Kennel Club and the Beeb – No Longer In Love?

I have just read the timesonline article ‘BBC scraps coverage of Crufts over breeding standards fears’Â But don’t dash off there just yet – I want to add my two pennorth!

I think there are two aspects to the dog breeding question – there is the question of genetic defects that are in the breed, but not contribruting to the standard, then there are the defects that are there because of the standard.

The first can be addressed by improving the testing for the complaint and subsequent breeding, in the same manner that hip dysplasia has been and is being been dealt with. The second needs the Kennel Club, as custodians of the breed standards, to amend the standards. As dog breeders, we must accept that the breeds we have must be bred to be as natural and healthy as possible.

I think if we do not take a pro-active approach, we may end up with breeds being non-sustainable.