tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post8965136073686472233..comments2024-03-20T17:32:35.238+00:00Comments on Pedigree Dogs Exposed - The Blog: Bravo Mr FooteJemima Harrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092892697145388048noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-49145377910200117542017-02-27T11:51:21.352+00:002017-02-27T11:51:21.352+00:00I own a smooth coated Chihuahua Ballybrook from Mr...I own a smooth coated Chihuahua Ballybrook from Mr Graham Foote and her name was Sally but when I bought her from him I re-named her Lottie. If Graham reads these comments I'm unsure as the last one is 2013 so 4 years on, but if he does read them or anyone thinking of buying a chihuahua especially from him the BEST breeder and I have 3 dogs now. Lottie is now 14 and half years old, still going strong, blind in one eye due to age and nothing else. I did everything he advised me to do which is 1) do not over feed her. 2) Keep her teeth very clean and regular dental scaling at the vets 3) Don't spoil her and be strict. We have enjoyed her and she has been the best girl ever, spayed because she was a pet not a show dog or breeding bitch. Even though she is blind maybe even a bit deaf i love her with all my heart, she had a sister called Gucci I don't know if she is still with us, but my daughter also has chihuahuas and its a breed next to Affenpinscher & Yorkies we love. My beautiful Lottie will never be forgotten ever. Mr Foote has always been on the end of the phone about anything regarding her health. I will try and upload a photo of her.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00088760829606248282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-59123690629072107542013-03-25T15:04:55.535+00:002013-03-25T15:04:55.535+00:00Mr Foote sounds like a wonderful breeder who is ju...Mr Foote sounds like a wonderful breeder who is just what the breed needs. But I do have to wonder why you should imply it is bad for him to show his asymptomatic dog with a positive diagnosis when he is being so responsible and not breeding from it? It's not the dog show that's the problem -- it's just a beauty contest for dogs -- but it's the significance some breeders and exhibitors place upon it. In any other competitive venue, such as obedience or agility, I do not think many people would claim a dog with a medical condition that is not causing it pain or problems in the activity, should not do it. If he enjoys showing and his dog's medical condition isn't causing a problem and he's being responsible about his breeding practices, good for him!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-80402169718934677212013-03-12T22:36:01.167+00:002013-03-12T22:36:01.167+00:00I am a cavalier owner but I would like to respond ...I am a cavalier owner but I would like to respond to this comment. I do not know all the details of what the chihuahua clubs have done but I noticed some time ago a health alert about SM in the breed on the chihuahua club of America page. I was very impressed they actually listed a champion that sm was found (I imagine this was Mr. Foote's). Not only that but I've seen a lot being done. If you look at the CM/SM BVA KC results (excuse me if it is called something else) but the number submitted is 2nd to cavaliers. I was very impressed and expect to see possitive steps forward.<br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-3684890678436347012013-03-11T17:57:25.140+00:002013-03-11T17:57:25.140+00:00What's also impressive about Mr Foote is that ...What's also impressive about Mr Foote is that MRI scans, even under the BVA/KC scheme, are not cheap at £250 each. Scan 10 dogs and you've paid £2,500 just to test your dogs. <br /><br />I find it very sad that more toy breeds are being diagnosed with prevalent SM and breeders like Mr Foote are having to sort the mess out. I applaud him for his dedication and integrity - it would have been so easy (and far cheaper!) to have turned a blind eye. Frannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-26033832863478889642013-03-11T17:17:56.576+00:002013-03-11T17:17:56.576+00:00I would like to applaud Mr. Foote as well.
I woul...I would like to applaud Mr. Foote as well. <br />I would also like to point out that this is a breeder who deserves support. If you are looking for a high-end chi, this is the waiting list you want to be on. If you'd ever consider "sponsoring" a show champion, this is who you should support. And because "names" & "reputations" mean a lot to the judges, this is the breeder you want to talk about in glowing tones, and whose dogs you want to admire on every forum you can think of. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-50374245055455440082013-03-11T12:29:45.130+00:002013-03-11T12:29:45.130+00:00I disagree that it would have been more appropriat...I disagree that it would have been more appropriate, for I value the chance to read Mr Foote's response. It would however be interesting to know if the person "in Chihuahuas" is a breeder and if they themselves are scanning their own dogs? I'd also like to know what The British Chihuahua Club plans to approach this subject? Guess we shall have to watch and wait?<br /><br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-35206963711142605452013-03-11T11:59:40.574+00:002013-03-11T11:59:40.574+00:00Let us hope that ALL Chihuahua breeders follow thi...Let us hope that ALL Chihuahua breeders follow this gentleman's fine example and get their dogs scanned too ... AND let the public see the results. Breeders of Chihuahuas and all breeds of course, should be breeding primarily for health and temperament, standard should come after this. Come on Chihuahua breeders, do the decent thing and let's see you ALL scanning and being open about the results and while you are at at it, get your dogs hearts and knees tested please. The KC may not require these tests, but the Breed Club should be advocating and encouraging it, given the health issues in the breed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-16925928516688929922013-03-10T12:59:07.872+00:002013-03-10T12:59:07.872+00:00Congratulations MR Foote. I think it would have be...Congratulations MR Foote. I think it would have been more appropriate to publish the name of the informant than the details of these obviously dedicated breeder who is doing all he can to benefit the health of the breed.wendyhttp://www.ramsgrovebeardie.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-42441366082116576742013-03-10T12:56:39.221+00:002013-03-10T12:56:39.221+00:00Well done indeed Mr Foote. I think it would have b...Well done indeed Mr Foote. I think it would have been better to expose the name of the informant than the details of a breeder who is obviously dedicated to doing his very best.wendyhttp://www.ramsgrovebeardie.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-4400462185350065282013-03-09T22:35:10.174+00:002013-03-09T22:35:10.174+00:00They never have a problem removing dogs from the g...They never have a problem removing dogs from the gene pool for mismarkings or other cosmetic " faults" <br />You only need to look at how much Awful thick coat cavaliers have now to see that dogs with the old silky light feathering have been removed from the gene pool.<br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-35011548278829906622013-03-09T19:03:58.152+00:002013-03-09T19:03:58.152+00:00Yes, Margaret, I agree with you. Until breeders re...Yes, Margaret, I agree with you. Until breeders recognize that their extremely fearful attitudes come out of the principles of eugenics, it will be true. But, at the moment most people, let alone breeders, do not even have a clue that purebreeding dogs is a form of eugenics, as well as scientifically unsound. Doggie eugenics is as fully discredited as creationism or intelligent design. No wonder AKC registrations keep falling so fast only the giant puppy farms, excuse me, corporate dog breeders’, registrations are what keep the revenues flowing in. <br /><br />Eliminating the SM gene is not the way to go, it is just more eugenics. Instead, heterogeneity must be restored to the point that the SM gene or genes have little likelihood of pairing up. All those bad recessives stay buried except in statistically minute numbers when there is enough heterogeneity.<br /><br />I lost my fear of radical outcrossing by observing Bruce Cattanach’s experiment giving boxers the bobtails of corgis. The experiment did not work out for other reasons, but what it shows is that two very disparate dog breeds can be crossed, and by proper selection for 3 generations, will produce bobtailed boxers who conform to the boxer standard. Granted there are a lot of pet quality dogs during those 3 generations, but by the 4th generation, there will be dogs indistinguishable by looks alone from the original stock. <br /><br />If this is what happens between a corgi and a boxer, it should be possible to use any breed or dog that has some needed genes to get those genes into another breed by virtually any outcross. It will be messy for a few generations with lots of pet quality pups, but back breeding will restore the phenotype, complete with the needed genes. There is no need for the extreme fear and tension so many breeders display at the thought of an outcross.<br /><br />Perhaps the kind of genetic study being done on the two types of sled racing dogs, sprinters and distance runners, is a model for every other breed to use. Only a certain number of genes identifies a breed, the other genes do not affect looks or function, so should retain a certain level of heterogeneity which can be determined by the same kinds of tests used on the sled dogs. <br /><br />But purebreeders will have to use science instead of eugenics to get their breeds out of trouble.<br />Kate Whttp://www.techichi.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-875299451397356652013-03-09T17:02:24.059+00:002013-03-09T17:02:24.059+00:00Margaret this is very sad isn't it, we have th...Margaret this is very sad isn't it, we have the evidence in this country all ready that this will work with the Dalmatian (whose name has slipped my memory) in a few generations you have exactly the same dog but without illness it seems like pure madness to me not to outcrossing to something like the cocker spaniel (similar dog) do people really care more about the red rosette, ticket and title???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-78925031118577294462013-03-09T13:00:06.060+00:002013-03-09T13:00:06.060+00:00Kate W,
Thank you for the lecture. In it you repe...Kate W,<br /><br />Thank you for the lecture. In it you repeated one of the excuses cavalier breeders give for continuing to breed with dogs that have not been MRI'd for SM:<br /><br />"There is always the possibility that ridding a population of the genes that cause SM will also take away related genetic material that helps the immune system, or who knows what" <br /><br />I struggle with the idea that it is deemed better to let cavaliers increasingly suffer with an extremely painful inherited condition just in case removing affected dogs from the gene pool throws up some other problem.<br /><br />You have the possible solution:<br /><br />"What is needed is an enrichment of fresh genes that would decrease the statistical occurrence of two bad recessives meeting up in a dog."<br /><br />Unfortunately Hell will need to be freezing over before breeders of purebred dogs seriously consider outcrossing to another breed as a solution and the Kennel Club does not initiate these programmes unless the breed club requests help. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br />Margaret Carternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-62807596358488347442013-03-09T06:12:56.225+00:002013-03-09T06:12:56.225+00:00They do allow neutered dogs, just alot of judges j...They do allow neutered dogs, just alot of judges just wont place one without over one with.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-59473441107432216912013-03-09T01:34:36.779+00:002013-03-09T01:34:36.779+00:00Anonymous shoudl get the fact right you can show a...Anonymous shoudl get the fact right you can show a neutered dog by either asking permissions from the KC (and I have never heard them turn down a request) or you can just do it if the dog has sired a puppy/litter, the same rules apply to bitches too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-53667699437899951682013-03-09T01:16:17.358+00:002013-03-09T01:16:17.358+00:00Watching the toy group tonight and seeing the Grif...Watching the toy group tonight and seeing the Griffons beforehand...I didn't realise just how flat faced they were. The shape of some skulls were horrendous. Very sad indeed! Noticed it more on the smooth coated Griffon...it's kinda hidden on the longer coated type.Annie Macfarlanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-5774799439921620572013-03-09T01:14:08.520+00:002013-03-09T01:14:08.520+00:00They allow speyed bitches and there is no rule to ...They allow speyed bitches and there is no rule to say a dog cannot be shown that is neutered. You get permission from the KC. The only thing is that the dog won't have the 2 testicles so won't really stand a chance of winning. I did think the whole purpose of dog showing was to show the best of the best for breeding purposes but some people just enjoy doing it. Well done Mr Foote. The sad thing is that even when he is so honest there are people out there still trying to "get" him. Wonder if the "informant" has scanned their dogs?Annie Macfarlanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-19287848469412118062013-03-08T23:38:39.740+00:002013-03-08T23:38:39.740+00:00Good for you Mr Foote
Having lost a Cavalier to S...Good for you Mr Foote<br /><br />Having lost a Cavalier to SM at the age of 5 I can only applaude your efforts and wish that other breeders had the same morals and sense of responsibility,<br />Thank you for showing the way Dixybluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15366570316247933813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-53385282731204349162013-03-08T22:00:07.748+00:002013-03-08T22:00:07.748+00:00The stated reason for disallowing neutered dogs is...The stated reason for disallowing neutered dogs is that shows are supposed to be for evaluating breeding stock. If that is the case, then dogs that are not meant to be bred should not be participating as well. Otherwise they should allow neutered dogs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-57828757796054458322013-03-08T21:02:47.926+00:002013-03-08T21:02:47.926+00:00That would be an idea for a third video, one looki...That would be an idea for a third video, one looking for solutions through breeders like Mr. Foote... <br /><br />Mr Foote ought to be acknowledged in a documentary for his openness and foresight. Other Mr. Footes could be found and interviewed. (There are some, aren't there?) Perhaps just the fact of featuring one honest breeder after another sharing their perceptions and plans for the good of their breeds could help others with similar issues come out in more public manner and use the knowledge of genetics that is available today.<br /><br />Now my lecture:<br />It is time all kennel and breed clubs begin to face the underlying problem of all purebred dogs, the closed registry, a registry with too few founding individuals to be able to compensate for genetic drift and losing genes every generation - in addition to the genes lost by breeder selection to fix traits. <br /><br />Heck, when this closed registry thing began, no one even knew what genetic drift was. How many breeders know what it is today? Yet, genetic drift has been weeding out genes in any breed's gene pool since the founding registries closed and there is currently no way to get the heterogeneity in most any breed back without radical outcrossing. <br /><br />In fact, the kind of breeding being practicing in a closed registry is a doggie form of eugenics that everyone thought was good, back then, when the kc and breed clubs started showing in the last 150 years. Since then, breed after breed has fallen to the perils of losing too much heterogeneity, with no way to get it back. Weeding out more and more individuals who carry bad genes just decreases the genepool more.<br /><br />What is needed is an enrichment of fresh genes that would decrease the statistical occurrence of two bad recessives meeting up in a dog. <br /><br />Virtually all the genetic defects now showing up as the result of a closed genepool are in the wolf populations from which dogs arose. And often, one copy of a gene is protective. It is just that in wolves are so heterogeneous, mutts, really, that the statistical chance of two bad recessives meeting up is vanishingly tiny. It is only when too much heterogeneity is lost in the quest for fixing recessive traits, that the statistical odds of doubling bad recessives in a mating becomes far more likely.<br /><br />There is always the possibility that ridding a population of the genes that cause SM will also take away related genetic material that helps the immune system, or who knows what. We just do not know how most of those genes work when they are single and deeply buried in the genome until inbreeding-linebreeding, the closed genepool double them up.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />. Kate Whttp://www.techichi.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-83595748657304145972013-03-08T20:42:11.334+00:002013-03-08T20:42:11.334+00:00To mr. Foote, first: thank you! Wish there were ma...To mr. Foote, first: thank you! Wish there were many more breeders like you, in all breeds.<br /><br />To Jemima - where is the harm in showing a dog diagnosed with SM, as long as the dog is the only one who doesn´t know that? If the dog is asymptomatic, and will never be bred from for reasons made known to everybody, as long as the dog and Mr Foote enjoy showing - let them! <br />Showing dogs is harmless. It´s the consequences of showing with no regard for the health of the dog and breed and no regard for truthfulness that does the harm. Good work, Graham Foote!Bodil Carlssonhttp://collievaenner.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-87621867109438857502013-03-08T20:12:55.129+00:002013-03-08T20:12:55.129+00:00Outstanding breeder! The world needs more like him...Outstanding breeder! The world needs more like him!Frannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-23531407487070672162013-03-08T20:00:16.490+00:002013-03-08T20:00:16.490+00:00I happened to be ringside whilst the CKCS were bei...I happened to be ringside whilst the CKCS were being shown today. I was watching this dog in the puppy class keep scratching at his neck - on and on and on. All I could think was, OMG does that dog have SM?Frannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-34580347061572208182013-03-08T17:07:38.612+00:002013-03-08T17:07:38.612+00:00Great breeder, a inspiration and role model for ot...Great breeder, a inspiration and role model for others :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1183957703077342201.post-17368287196993398522013-03-08T13:01:50.380+00:002013-03-08T13:01:50.380+00:00A truly great breeder in so many ways. Perhaps the...A truly great breeder in so many ways. Perhaps the Chihuahua breed has a chance with someone like Mr Foote leading by example. <br /><br />I wish there had been someone of similar standing in Cavaliers, willing to put the future of the breed first, when SM was first identified in our lovely dogs. Margaret Carternoreply@blogger.com