Controversial new film on pedigree dogs

[Margaret Sierakowski]

Jemima Harrison's controversial new film "Pedigree Dogs Exposed" will be shown by the BBC on Tuesday evening at 9pm (Friday 9pm in Scotland). And should also be available on BBC iPlayer.
The Chairman of the KC Ronnie Irving has already issued a statement about the film, see the KC website, without even having seen it
Before it has even been shown, the film is causing considerable controversy in the UK, many people welcoming Jemima's two year research into the genetic problems caused by inbreeding in pedigree dogs, but a few breeds and the Kennel Club going on the defensive
See also the commentary by Beverley Cuddy, editor of Dogs Today, about the film and the recent research from Imperial College, London on the effects of linebreeding and use of popular sires
http://coldwetnose.blogspot.com/2008/08/pedigree-dogs-exposed.html

[Susan Stone]

Thanks for posting, Margaret. I'll try to see it if I can find it on the web...

[Ann Millington]

There has been a lot of hype on this film before anyone has seen it. There has also been a lot of ridicule of the KC for issuing a statement - also I believe, before they have seen it too. However it is known that the interviews were somewhat aggressive (yes, I know interviews are) and from the questions asked it was obvious that 'someone was going to 'get it in the neck' - pedigree dog breeders and the Kennel Club.

I speak with some authority here - I was one of those interviewed!

However, the IRWS Club of Great Britain contribution is very different from the slating of the other breeds - we have been monitoring of the clinical and genetic health of our breed since 1988 and work closely with the KC. We have always been aware that close breeding is a dangerous thing and expected genetic problems to be a big threat. However this has not happened, YET! and two potential life-threatening diseases have been dealt with successfully. Jemima also informally interviewed IRWS exhibitors who showed knowledge of the health issues and enthusiasm for the way the Club and KC were working for our breed.
Of course those clubs and breeders who continue to breed carelessly or criminally need exposing - but IRWS are not the only breed that is doing sterling work in this field.
The $64,000 question is, "Will Pedigree Dogs Exposed give a BALANCED picture and devote as much time to the 'good' breeds and breeders as to the 'bad' and credit the KC with the work it does in the cause of canine health?"
If it does, all well and good.... if it doesn't..... :o(( the KC will be justified in its statement, for it gave full co-operation to the film makers; like me they found the questions a bit slanted and have apparently received similar complaints from certain breeds - the title, 'Pedigree Dogs Exposed' gives an indication of the sensational nature to be expected. The reaction of the Anti-Dog and Anti-KC brigades is also to be expected - they have not seen the film either.

I guess the discussion will take off after Tuesday!
Frances - you're in Luck - it's on BBC 1 9.0 pm - 10.0 pm.

[Ann Millington]

I am sorry to hear about Lily, Wilko. Best if people don't buy Cavaliers any more?

[Carol Gill]

Anne you cant say 'best if people dont buy cavaliers' would you want people to stop buying IRWS???? the way forward is to work with the people breeding a specific breed and help them sort out the problems, there are breeders out there who care, trouble with most of the things going wrong are the puppy farmers who latch onto these breeds because they are popular and breed indiscrimitly, thats where most of the legislation needs addressing

[Ann Millington]

And you saw how much of the work done to PREVENT the breeding of mutant cripples?
You were shown ANY breed that does not have life-threatening hereditary disease?

[Carol Gill]

i watched the program..and never saw you on there Ann..what happened to that interview????

[Katariina Roiha]

the documentary is on youtube...
part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1LyjlX4Mp8&feature=related
part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcUbCvS0ZEM&feature=related
part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpR5su-PQ0g&feature=related
part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDKwbWA5Tdg&feature=related
part 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szl30xomLXo&feature=related
part 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFJffepQY3Y&feature=related

[Laura Kolbach]

thank you. i watched it now.
lots of truth in it unfortunately but i want to believe that there are breeders out there that DO CARE.

[ursula wilby]

I watched it all on You Tube (thank you Katariina!) and although the program is very much showing only one side of the coin, we all know that there is a lot of truth in what is being said.

We all know that there are breeds that are prone to more illnesses than others. And anyone that has been involved with dogs for any lengths of time is also aware that not all breeders are honest when it comes to telling the truth about their dogs. Unfortunatly money talks a lot louder than any ethics people may have started out with.

Even though I feel that the IS is still a very healthy breed, we all know that there are dogs used that perhaps (for health-reasons) should not. But they are winning in the show-ring, and to some that is ALL that matters.

There are for instance stud-dogs with a very high ratio of HD, yet as long as they are doing well in the ring, they will be used. And allthough this information is awailable via the Swedish Kennel-club site, (for swedish dogs) very few puppy-buyers are even aware that this information excists. And even fewer will take the trouble to check it out...

[Nicole Wilson]

Good point, Ursula. I’m thinking from the point of view of potential puppy buyers who generally aren’t really aware of any problems, never mind dare asking the breeders about them. We were lucky enough to have picked good breeders (totally by accident) but I'm very aware that it could also have been very different. Although I read lots of books about setters and information about what to look out for and ask when you choose your puppy, as a first-time buyer of a breed you're standing in front of breeders who, to you, are experts in the field of that breed and obviously know everything about it and you just sort of trust them and don't really dare asking about problems - even though you should.

I think the programme will have enlightened the general public about some of the issues at least and hopefully will have made people more aware of how to choose the right breeders and healthier puppies.

What I’d also be interested in is whether in countries (e.g. Switzerland) where there are official selection tests for stud dogs (which they have to pass to be able to be used for breeding) the health problems have been reduced.

[Susan Stone]

Many thanks Katariina for giving the link to youtube.
I've now managed to watch the whole film and to be honest I found myself agreeing with much that was said, especially that the KC should make health tests mandatory before a dog can be bred from.
I know there is a strong feeling of 'we are free to make our own decisions' amongst british breeders - and other countries are sometimes ridiculed for all their rules and regulations (I've read these comments in the dog press).

At the moment all a KC pedigree gives is 'a certificate of lineage' with no further guarantees. I think 'having a pedigree' should signify so much more: ie coming from tested and approved breeding stock and from tested and approved breeders.
OK, some breeders would leave the KC, but providing these people were unable to sell their puppies because the general public has been so well informed as to ask for a 'puppy from a KC tested and approved breeder' then it would not take long before all would be willing to fulfill stricter requirements.

And yes, our show world has a lot to answer for, with stud dogs being chosen for their success in the ring - and used far too often for a breed's good.

Many years ago I was also told to 'keep quiet about so-and-so'... and what did I do? Yes, I kept quiet!

I would agree that the Irish Red & White Setter breed clubs are doing a great job in this respect. It is a pity the same awareness is not present in many Irish Red Setter breeders - or why else are so few dogs hip scored in comparison to the numbers registered every year?

[Margaret Sierakowski]

Two videos from the British Veterinary Association conference, one with some material about sick dog breeds similar to Jemima's film, the other is a discussion by vets and a representative of the KC about what can be done about health and genetic problems in modern dogs

http://vets.tv/video.php?vid=115&cid=10