tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post8545272466127771764..comments2024-03-20T17:32:35.238+00:00Comments on Pedigree Dogs Exposed - The Blog: Basset Hounds - a requestJemima Harrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092892697145388048noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-29502719465049756222016-08-26T08:20:36.345+01:002016-08-26T08:20:36.345+01:00My Basset caught a Rabbit this morning with no tra...My Basset caught a Rabbit this morning with no training to do so over wooded terrain. She is only 8 months old so guess natural instinct that all dogs have or are we forgetting that fact with that long winded load of rubbish.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-52190184876070768882014-02-25T12:48:09.036+00:002014-02-25T12:48:09.036+00:00There is a Wonderful Book on the Wolfhound by Joel...There is a Wonderful Book on the Wolfhound by Joel Samaha, with several sections on judging and standards. In the case of the Wolfhound, one man Joseph Graham spend 23 years of his life re-developing the breed from which the current standard is nearly identical. The only disparity is a matter of the limitations of the human language and the meaning of the words as intended in the standard. Here with Bassets, there has been in essence at least two varieties from day 1, both of which deserve consideration as hunting hounds. I have an 80 lb athletic dog the just got 9 first place at a field trial who is well built large bone wrinkle - who was often dismissed as over done in the ring. His 76 lb brother has 3 NBQ and a 4th, and I dare say few bassets have his heart for maintaining a pace all day in the field. He was not overlooked in the ring, but took many placements behind many flat sided dogs with little type popularly promoted. Owners and breeder carry all abilities to do their best to breed the best bassets possible, judges don't have the right (consistent with Barbara Rupert) to choose color, bone, or type alone that varies inconsistently with the standard and the meaning of the standard. Based on the history of the breed and both the current standard and the previous standard, it's a hard sell to say that the Basset isn't a heavy wrinkled dog with large bone than any other breed (especially a Beagle), and is foremost a rabbit hunting hound. TY for the excellent dialog above. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-28277180766330106222011-05-03T08:56:59.709+01:002011-05-03T08:56:59.709+01:00Hi Don, Thats a very interesting extract from a bo...Hi Don, Thats a very interesting extract from a book I have never read. Although it does demonstrate the size and proportion of early dogs, I hope that breeders both here and in the US have improved on some of those points over the 130 years since print.<br /><br />I understood completely what was going on in the video by the way. It was just my sad attempt at a bit of humour!! I have spent some time on this blog now and in some cases, feel I'm engaged in a winless war!! The idea behind asking Jemima to start this thread was to try and educate people a little to the fact that this breed is by conseption, a large, heavy breed.<br /><br />I would like people to get over this first hurdle of what size and shape the breed should be. People should start looking at the finer points of construction, what GOOD breeders (Both Show and Hunt) have done for the breed and what we, the breeders can do to better the breed.<br /><br />Just a little note for Jemima. I have had a look at the new thread and the comparison of the 2 Bassets. Neither of those 2 would win in the ring these days!! The MASSIVELY overdone one is not a UK Champion Basset and would probably never even win a class here!! In this case I am in complete agreement with you about exaggeration and I think you would find just about all UK Breeders in total agreement too. The other dog wouldnt win these days either! Not because of he's less exaggerated though!! His front construction would not stand up against the more modern specimen. Not a single Judge I know would find that dog too "DRY". If he was to appear at a show, The casual observer may feel he was being penalised for lack of type but he would be penalised for his construction. I think its also fair to say that SOME judges would still put him up, regardless of his contruction, purely BECAUSE of his type.Dave Darleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-34916610535078543452011-04-28T00:28:22.517+01:002011-04-28T00:28:22.517+01:00For picture of basset hound hunting pack go to htt...For picture of basset hound hunting pack go to http://www.bhcsc.com/BHCSC/History_of_the_Breed.html and check out the photographs of Major Heseltine's packs from 1901 & 1912.Don Bullocknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-50000851361436116402011-04-27T21:48:10.714+01:002011-04-27T21:48:10.714+01:00If my research is correct, hunters who hunted with...If my research is correct, hunters who hunted with basset hounds used their bassets to drive small prey, such as rabbit and hare, from dense undercover into open terrain where hunters could move in for the kill with spears (shown below), nets or clubs.<br /><br />As for the video, Those bassets followed the trail very well from what I've been told. The red one took absolute in the Basset Hound of America/AKC sanctioned field trial, Ch. Tailgate Santana, son of Am/Can. DC. Tailgate Jada Luv, HH and "Sarge" Ch. Showtimes Shock and Awe one of the top basset hounds in the USA who won the BHCA Nationals.<br /><br />The following is an excerpt from the chapter on basset hounds in Cassell's Illustrated Book of the Dog published in 1881. This is perhaps the very first "Standard" for basset hounds in England. It’s very interesting to compare it to the current AKC Standard. Many of the characteristics that we breed for today are included.<br /><br />The Basset, for its size, has more bone, perhaps, than nearly any other dog. <br />The skull should be peaked like that of the Bloodhound, with the same dignity and expression, nose black (although some of my own have white about theirs), and well flewed. For the size of the hound, I think the teeth are extremely small. However, as they are not intended to destroy life, this is probably the reason. <br /><br />The ears should hang like the Bloodhound's, and are like the softest velvet drapery. <br /><br />The eyes are a deep brown, and are brimful of affection and intelligence. They are pretty deeply set, and should show a considerable haw. A Basset is one of those hounds incapable of having a wicked eye. <br /><br />The neck is long, but of great power ; and in the Basset a jambes torses the flews extend very nearly down to the chest. The chest is more expansive in the Basset than even in the Bulldog, and should in the Bassets d jainbes torses be not more than two inches from the ground. In the case of the Basset a jambcs demi-torses and jainbes droites, being generally lighter, their chests do not, of course, come so low. <br /><br />The shoulders are of great power, and terminate in the crooked feet of the Basset, which appear to be a mass of joints. The back and ribs are strong, and the former of great length. The stern is gaily carried like that of hounds in general, and when the hound is on the scent of game this portion of his body gets extremely animated, and tell me, in my own hounds, when they have struck a fresh or cold scent, and I even know when the foremost hound will give tongue. <br /><br />The hind-quarters are very strong and muscular, the muscles standing rigidly out down to the hocks.<br /><br />The skin is soft in the smooth-haired dogs, and like that of any other hound, but in the rough variety it is identical with that of the Otter-hound's. <br /><br />Colour, of course, is a matter of fancy, although I infinitely prefer the 'tricolour', which has a tan head and black-and-white body.Don Bullockhttp://www.woebgonbassets.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-6238022303661021162011-04-24T21:13:41.751+01:002011-04-24T21:13:41.751+01:00Hi All!
It was a bit of light hearted humour!! I...Hi All! <br />It was a bit of light hearted humour!! I didnt mean to kick off a SPEED debate!!! The breed is a tracking flushing dog predominantly!! And yes they are on short legs to allow hunters to keep up!! I did suggest the Briquet to Bodil earlier in this thread!! Nice Easter tale though Jackie!!<br /><br />Kate I'd like to see you keep up with the dogs in that video!! Especially for a sustained period. Another thing this breed is good for is stamina.Dave Darleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-63447750405778214272011-04-24T19:00:23.936+01:002011-04-24T19:00:23.936+01:00Can you hire bassets to hunt rabbits and hares?
If...Can you hire bassets to hunt rabbits and hares?<br />If so, make sure they are not charging an hourly rate.Kate Pricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12984661154425549615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-31216562245682605632011-04-24T15:59:47.636+01:002011-04-24T15:59:47.636+01:00Hi Jemima,
Well Fred would probably dispute your t...Hi Jemima,<br />Well Fred would probably dispute your theory about bassets not being fast enough to catch rabbits when they put their minds to it! What I meant was simply that it is not the traditional way of hunting with a basset hound! <br />NB One of the reasons why bassets became popular in the first place in hunting circles, is that hunters on foot are better able to keep up with them because of their short legs. As far as I know, Bassets are predominantly used for tracking, and "chasse à tir"; French hunters would have used either the "briquet" or the full-sized hounds of the species to chase and catch game (i.e. for "chasse à courre").Jackie Bearenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-66229398525296640472011-04-24T14:58:51.998+01:002011-04-24T14:58:51.998+01:00Jackie this is not basset instinct. It is DOG inst...Jackie this is not basset instinct. It is DOG instinct. My dogs - a real mix of everything from cocker/terrier to flatcoat to GSD x - do this every day on their walks, working as a collaborative team to surround and flush a copse. <br /><br />And if bassets don't catch prey, it is because they are not quick enough. Wild rabbits are particularly quick and nimble.<br /><br />JemimaJemima Harrisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05092892697145388048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-67393405163504455982011-04-24T14:53:24.373+01:002011-04-24T14:53:24.373+01:00Hello everybody!
Since it's Easter today, let ...Hello everybody!<br />Since it's Easter today, let me tell you a little anecdote about a rabbit, and 3 pet bassets, which had never been hunted before. <br />My husband and I used to own a pet rabbit called Fred who was an ace escapologist, and pretty hard to catch when he did (knowing how to play rugby was a definite requirement!). One day, when we were on holiday and my mother was bunny-sitting, he escaped from his outdoor run into my mother's large garden (4500 square meters). Before they could be restrained, three of my mother's bassets chased after him, and actually stopped him dead in the middle of her field in a matter of seconds. Without ever having been taught how to, the hounds used a kind of triangulation system to home in on him, and were perfectly coordinated in doing so! When he realised that there was no way for him to escape, the rabbit played possum, and finally escaped completely unscathed: all my very anxious mother had to do was to pick him up, and pop him back into his hutch.<br />By the way, Dave, bassets don't normally catch any prey (even though our senior bitch did once catch an unsuspecting town pigeon...): don't they just track the game down, and drive the animals out of hiding (hopefully towards the waiting hunter!)?Jackie Bearenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-13767604981444503992011-04-24T11:13:20.589+01:002011-04-24T11:13:20.589+01:00Hi Don, Jackie and Jemima.
I think "success ...Hi Don, Jackie and Jemima.<br /><br />I think "success in the field" may be a little strong!! Have you got a bit of video with the the dogs returning with a Hare draped fulornly in their mouths?? LOL. On a serious note though, They are fairly substantial dogs and that is their designated terrain!! They appear in no way incapacitated and by the looks of their energy, it may have taken a bit of time to get them back!! I know the likes of Bodil will find this Bespoke Dog for Bespoke quarry and terrain consept a little hard to accept, but thats how this dog and most French Hunting Dogs were consieved.<br /><br />To feedback to Don, I asked Jemima to post this picture for just that purpose. I wanted to try and demonstrate that the breed has always been a Full Size, Heavy Dog on Dwarf legs, but we are a lot sounder today!!<br /><br />The big argument is that Jemima prefers the transitional Basset Hound of the 60's and 70's when we lost bone and substance due to the out crossing to the Artesien in the late 40's and early 50's. I meerly used these 2 photo's to demonstrate that pre Umela De Barly (Artesien) the Basset Hound was the same size and weight as the "so called" modern Show Basset!!Dave Darleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-83151943566471954222011-04-24T08:18:12.862+01:002011-04-24T08:18:12.862+01:00Well, no offence, but how does this video illustra...Well, no offence, but how does this video illustrate "success in the field"? <br /><br />JemimaJemima Harrisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05092892697145388048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-58446592420204340922011-04-24T08:07:24.368+01:002011-04-24T08:07:24.368+01:00Hello Don!
Thanks for posting that videao. Did I b...Hello Don!<br />Thanks for posting that videao. Did I by any chance recognise Sarge and Sandy?Jackie Bearenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-41090101121126557912011-04-24T02:55:25.773+01:002011-04-24T02:55:25.773+01:00Hi,
It's very interesting that you chose that ...Hi,<br />It's very interesting that you chose that particular picture from 1880 to illustrate your points. If you look closely, really don't have to look too close, two of the basset hounds in that picture are knuckled over in the front. This condition appears in many of the early French basset hound illustrations. Today, at least in the USA, this joint problem is a disqualification.<br /><br />As for Champion basset hounds not being able to be successful in the field check out the following video clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIUFhj_4ah8&feature=shareDon Bullockhttp://www.woebgonbassets.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-77213586150088463062011-04-23T07:13:34.216+01:002011-04-23T07:13:34.216+01:00Morning All,
I love people like Anon that just co...Morning All,<br /><br />I love people like Anon that just come on here to cause trouble!! Which ever side of the fence you lie. I think Jemima's work was very important Bodil but maybe a little misdirected in places. I caught the KC with its pants down but by doing so caused Knee Jerk reactions. We should all be trying to improve our breeds, but as we have previously discussed, it might not be improvements how you see it!!<br />Jackie speaks a lot of sense and is very well read!! She has a good history in this breed going back through her mother. I think we both have similar goals on this thread to try and balance up the argument a little.Dave Darleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-30447374222060825292011-04-22T22:12:22.462+01:002011-04-22T22:12:22.462+01:00Dear Anonymous,
What can you mean? Somebody here s...Dear Anonymous,<br />What can you mean? Somebody here says quite stringently that it was a very good and necessary thing that Jemima produced a film full of inaccuracies - the polite word, I believe, for those terminoligical inexactitudes also called lies; that it totally lacked fairness and chose to pillary dogs. :-)<br />Well, it was a necessary film because it will make us improve our breeds, seeing everybody has been doing just that for so very long, and did I hear a "contradictory in terms" somewhere too? :-)))Bodil Carlssonhttp://collievaenner.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-45411027169583067762011-04-22T20:57:37.228+01:002011-04-22T20:57:37.228+01:00Middle ground fallacy!Middle ground fallacy!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-33946759191045489532011-04-22T15:13:37.141+01:002011-04-22T15:13:37.141+01:00Dear Jemima,
Apart from being mildly flattering, y...Dear Jemima,<br />Apart from being mildly flattering, your research concerning my background is almost correct: the Devil, as they say, lies in small details ;-)) The affix, which I have shared with my mother since the end of 2008, is in fact "New Bellecombe"! <br />Please note that I most certainly didn't wish to induce anybody into confusion by omitting any personal details, and still consider myself, first and foremost, to be someone who has loved Basset Hounds for over 30 years and who wishes to preserve them for future generations of dog-lovers!<br />Now that my record has been set straight, please allow me to thank you here for giving the dog world a necessary electroshock with your programme "Pedigree Dogs Exposed". What a shame that it contained so many inaccuracies and polemical aspects, and that it totally lacked fairness towards the majority of honest breeders of those pedigree dogs which you summarily chose to pillory... Despite these failings, I still believe that it was a necessary thing to do, and that it will, in the long run, enable us to improve our respective breeds. <br />Please just bear in mind that most breeders (and also most judges...) do their utmost to breed, and to promote the production of healthy puppies, capable of fulfilling their original function; they also did just that many years before your programme was aired, and well-before the latest changes which the KC hastily made to the breed standard, some of which I personally consider to be contradictory in terms, as well as unnecessary, since the original text already included many calls to moderation regarding certain breed features! When a pendulum moves too far in one direction, it will usually also swing back too far in the opposite one: with time, I just hope that we will find a way of reconciling these positions somewhere down the middle with the aid of a little common sense!Jackie Bearenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-15295346516822400372011-04-22T11:20:41.476+01:002011-04-22T11:20:41.476+01:00Just another afterthought about the KC's healt...Just another afterthought about the KC's health report: the first health concern listed for basset hounds was one you didn't mention, Kate, i.e. character. This also cropped up for other breeds in the report, and is definitely one of dog world's main concerns over here on the Continent, following some serious accidents involving aggressive dogs. It certainly merits attention in all breeds, although I wouldn't have thought that Basset Hounds were prime candidates for improvement in that respect... For your info, the Swiss KC has made it compulsory for all breeding stock of all pedigree breeds to pass a breed-specific character test, as part of the breeding selection process. I just wish that the same were true for crossbreeds, mongrels and other non-recognised Muppets! It's also a shame that there are no really effective ways of controlling the environment in which puppies at large are socialised, as the environment plays a major role in the formation of a dog's character.Jackie Bearenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-5189077518733707492011-04-22T11:12:11.031+01:002011-04-22T11:12:11.031+01:00Jackie, for the issue concerning the shaving/depil...Jackie, for the issue concerning the shaving/depilation of the Chinese Crested, please see:<br /><br />http://pedigreedogsexposed.blogspot.com/2011/01/bald-truth-about-chinese-crested.html<br /><br />And it is a little misleading to refer to yourself "As simply a member of the public, and a basset fan since over 30 years"? <br /><br />You are Basset breeder (Bellacombe Bassets) and a show judge.<br /><br />JemimaJemima Harrisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05092892697145388048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-65819953804715236262011-04-22T11:01:47.362+01:002011-04-22T11:01:47.362+01:00Hi Kate, Hi Dave,
I'm afraid that you have pre...Hi Kate, Hi Dave,<br />I'm afraid that you have pre-empted me on that answer Dave: I fully concur with your response, and am delighted that you put the record straight about the health assessment of those 15 "high-profile" breeds by explaining what actually happened, and allowing us access to your views as a participant. I would add that I found the resulting report from the KC very unclear in many ways: no small wonder, if the judges' comments were somehow distorted, and if, as you say, the veterinary experts may have had no practical experience whatsoever in the breeds they were monitoring... It is therefore not surprising that you misinterpreted it the report's conclusions, Kate! As a simply member of the public, and a basset fan since over 30 years, there were a number of strange things that caught my attention when I first read the KC's report, and somehow brought the smell of rats to mind: one of these was was the fact that the report mentioned knuckling over as one of the Basset's health issues. Now the breed certainly does have some health issues which need our attention, but this is definitely no longer one of them. It may have been true in the breed's distant past, prompting the authors of the "old" breed standard to include it as an eliminatory fault, but it has definitely become very rare nowadays in the showring (and also outside it!), thanks to what the serious breeders worldwide have done to solve it. This is one of the points which started me thinking; the second one is the conspicuous absence of any information about the actual incidence of the points listed as issues in the various breeds, compared to the sample size (NB: which is also undivulged!). How many dogs of each breed were actually tested, and how many actually failed the test? Until these elements have been disclosed, the KC's report's findings must alas be considered with some caution as a means of extrapolating on the breed's overall health! It would be interesting to find out what the other 14 "high-profile" breeds have to say about it...<br />By the way, I believe that the KC started out with 14 such breeds, and then added-on the Chinese Crested as an afterthought, because there had been some cheating on the part of certain exhibitors who had shaved their exhibits. Perhaps someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but if my assumption holds true, then that is a definite medical first !!! I certainly didn't know that shaving constituted a health hasard!!! Luckily my man sports a beard...Jackie Bearenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-50931608160212574142011-04-21T19:35:52.048+01:002011-04-21T19:35:52.048+01:00Hi Jackie and Kate,
I’m a little aggrieved with t...Hi Jackie and Kate,<br /><br />I’m a little aggrieved with those results. As one of the 2010 Judges that contributed to that survey, I would have liked Judges comments published as they were written. Those are very Broad Brush statements and it does not quantify what the Judge meant. For instance, I did mention Loose Skin and Height from the Ground but not in a derogatory way. Loose Skin and Height from the Ground are not Health issues. However if they said Infected Loose skin and so low they were lame, that’s another thing completely.<br /><br />As for Observers, that’s a completely different issue. Just about every observer last year was not a Qualified Basset Hound Judge. They in no way touched or assessed the dogs, they simply sat and observed. I have no problem whats so ever being observed while I judge but they should be qualified in the breed they are observing and assess the dogs properly. If necessary, they should discuss their findings with the Judge concerned. I would go one step further and invite my observer into the ring with me and welcome them to touch anything they wanted.<br /><br />On the subject of should we be on the 15 High Profile Breeds list. That’s the 22 million dollar question I asked Jemima to start this thread for!! I believe we are on this list because the KC Knee Jerked to Jemima’s program despite the fact that, in comparison to the other breeds featured, she had very little to say about the HEALTH of our breed. I’ve watched the program 19 times now and Jemima’s biggest gripes were all TYPE related and predominantly because she doesn’t personally like that TYPE of Basset Hound.<br /><br />I believe that the KC are quite happy with their 15 named breeds. As a numerically low breed we are no trouble for them to have on there. I believe your common Retriever has more ACTUAL HEALTH ISSUES but there is no way on gods earth they will appear on that list because they contribute hundreds of thousands to the coffers of the KC in registration fees!! Easy to affect our registrations, they only loose a couple of thousand quid. I’m not saying some of the breeds on there are not justified!! But I think ALL breeds should be monitored at ALL times. At the moment, as its stands, the KC have no intention of taking breeds off that list because it would have to spend money researching the next breed to take its place. At the moment if it has a Sacrificial 15, people like Jemima are put off the scent of the other 200 odd breeds!!!! Do you know it publishes no guidelines on how to get off this list and has no league table!! There is no way of telling whether you are up for Promotion or who is in the Relegation Zone!! The reason is they are quietly not monitoring any other breeds!! Its costs money!!<br /><br />At the moment ONLY the 15 breeds on the list have to be Vet Checked at shows. GOOD!! But I believe ALL breeds should be Vet Checked at shows. You are on the Continent!! I did the World Show a few years ago and 2 vets were waiting for you as you went through the entrance and again at the Dutch Breed Club Show the following day!! If that list was based on vets clinical findings in show stock, we would not be in the top 15!!Dave Darleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-37638129448194978612011-04-21T08:18:55.003+01:002011-04-21T08:18:55.003+01:00Jackie,
why do you think bassets are one of the 15...Jackie,<br />why do you think bassets are one of the 15 high profile breeds?<br />Do you think they should be?Kate Pricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12984661154425549615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-1092252319930165302011-04-20T18:46:56.261+01:002011-04-20T18:46:56.261+01:00It is indeed interesting, but needs to be placed i...It is indeed interesting, but needs to be placed in its proper context: the judges actually gave the Basset Hounds a very good overall note of 3.5 pts for describing their apparent health and well-being (on a scale ranging from 4.0 = excellent to 1 = poor), which placed them in 3rd position out of 15! The health "observers" monitoring the same items in the same 15 "high-profile" breeds (i.e. in principle qualified vets!) were a little more severe in their assessment for every one of the breeds considered, but basset hounds still did pretty well compared to the others with a final result of 3.0 points, placing them in 5th position... Unfortunately, the K.C.'s report doesn't indicate the number of specimens which were monitored for each breed, nor does it mention the number of cases in which those health concerns you mentioned were effectively detected, other than to state that "eyes" had been mentioned more than 5 times for bassets (NB by the way, this was also the case for several other breeds...). We therefore don't know if the tests were in fact representative of the breed's average state of health or not... It also seems pretty obvious to me that the judges, who knew that they were being monitored and would be called to account, would mention all the points which had recently been changed in the breed standard by the KC, if only to show the world at large that they were paying attention to those issues. The fact that the "monitors" were paid by the KC and knew that their findings would later be scrutinised might also explain their apparent severity compared to the judges. One cannot help wondering what the results of the test would have been if the monitoring had been done more discreetly... <br /><br />PS: I note with pleasure that neither the judges, nor the helath experts mentioned the length of leathers as being an issue.Jackie Bearenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-44358471065796998382011-04-20T06:37:44.420+01:002011-04-20T06:37:44.420+01:00Interesting to see the KC's 2010 health report...Interesting to see the KC's 2010 health report.<br />Specific issues judges found in basset hounds include;<br /><br />" loose skin, eyes*, knuckling over, too low to ground"Kate Pricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12984661154425549615noreply@blogger.com