Aren't you hungry?

A thank you to Julius K9 for this. A great cartoon from a company that makes some of the best dog harnesses in the world.. as my rescue English Setter, Monday (a refugee from the island of Kos) is happy to testify.

CRUFFA writes to the AKC

I was shocked to be forwarded this image, currently embedded in emails being sent out by the American Kennel Club to those registering a new pup.

You really would never see the Kennel Club in the UK using a Pug like this in their marketing these days because of greater awareness about exaggerations. So... some small progress.

As some of you will know, I have started a new initiative called CRUFFA, currently in soft-launch mode (essentially waiting for me to be find the time to develop it/build a website).

CRUFFA stands for the Campaign for the Responsible Use of Flat-Faced Animals (in media/marketing/advertising) and I ping off emails/messages to companies that have used poor examples of brachycephalic dogs to make them aware of the issues. The aim is for the emails to be a gentle nudge, rather than a sledgehammer.

It was a little hard to know how to approach the AKC re this one - but I felt strongly enough to want to try.  Let me know how you think I did.

Here's what I wrote to Brandi Hunter, the AKC's Director of PR.

Dear Brandi Hunter 

I am writing in response to this image, which the AKC is currently using on registration emails.

The Campaign for the Responsible Use of Flat-Faced Animals (CRUFFA) was born out of  concern over the increasing use of Pugs, Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and other 'brachycephalic' breeds used in advertising, marketing and the media - especially the use of more exaggerated examples of these breeds.  This of course reflects their current popularity - but also helps fuel demand. 

While many people find flat-faced breeds cute,  you will be aware they can suffer from health problems as a direct result of having been bred with a very short muzzle/wrinkling.  

CRUFFA does not seek to ban the use of images of Pugs, Bulldogs and French Bulldogs in the media; preferring to educate, suggest alternatives and to promote the use of a healthier phenotype - e.g Pugs, Frenchies and Bulldogs that have good eyes, less wrinkling, wide-open nostrils and are not overweight.   

We believe that the use of more moderate dogs in the media/advertising/marketing will help influence the popular “template” for the breed, increasing the demand for less-exaggerated dogs.  Our sincere hope is that this will lead to improved quality of life for these breeds. 

This Pug, for instance, has much more moderate features than the one in your image while still being undeniably a Pug. 

We would appreciate greatly if this is something you could bear in mind in the future. 

Please feel free to pass this on to anyone within the AKC responsible for marketing/advertising/media. 

Yours sincerely 

Jemima Harrison

CRUFFA
(Campaign for the Responsible Use of Flat-Faced Animals) 

 And I got a near-instant response, which is very nice.

Click to enlarge

I'm sure they think I'm being cheeky. But,hopefully, it will be something they will take into consideration in future.

REVEALED: the GSD sequence that was cut from PDE2...

This sequence never made it into Pedigree Dogs Exposed: Three Years On which was broadcast in 2012.

The reason? There was a lot of great material vying for the space and it wasn't as strong as other sequences. But it seems timely to release it, for three reasons.

The first is, obviously, that GSDs are in the news following Crufts 2016.

The second is that it captures rather neatly the prevailing view from within the breed that outside critics are ignorant.

And the third is that I hear that GSD breeder David Payne, featured here (Videx GSDs), bans people from one GSD forum he helps administrate if they so much as mention my name.

As you can see, though, he was perfectly happy to be interviewed for the sequel (indeed it was quite a fun, sparky interview) and he was much meaner to me than I was to him...

Meanwhile in the Philippines...

Wait until they start gaiting.

Kennel Club announces new template for the German Shepherd

I am not sure if Britney is a purebred shep. I suspect there's collie in there. But wouldn't it be special if today's show-bred German Shepherds looked and could perform like this.

The headline?

Wishful thinking.

British Veterinary Association: statement re Crufts

The British Veterinary Association today issued a statement expressing concern about some of the decisions made by judges at this year's Crufts - and says it is looking forward to hearing more from the Kennel Club about how it will address the issues.

The statement in full:

"We share the concerns expressed by members of the public regarding some of the decisions made by judges at this year's Crufts. Improving the health and welfare of dogs is a key priority for BVA and its members, and the current debate highlights the importance of responsible breeding to optimise the health and welfare of  our dog population.

"The remit of vets at Crufts is to assess the health of the dogs through hands on examinations, while decisions about conformation are the preserve of the judges. We look forward to hearing more  from the Kennel Club about how it will work with judges to address existing protocols and the guidelines referred to when making their decisions. 

"In their day to day work vets see first-hand the tragic consequences that can result from poor breeding, as owners are faced with serious and avoidable health problems in their new pets. Anybody thinking of getting a dog must make sure that they understand the potential breed-related health problems. If members of the public are keen to purchase a specific breed we would urge that they should only buy from responsible breeders who have carried out the appropriate health tests on the parenys before they are bred from. By collectively taking responsibility when buying a puppy, downloading the AWF/RSPCA puppy contract and using it to ask the right questions, owners can ensure they come home with a happy and healthy pet and help improve the health and welfare of our dog population."

LEAKED LETTER: KC downplays Crufts furore to members

It's been a grim Crufts for the Kennel Club - with the scandal over that German Shepherd  and that Pekingese continuing to reverberate in the UK and abroad.

But, in a letter sent to to  Kennel Club members last week, KC Chairman Simon Luxmoore describes this year's show as a "quite marvellous event". He also refers to the fuss as "one or two breed specific issues" and insists that he "neither overheard nor received a negative comment" as he walked round the show.

Now, of course there are good things about Crufts. (In fact, I'd go so far as to say that it's all good - other than what Luxmoore describes as "our shop floor" - the breed rings.) And I can understand the KC wanting to put a positive spin on things. But did Luxmoore even stop to think how the cursory dismissal of the worst PR the KC has received since Pedigree Dogs Exposed would look when this letter leaked, as it surely would?

The letter in full.

Dear Fellow Member 

I thought it appropriate to give you a brief update on a number of issues prior to our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 17th May. 

Firstly, I would like to reflect on Crufts 2016 which, barring one or two 'breed specific' issues, which will be addressed by the Board in the coming weeks, I believe was a quite marvellous event with many highlights, and expertly delivered by both Gerald King and Vanessa McAlpine, and their respective teams. With over 160,000 visitors and a peak television viewing audience of almost three million people, more than in any previous year, I felt that the NEC staff, our press and media teams performed with great credit. 

We enjoyed a very successful 'royal' visit on Saturday, 12th March and I can report that our President, Prince Michael of Kent, in the company of Princess Michael, thoroughly enjoyed the time they spent with us. 

Everyone who participated will have their own highlights but I wanted to share my top three with you. Together with my wife, Pauline, we attended the Junior Handling Association's International dinner prior to the competition the following day. At this dinner, each of the 45 competitors from 45 different countries took the microphone and spoke about themselves, their pride and pleasure in being at Crufts and wished each other the very best of luck in the competition – “eye watering”, I can assure you. Secondly, the sight of 9 year old Lauren Bridges on taking Group 4 in the Pastoral Group with her Samoyed and then marching forward to congratulate those in front of her was memorable. I would suggest these two events themselves give us great hope for the future. Thirdly, the many 'activity' events which adorn the arena, the YKC arena, and elsewhere for what seems like an eternity, cannot go unmentioned. Whilst 'Pudsey's' win in the medium-sized dog agility championship brought me special pleasure, there was a host of other top level competition which was not only mouth-watering in its content but ran like clockwork. 

Last but not least, on the many miles I walked around the rings 'our shop floor' over the four days, I neither overheard nor received a negative comment. Everyone appeared very upbeat and we should all seek to build on this. 

Beyond Crufts, I am delighted to report that the Kennel Club has 'exchanged and completed' on the Aylesbury property project and 'exchanged' with a view to near term 'completion' on the Emblehope property project. The Chepstow project is progressing and will be presented to the members via the Board at an appropriate time. 

The working parties are progressing and the Governance working party, supported by the Board, is set to make a number of proposals to the membership at the AGM. It is proposed that this working party will continue its work in the months to come with a renewed agenda aimed at advancing both the business and 'sporting' sides of Kennel Club activity. 

The Communications working party continues to 'move things forward' on the back of consultation and review through 'focus groups' and you will be updated on progress at the AGM. Likewise, the 'Crossbreeds' working party is making slower but steady progress on a range of issues, and again you will be briefed in May. 

We had advised you at our November meeting that we would be bringing proposals to the membership in May regarding a possible revision to our membership structure in the context of 'out of town membership'. I can advise you that these proposals will not be brought forward at the May meeting but deferred for discussion later in 2016 since the Board considered that every effort should be focussed by the members on the proposed Governance changes. 

I do hope that as many Members as possible will be able to attend the AGM and in the meantime, enjoy the Spring!