It seems to me that if they are only checking the best of breed winner, they are not necessarily striving to eliminate from the breeding pool any dog that is "unhealthy"--they are just trying to make a statement. The Clumber interview was disconcerting, to say the least--evidence was reported by the vet of conjunctivitis, so the dog was DQ'd--I am not a vet, but there didn't seem to be any obvious redness in the dog's eyes to me.
And did I read it right--it is only the listed breeds that will be checked this way? No other breeds might be lame or have an eye problem or a skin problem (of course, none of them should have that kind of problem and win BOB, but I'm idealistic)? If the BOB winner is withdrawn, there is no replacement dog to show in the group? It does sound a bit witch-hunty.
That said, when I look at the condition of the German Shepherd, for one, it does seem like "fads" within a particular breed do need to be reined in.
But I'm not at all a show person; I just hate the influence of the PETA type on dog breeding and would fight it if it shows up overtly.
It is indeed only the 15 most popular breeds, which is bs alone, if your going to do it it should be done equally to all breeds, and yes if they fail the check there is no shepherd, bulldog, or etc... in group and it's a shame.
The vet check is only "visual" so if your dog has an eye booger or happens to be a hot heavy coated pekingnese that's panting you might as well go home, your rosette and breed win are going to be taken from you. Especially since besides the chinese crested those 15 breeds are all either snub nosed, large breed, heavy coated, very wrinkly, and heavy eyed dogs which ultimately sets you up for failure somehow in the eye discharge, or breathing issues area when they are more than likely all tired, hot, and have normal eye goop or nothing there at all.
If they really want to make an impact on the top 15 about health then why keep the vet check results secret? If it is a serious health issue you want to showcase that breed being able to get then why not publish that the clumber had so an so eye problem as they can or the peke and bulldog having issues breathing for so and so reason.
idk...at the moment, I'm on the fence about this. While I don't want to see the show world rocked by PETA witch-hunts, I do think it will make some breeders step up their game as far as health issues.
I also thought about the GSD and what it's become. Still reading more info about all this...
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I somewhat agree, I understand the point they want to make and it is valid, bulldogs should be able to birth naturally, pugs should have a nose that sticks out at least a little from the face, and shepherds shouldn't run on their knees, but starting a witch hunt to very likely purposefully find a problem with each of those top 15 and dq them to make a statement is only going to hurt their entries and reputation in the long run.
Exerpt from their website kennelclub.uk
"Q. This procedure could lead to a considerable loss of entries by exhibitors who do not want their dog to undergo a Veterinary check. Shouldn’t the Kennel Club look for a different approach?
A. This is part of an overall approach and it is the Kennel Club’s view that if exhibitors are not prepared to accept a Veterinary inspection; this has to be their decision. Feedback so far from the high profile breeds has not indicated this to be a problem since exhibitors believe their dogs to be healthy. The focus should at all times be on the health and welfare of the dogs."
They think their entries are fine this year and nobody is unhappy about the vet checks...ok but nobody whent into this year expecting the checks to be a witch hunt, talk to me next year about your entries.......
The whole thing just stinks of ulterior motives
