DOG SHOW BREEDS CONTEMPT

NY Post ^ | February 11, 2003 | Andrea Peyser

[nfldgirl]

That Sheltie is so darn cute I could just squeeze it to death! We have a sheltie...not for show (although he's an absolute doll in our book), but just because we love him, the breed, etc. His name is Jack, he's 3, and we just never knew before Jack, that owning a dog (a Sheltie in particular) could be so enjoyable, so rewarding. In fact, he's not just a "dog" but truly a very special member of our family.

But you already know that don't you, JimVT. I remember reading your post about Brody passing away. I was so truly touched. Don't remember when it was exactly, but I recall that we hadn't had Jack for long, and I read your post to my husband. I suppose that one day we'll probably have to go through the same thing with Jack. In the meantime, though, gosh he's just a special fella to have around the house....hoping I can persuade DH to get another one...a female...our son wants to name her "Jill"! Too cute, huh.

[iconoclast]

Serious, though, it has been my experience that Cairn Terriers are pretty viscious to begin with.

Fortunately or unfortunately my little guy has never bitten anything but the stuffed Santa I get him for Christmas every year.

He's never barked at anything but thunderstorms and the can opener. ;o)

[SCalGal]

The AKC is knowingly aiding and abetting fraud.

Um, no. The AKC is trying to keep it's stud books clean, and does investigate fraudulently registered litters. The back of the AKC Gazette has listings of suspended and fined breeders, and the number of litters that the AKC has revolked registration on. For more info, check AKC's website at www.akc.org

I do agree with you about the american german shepards; in my opinion they are ruined for the work they were originally bred to do. Germany has different rules for breeding; breeders have to have the breeding approved by a dog warden before the breeding takes place. I hate the idea of such intrusiveness, but there are a lot of unethical breeders who care more for their own egos than for the welfare of the dogs.

[Constantine XIII]

France is a good place...FOR ME TO POOP ON!

[Vinnie]

If Border Collies or Shetland Sheep Dogs owned all humans then the humans would never want to be owned by any other breed. :-)

Own a border collie. AMazing dogs.

I would love to watch the dog show, but Lacey(bc) also watches TV and won't allow another dog in the house ( not even on the screen). I'm serious. We had to put Animal Planet on parental lock.

[aruanan]

Too bad such generally noble animals have to be owned by such generally nutty people.

Have you seen Waiting for Guffman? That was pretty enjoyable.

[kstewskis]

but to this day, anyone who shows border collies in any AKC events are pariahs of the border collie world. Herding ability is paramount for the breed, therefore, no matter what the dog looks like, it is judged solely on it's abilities.

Amen. No BC called "Fluffy" ever could get the job done when you have 100 head of sheep on about 50 acres of rolling land.

I take great joy when my BC rolls in (dried) horse dung at the AKC shows here at a local polo field. Have to laugh at her expression too, as we pass right by the poof balls they call show dogs.

[kstewskis]

IF you give them the attention and exercise they need. My BC is bar none the best dog I have ever owned, or even known in my life.

bttt to that!

[Varda]

Beautiful Newf! but go Kerry Blue!

[Hot Tabasco]

The French Poodle and German Shepherd withdrew from the competition...

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!@

No doubt going across the street to join the Rotary of Rodents, or more commonly known as the Axis of Weasels.......

[kstewskis]

Are they really supposed to be so stubby? I thought newfs were a tall breed.

They are pretty tall, some of them. Think of them as a limousine with a lot of fur, big paws, and drool.

[Varda]

The AKC is a registering body (it keeps stud books) and it runs various competitions for its' registered dogs. It's not the American dog commissar that keeps idiot dog buyers from the consequences of their poor choices.

If you really are in need of finding advice for "health and well-being" why would you go to a stud book keeper instead of a vet?

Your post suggests that you did your research into dogs in the pages of some PETA newsletter. If you'd actually done research you'd know that the AKC can't determine what kind of or how many dogs anyone can own, only that those people obey the rules (and that's what they're inspectors determine). Commercial dog kennels are registered with various state agencies and in my state a yearly inspection is required to keep a kennel license. Even with this requierment the state rarely shuts puppy mills down.

Since the AKC doesn't give "seals of approval" there is no responsiblity to prevent people from buying what doesn't exist.

[Varda]

In some respects I agree with your post. There is a lot of breeding at the expense of health. The worst breeders in this regard however are people who breed "muffy" in hopes of getting another just like her. Casual dog breeders rarely have any idea that they should even test for genetic problems much less not breed a dog that has them.

The real problem with people not breeding for health is the buying public. It's not a consideration when faced with buying a dog. People think about health only after they get the dog. Then they care about health; then it's too late.

American GSD's can do S&R, it just depends on the interests of the owner.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Read up a bit on the subject. American German Shepherds are not used for search and rescue because of a deformity bred into their hips to achieve the exaggerated hip angle which is part of the AKC breed standard, extreme versions of which have been rewarded in AKC shows for many generations. Because of this hip deformity, the dogs are subject to serious hip injuries when negotiating the rough terrain common in search and rescue operations. Amateurs who use their dogs for volunteer search and rescue work may try to use these dogs, but professionals and law enforcement do not. They import their German Shepherds from Europe, where the breed has not had this defect bred into it.

[GovernmentShrinker]

The AKC isn't trying very hard. There are plenty of documented cases where they have re-registered puppy mills after brief suspensions, despite the mills still being in trouble with the law on animal cruelty and other charges. They have also registered mills at the same address as ones they recently de-registered, when a relative living at the same address submits a new application. If the AKC were serious about protecting dogs and breeds, they would strictly limit the number of papers they sell each year, to a number reflecting readily available information about the numbers of real homes available (i.e. no sudden geometric increase in papers for Dalmatian puppies just because the mills are eager to cash in on the movie). If they took this approach, they could make certifying breeders a very competitive process, and the papers would really be worth something. But they're not willing to take the revenue cut from stopping the flow of phony papers.

[BunnySlippers]

Does anyone know which channel this is being shown on this year? It's great TV!

[solo gringo]

I bet your mom and dad had to tie a porkchop around your neck so the dogs would play with you.

[Varda]

"exaggerated hip angle" is not part of the AKC standard. There are some dogs with poorly conformed hips but it's not the norm, it's pretty much confined to those dogs that are used for specialty dog shows.

"Amateurs who use their dogs for volunteer search and rescue work may try to use these dogs, but professionals and law enforcement do not."

Every SAR team I have met has been amateur. I didn't know anyone could make a living out of it. Law enforcment does not do SAR in general since they work with dogs who have been trained to defend and attack. The fact that military and police use mostly imported dogs has nothing to do with the AKC standard and everything to do with supply and demand. Europeans breed dogs like we breed crops and are able to supply dog brokers.

[unspun]

"If you get hungry... eat somethin'!"

[SCalGal]

They have also registered mills at the same address as ones they recently de-registered, when a relative living at the same address submits a new application.

In essence, you're right, although AKC doesn't register mills, they register litters, dogs, and kennel names. But once a person is suspended, it is easy to transfer his/her dogs to a relative, and this does happen.

Those of us who are ethical breeders don't like the puppy mills either, but AKC is never going to move towards closing them down. Why would any business cut off one of it's income sources?

AKC is not in the business of protecting dogs; it is in the business of registering them. It is up to the people who care to close down the mills.