Crufts

[Arkkorox]

Anyone watching?

I for one don't think she's being smug at all. I have showed dogs and enjoyed it, but it was a breed that does not have the exaggerations that make it unfit. I agree that the show lab is not fit for purpose - really,honestly, they are portly and squat. I see working labs every day on my dog walk - they look like dogs that can run and do a job. Health and temperament have to come before looks.

Our dog was shown at crufts - he is an excellent example of the breed - weight very closely managed.....he spends 99% of his life as a companion in a yard - after a long walk in the woods.

What I will say is that in his breed there are many breeders, breeding from dogs that do not come close to the ideal (far too small and hound like for a draughting breed) - have dodgy movement (are they hip and elbow scoring?), and most of all have crap temperaments. Unfortunately for this breed, these breeders go to every show and are often awarded first - thereby qualifying for crufts, in a un-contested class. In this case they are judged by british judges who have not educated themselves as to what the breed attributes should be.

So I have to agree with what Mutty says.......having said that what I love about crufts is that it is generally a european judge, who knows how the breed should be, there is always a good contingent of europeans here with their dogs, and they generally wipe the floor. So in this respect it is very good for the breed - it serves to educate as to what the breed should be.

The aspect I really hate is that these people are not good sports about being beaten - our dog was beaten this year, because he arsed around in the ring - I couldn't care less (actually think it is quite funny - he got excited and wanted to play....he is a dog after all)........but other breeders reactions make me really believe that a breeder could do the unspeakable and poison a dog - and that is really un-palatable.

Yes, I have labs. Yes, I was at crufts, altho not showing one of mine.

Is all of this "atrocious breeding" of poor temperaments coming from people who show their labs? I would bet not. The standard calls for a good temp with no undue shyness or aggression. Dogs who do show aggression are immediately asked to leave the ring and so don't do at all well and therefore are very unlikely to be used in a breeding program, if at all.

I'll be honest it gets my goat more than i can explain to have all "breeders" lumped in together, particularly in a hugely popular, but much exploited breed like labs. I am not the same as the family down the road who fancy a bit of extra cash for their holiday in the summer and so stick "flossie" with their mate's dog down the road, but they don't register the puppies with the kc, or health test... no they don't agree with the KC and the problems they are causing in dogs.. no.. those big breeders are just in it for the money... (genuinely this is what i have been told by a lady with a litter in my village- sorry but if you are breeding in the above situation, and you are not keeping one, why are you breeding if not for the money??)

Not all, but the vast vast majority of those who show their labs will have made sure they have passed the breed relevant health tests, have shown their dogs- so had them out and about socialised in lots of different environments, used to being handled by lots of different people, like myself may well have had a dabble in gundog training to give their brains something to think about, and have planned and prepared for the litter long in advance and be working towards a goal.

I am not saying all show labs are better/healthier than all working labs, however, up until recently a lot of working lines did not health test their dogs, so more problems were seen in those lines when they did start to test. Now there is no huge difference in terms of which fraternity or type is healthier- altho pet bred litters are likely to be the least healthy as least likely to take up testing. It irritates me when people use the comparison that show type dogs have moved away from the original standard and the working type have stayed the same- no they haven't, and no some of them could not do the job they were originally intended for, in the same way that some of the heavier type show bred dogs might also struggle.

Have a look at the very last dual champion- 1946 Dual Ch. Knaith Banjo. He genuinely is a midway point between the two extremes.