Pedigree Dogs Exposed, a disturbing new BBC documentary

[oregonjen]

Here is a link to a BBC documentary that aired recently, that exposes the breeding practices that are basically endangering every breed of dog known. It is in six parts of 10 minutes each on YouTube. My first dog, Gracie, was a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She ended up having Syringomyelia, an incredibly painful disease that eventually killed her. This disease, is highlighted in the first few minutes of the program. For all dog lovers, this is a must-see.

At the beginning, a warning is flashed, it is very disturbing to watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1LyjlX4Mp8

Edited to add: The breeder world is VERY upset that their breeding practices are being challenged. I'm so angry that breeders are this arrogant. They know that us pet owners and the dogs we have are in pain, but they continue to breed unethically despite that.

[flvegan]

1. 80% of breeders don't care about the dogs, nor their clients

and the heartbreak they may eventually endure. It's a payday.

"80%" is playing really nice on my part, as well.

Thanks for posting this.

[Arugula Latte]

2. I can't stand breeders, and I get pissed off when people keep them in business.

Go to the shelter to get a dog or a cat.

[Chovexani]

11. Me too

With all the homeless critters out there I don't know how these bastards (the breeders, and their customers) sleep at night.

[XemaSab]

3. The whole "purebred" thing is a scam

and it smacks of Naziism.

[oregonjen]

4. They actually discuss eugenics in this documentary

[XemaSab]

6. I'm halfway through and yeah

It's totally Nazi.

I've said it before here, but both my grandma and my aunt had toy poodles.

Epilepsy, spinal problems requiring expensive surgery, joints that would pop out several times a day, diabetes, kidney problems, hair loss.... and this is between TWO DOGS. :o

[DBoon]

32. or of the anti-democratic aristocracy of the "bloodline"

a remnant of feudal Europe that Enlightenment ideas of equality tried to eliminate

[moriah]

5. I'm watching this now.

The idea that someone would kill a puppy because it lacks a form of spinal bifida really disturbs me. I could see not breeding from those dogs -- "culling" by spaying and neutering. But they could still make good companion animals.

Is it that the breeders can't find homes for the pups that don't meet the breed standard?

I would hope not, but there are so many purebred animals that are in shelters right now as it is.

------

I don't think I would ever buy a purebred cat. Our current cat is a purebred, who came to us through a no-kill shelter. He's a Himalayan, and has many health problems. I have never thought the smooshed-up face on a Persian or a Himalayan was attractive -- the "old-style" Himalayanss are much prettier to me, as well as healthier.

But most cat breeders are very strict about only giving breeding rights to certain animals. One particular breed of cats, the Russian Blue, has some of the most responsible breeders I've heard about. The breed is small, there are only a few breeders, and it's very difficult to acquire a Russian Blue with breeding rights unless you go through an internship with another breeder.

I wish dog breeders were as careful about selling dogs with breeding rights. I wish all cat breeders were too.

[LostinVA]

7. You need to read "Dog Wars" by Donald McCaig

It's focused on Border Collies, but it shows what happens when dogs are bred for looks. Other breeds are discussed as well.

[XemaSab]

8. I want to be a dog historian!

:D

[XemaSab]

10. Late kick!

:o

[quakerboy]

9. Mutt: the American choice since

1292 BC.


Dogs don't really need help with the breeding. They manage it pretty good if you just let them take care of it themselves.

[Solon]

12. True, but humans should be careful with cross breeds...

especially cross breeds of purebred dogs, they sometimes develop problems from BOTH parents' breeds.

[Arkansas Granny]

14. I agree with your statement, but many mutts are so successfully crossbred that

it can be hard to determine what the original breeds were to start with. Mutts are my favorite breed.

[XemaSab]

15. The last three dogs we've had have been mutts

Lab x cattle dog

Springer x golden retriever

And Pippi the mystery dog... Maybe boxer x cattle dog?

All three of them have been robust specimens of dog-hood. :thumbsup:

[Solon]

22. I understand that, and I'm not denying that good crossbreeds exist...

My Dog, Lucky, though, had special problems being a mutt who was a cross between Dachshund and Lab. Really bad bowed legs, just glad that was the only problem, and was controllable by Aspirin. I miss you buddy, RIP. :(

[arcadian]

30. Humans have been genetically engineering for a long time.

Pretty much since the day that we moved from wandering the wilderness on to farms. Look at maize for example, it bears no resemblance today to it's original form.

[Lil Missy]

13. I can't watch it. Thanks for the warning that it was very disturbing to watch.

[madrchsod]

16. puppy mill busted in illinois

http://www.pjstar.com/news_police/x590308601/55-dogs-seized-in-central-Illinois-puppy-mill-raid

[Critters2]

19. Arthur. I wonder if they were Amish. This strange connection between

the Amish and puppy mills is most disturbing.

[XemaSab]

23. The Amish aren't that rad

I've heard that most "Amish" quilts made are subcontracted to Asia, for people who earn pennies on the dollar.

[Critters2]

17. I warned the local UMC pastor about the health issues with Cavs,

when he was thinking of getting one. He drove to MO and bought one from a breeder down there anyway. It made no sense to me, knowing there are shelters here full of dogs, many of them purebreds. I have a friend whose cav died at the age of 5. She was devastated. She now has a cocker and a maltese. She loved her Cav, but wouldn't go through that again.

There are so many dogs needing homes. It makes no sense to keep breeding them while so many die.

[LostinVA]

18. The non-AKC Cavalier Kennel Club is trying really hard to get the health problems out of the breed

The AKC not so much. The AKC does a great job of ruining dogs.

[Critters2]

20. Yeah. They ruined the cocker. Which is why I have a beagle now.

My first dog was a wonderful cocker who was dumped at my place when I lived in the country. But I know I got lucky. Finding a good cocker is a crap shoot. So far, the AKC has ruined the scenthounds. But give 'em time.

[LostinVA]

21. As far as I'm concerned, they've ruined all the breeds they recognize

The AKC Border Collie isn't even a real border collie, and the AKC has only recognized them for about 15 years. They look different, are more hyper, more prone to CEA, and can't do real herding.

Most of the labs around here are really aggressive, and none of them can retrieve. Our dog has been attacked by labs twice unprovoked at the dog park. We haven't had a single problem with any of the traditionally "aggressive" breeds at the park. Just labs.

[LeftyMom]

24. A friend and I were talking about this.

He has a rescued (former breeder and show dog) English bulldog, and she was essentially bred in such a way that conformity to breed standards eliminates any hope of quality of life. Her body is so large and ungainly that she can barely get around, she sleeps more than a cat, she gets so worn out from eating or going outside for a bm that she pants for a few minutes afterward and then falls into an exhausted sleep for hours, and she's still young and healthy, or what passes for healthy in papered bulldogs anyhow.

[skygazer]

25. I knew about some of these issues but nowhere near all of them

Thanks for posting - very disturbing and unfortunately, not surprising. :(

[hedgehog]

26. I know that the standard (full sized) poodle has changed a lot

since I was a kid. It used to look intelligent. Now they look like half their brain mass is gone. A poodle was originally a hunting dog!

[Digit]

27. I watched all 6 episodes, it was painful to watch

I makes me question just what is a "reputable breeder".

Then again, last my dog was a rescue, my cat was a stray.

I did once own a Silky Terrier before they became popular, and even met the parents. He was one good looking fella, and never had any problems. I purchachased him from a local breeder. He was a tad larger than the breed called for

[hedgehog]

28. Anyone care to comment on docking dogs' tails and ears to make

them conform to breed standards?

[LostinVA]

29. In some cases, it was originally done to serve a purpose

In that case, I'm fine with it.

To conform to breed standards, I'm absolutely against it, but I'm also against breeding for conformation. I believe in breeding dogs for the purpose they were meant for. Hunting, herding etc.

[riverdeep]

31. I've never liked dog shows instinctively.

Now I have some backup for my feelings. When we breed for superficiality and human whims, with the profit motive overpowering all else, the dogs wind up the losers.

[DBoon]

33. Support the Mixed Breed Dog Clubs of America

In conformation, which evaluates a dog's appearance and physical characteristics, its rules are necessarily different from the AKC's. For purebred dogs in the AKC, each breed has a clearly defined appearance standard, including such points as the length, thickness, and color of the coat; the dog's height and weight; the length of its back in proportion to its height; the shape of its ears and muzzle; and so on. Because all mixed breeds are different, it is impossible to use such rules. Instead, dogs competing in MBDCA conformation trials must demonstrate physical soundness, good health, and a well-balanced and symmetrical appearance. For example, dogs must not be knock-kneed, have spinal problems, or have excessive overbite or underbite; their coats and skin must be healthy; and they must not be overweight or underweight for their build.

See

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_Breed_Dog_Clubs_of_America

[otherlander]

34. I don't even think

that people have a right to keep dogs or other animals in captivity at all. However, as long as people buy from the puppy mills and don't spay/neuter, there will be dogs in need of homes, in which case adopting one gives it a step up from the shelter it would otherwise be kept in. That's why I have a dog, but hopefully, in time, as support for puppy mills goes down and more people spay/neuter, there will no longer be a need to keep dogs in captivity at all.