Crufts 2015 Best in Show

[corgiology]

AIBU to think handling a dog by the neck and tail is sending the totally wrong message to children about how to handle pet dogs?

Yes, it's a terrier and is bred to cope but this dog is a show dog, not a working one and the show is being broadcast nationwide so inevitably some people will think it is acceptable to handle their own dogs like this.

Very disappointed with the poor handling and poking of the dog. The flat coat retriever handler was so much better at handling and had a great connection with her dog. He was a worthy winner.
The Scottie was my favourite but with a poor handler shouldn't have won.

I never even noticed

Cute wee dog though

I have mentioned that handler in another thread and I agree entirely with you.
I wouldn't let her anywhere near my dog.
I mean - she did pick it up by the tail, didn't she ? the base of the tail.

Several people have mentioned this and I agree it was unpleasant. Also agree the retriever ought to have won! Gorgeous dog!

Yes, I thought it was horrible. It looked like she was moving a piece of furniture.

Dd2 (8) noticed this too and was a bit upset that the animal was handled like that. She was quite rough with the dog, I thought.

Also think the retriever was fab but not as gorgeous as the saluki!

It was horrible! Poor dog should not be handled by his tail.
I also think the retriever should have won.

When I was younger I used to spend some time with a westie breeder/handler.
This was the standard way to handle smaller dogs to keep them in the correct position and not ruffle carefully groomed fur.
This was over twenty years ago now though, so I don't know if things have changed.

I wouldn't be happy with someone picking my Scottie up like that.

But I am pleased to see the first Scottie to win Crufts since 1929. It's about time!

But they are dogs not ornaments. Handlers keep giving different excuses at to why they do it 'to not ruffle fur' 'it's what they were bred for'.

The two statements are mutually exclusive. They were not bred to be shown and thus clearly picking up by tail was not traditionally to avoid ruffling fur.
There are many ways to pick a dog up. So what if the fur gets a bit messed up? Are we celebrating dogs for being dogs or is it all for the human?

It was grim. I've been involved in showing a funding breed and I hate the way some of the other breeds are 'strung up' to show. I much preferred seeing the flatcoat being handled and when it was called in reserve, the handier was overjoyed and kept hugging it. The dog was also happy and was jumping up for a cuddle too. The Scotty handler was so stand offish and the dog seemed that way too, although I don't know muh about the breed, so maybe they're meant to be? I found watching it sad and unpleasant tbh and YANBU OP.

I also didn't like the picking up by the tail! My eleven year old daughter was horrified to watch the lady continuously push the dogs tail back too. The whole thing seemed a bit off, and there was no cuddle for the dog for winning. Was a bit sad to watch in my opinion.

they were part owners, given to some russians but taken back to be shown i understand.
shocking I thought to pick it up by its tail

i take consolation that the flat coated retriever came second, he was my favourite. such a gorgeous dog.

There is a hell of a lot of outrage over the handling of the scottie among the various dog forums and facebook groups, as well at the show I attended today. We were all watching it on our tablets/phones in the judges room this morning before our show started (it was 7:30 in the morning for us!) and it certainly was the focus of the conversation. The handler did look very nervous, kept fiddling with the dog. I've been there in the group ring at Crufts, and it is nerve wracking, but no excuse for her handling.

I love, love, love that flat coat.

I hated the wa the scottie was picked up, In fact I sat open mouthed at that and other things the handlers did. There was much poking the faces too which I didn't like.

my kids said the dog was picked up by its tail! i said 'oh no, you wouldnt do that to a dog'

She was brutal. All that poking too. And there was very little chemistry between her and that wee dog.

Im afraid i gave up watching after crufts was removed from bbc. Did anyone see about the stunning red setter jagger who was poisoned. Why? www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2985087/Top-pedigree-dogs-don-finest-clothes-Crufts-awards-climax.html

I don't understand how anyone could get near enough to poison a dog at Crufts. Surely the owner/handler would stay with the dog all the time?

I totally agree, it really pissed me off. And why did she keep jabbing her?

I also felt really sad when she was talking about the dog after, proud how she had been passed from pillar to post all over the world, no affection when speaking about the dog - apart from how she's a perfect show dog even when she's not feeling great...would have much rather seen a dog with a loving owner win, tbh. I think that would be a great message for Crufts to send out, especially in todays animal owning culture.

You don't see the scottie wagging its tail at all, do you. It can't be very happy.

i doubt the scottie would have been sad, they are judged not only for their looks which should be true to their breed, as well as the right personality for their breed. so you would expect a retriever to be a waggy dog, none of the other dogs were waggy dogs, they are just not the type

although i agree about if they were children, being born in america, given to russians, and then given back to americans for showing, it wouldnt go down well.