The KC drops the other shoe!

[Lisa Van Loo]

Tucked inside this press release lauding their decision to unilaterally change the standards for ALL breeds, is the notice that now dogs from inbreedings will not be permitted to be registered.

The art of breeding is gradually being taken out of the hands of breeders. In its place will be a set of cookbook step-by-step instructions on how to breed dogs in all breeds, one size fits all!

Never mind that most standards already described the moderate specimen of each breed. Better that the judges were instructed to judge by the standards as already written. Never mind that inbreeding has its place in a thoughtful breeding program, and that many of the best animals in almost every breed had some degree of inbreeding behind them. Better that breeders were instructed on how to use inbreeding wisely.

But never mind; that would just be too rational!

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/2234

Lisa

[Sabireley]

From the article...

"Other changes include the preclusion of excessive weight in Labradors and a move to stop breeders exaggerating substance in Clumber Spaniels, in order to ensure they would be fit for their original purpose of working in the field."

and

"In a further move, the Kennel Club has announced that it will crack down on the small number of breeders who continue to use the practice of mating close relatives by refusing to register those puppies that are born from any mother/son, father/daughter or brother/sister mating, taking place on or after 1st March 2009. "

[john fallon]

From the article...

"Other changes include the preclusion of excessive weight in Labradors and a move to stop breeders exaggerating substance in Clumber Spaniels, in order to ensure they would be fit for their original purpose of working in the field."

and

"In a further move, the Kennel Club has announced that it will crack down on the small number of breeders who continue to use the practice of mating close relatives by refusing to register those puppies that are born from any mother/son, father/daughter or brother/sister mating, taking place on or after 1st March 2009. "

I applaud their effort.

A step in the right direction regards,

john

[Juli H]

one only has to wonder how long it will be before the AKC adopts the same requirement...

there is a place and time for such breedings...by wise, educated, and knowledgable breeders...

Juli

[Lisa Van Loo]

I applaud their effort.

A step in the right direction regards,

john

Changing the standard isn't going to do squat until they crack down on the judges who started this fat dog trend in the first place. The standard as written before the additional language already describes a moderate animal (just as the AKC one does). Just enforce judging to the current standard. One wonders if they actually will follow through with any of this, or are they just playing to the ignorant masses? The fact that this is a press release should be a clue.

Window Dressing Regards;

Lisa

[achiro]

I applaud their effort.

A step in the right direction regards,

john

Which part John?

[Dave Flint]

This is almost certainly a response to the BBC documentary “Pedigree Dogs Exposed” which detailed many of the serious health issues caused by inbreeding among show dogs. I think we will soon see a similar documentary in this country w/ similar outrage.

Dave

[Lisa Van Loo]

This is almost certainly a response to the BBC documentary “Pedigree Dogs Exposed” which detailed many of the serious health issues caused by inbreeding among show dogs. I think we will soon see a similar documentary in this country w/ similar outrage.

Dave

It is a chain-reaction. First the "documentsry", then BBC pulling their coverage of Cruft's unless the KC banned certain breeds from the competition (who's in charge, here? Since when does the *media* dictate how competitions should be run and who can enter??? It's like NBC telling the NFL which two teams will play in the Super Bowl). This new drive within the KC stems from these actions.

Inbreeding does *not* cause health problems. It is this popular misconception that creates headaches for all. No breeding pattern (inbreeding, linebreeding, outcrossing) creates genes. They either are there, or they are not. In fact, wise breeders do inbreedings to uncover any bad genes that may be lurking. Doing outcrosses does not remove bad genes from a gene pool; it only masks them. Sometimes until an allele is very widespread in a population. Wise breeders use the tools available to them to gain a better understanding of their strain's genetics. Now the Kennel Club proposes to take the decision-making process out of breeders' hands entirely.

This kind of big-brother mentality does not allow breeders to even do test matings to identify good or bad alleles in their lines. Additionally, this is a camel's nose under the tent issue. Today, very tight inbreedings are banned, tomorrow, all linebreeding (which is in itself a form of inbreeding). Look to your pedigrees; most top-quality lines (field or show makes no difference) contain some degree of line- and inbreeding. These methods are what has been used for a century or more to improve strains. It isn't inbreeding that creates great dogs or poor ones. It is selection on the breeder's part. This is where the KC should focus it's efforts. Not grandstanding for the media.

Lisa

[john fallon]

Which part John?

The part that if carried far enough (the Netherlands has already considered a ban on line breeding).would address or would curtail the popular sire syndrome.

Population genetics and dog breeding regards

john

[twall]

Without inbreeding we would not have the discrete, reproduceable breeds we have. As has been mentioned, if judges would judge to the breed standard, developed by the breed club, dogs would be put up the represent the breed. That said, you don't hve to be a CH to produce puppies.

The registry makes the rules, regardless of how much sense they do or don't make. If you want their titles, etc. you have to dance to their tune.

And, as long as there are fools with too much money in their pocket there will be a market for any mutant, inbred, half-breed, or any other type of freakish animal you can come up with.

Tom