteIf you stopped AI breedings wouldn't that prevent breeders widening their breeding line by using dogs from overseas? For example, I live in Australia & the sire of one of my dogs (a golden retriever) lives in Sweden. There's no easy way that breeding could have been done naturally - it had to be done via AI.
DeleteI may be wrong as I'm not very familiar with the breed, but I think any young bulldog would be able to pass that endurance test (1 km in 12 min.) in cold-cool weather. So if the tests are done in winter, I guess virtually all young bulldogs will pass and the test will not be very effective.
ReplyDeleteNumber of meters to walk (on the leash): 1000 meter
ReplyDelete• Maximum time: 12 min • heart rate recovery time: 15 min. measured before and after the test • temperature recovery time: 15 min. measured before and after the test
I just needed 15 minutes to clear up my coffee that I have just spat over my laptop laughing at what is regarded as a fitness test.
I know, it's ridiculous. Apparently walking at 5km /h is considered strenuous exercise for a bulldog. Disgusting that people have allowed the breed to get into that state.
DeleteMy border collie easily runs 1 km in less than 2 mins, he doesn't need a recovery time, and he's a lazy couch potato example of his breed.
All dogs should be made to run as a test and if they cannot run for at least 5 mins (30 would be better but I suspect this would kill a lot of breeds) then they should be out crossed until they can.
Dogs, from wolves, evolved to be running animals that wear down their prey by tireless chasing over many miles. It's sad that we've destroyed that in so little time to the point that we need a "fitness test" that amounts to something an 80year old granny would have no trouble doing...
Such good news,
ReplyDeleteI'd be more harsh and say if they needed a C-Section then they shouldn't have another litter.. but I would also prefer there weren't any brachy dogs at all. And that's probably a bit harsh.
I agree with you about C-sectioning. It's one thing to intervene with C-section as needed. But to have whole breeds of dog like bulldogs and Chihuahuas that are literally incapable of continuing without C-section? That makes no sense at all.
DeleteAs for brachycephalics, I don't think your comment is too harsh. Technically, there is a continuum from dolichocephalic on one end, to mesaticephalic in the middle, to brachycephalic on the other end. So, a dog can still be toward the brachycephalic end if the spectrum, but still look quite normal and do well. But we all know what we mean when we say "brachycephalic": dogs (and other animals) with faces that are too short and don't function properly. I really see no reason to continue such breeds at all, and I don't think that's too harsh.
No I don't think banning brachy breeds is harsh. It's a hideous deformity - breeding for it is in effect, breeding for a disability.
DeleteWho would willingly wish a disability on an innocent animal?
I think the owners and breeders of brachycephalic dogs and cats are disgusting people who are either too stupid to realise what they're doing or too cruel.
My grandfather was campaigning against brachys in the 50s and 60s. He was disgusted by it back then. Clearly from crufts pictures there's been no real improvement in all that time
DeleteMost young ( English) bulldogs could pass such a test and still be hopeless cripples at age 3-4. I know this from sad experience. The two bulldogs I owned ( some 25 years ago, long before they became popular in Holland) were very fit and 'healthy' up to two years of age. Then the problems came; damaged kneecaps, hotspots, interdigital cysts, dry-eye, breathing problems, ingrown tail, strokes.. Both these dogs came from highly respectable and recommended breeders and champion-lines. My bulldogs were extremely greathearted and lovable dogs. They were true friends in every sense of the word. They suffered miserably because of their looks. I felt deeply ashamed they had to suffer because I people ( including me) want them to look that way. I had to have them put to sleep at 7 and 6 years of age. You can not! breed an ( English) bulldog that is healthy. If you do your studies you will find out that this was already a very unhealthy breed around 1890.
ReplyDeleteYou forgot to mention the dysplastic hips and incongruent elbows....
DeleteIt is a step in the right direction, so celebrations and congratulations are in order. But the battle has just begun. The standards need to be changed more. Heads medium- large, muzzle medium-large, tail normal, nares NORMAl.
ReplyDeleteThe 'endurance test' is more of a "not yet dead" test, but it is better than nothing, and directs people to take notice.
"has a clear ECVO eye-test"no, only for KCS ( dry eyes syndrome... all other eyeproblems are permitted to breed with, I think this is a farce. it won't be a healthier.. this breed. all this things to little.
ReplyDelete