Be sure to catch HBO’S Real Sports with Bryant Gumble tonight as they are doing a segment on the health and ethics of pedigree dog breeding for which Border-Wars was interviewed extensively over the last several months for background information, references to scientific papers, and fact-checking.
Unnatural Selection
Producer: Jason SamuelsThe Westminster Dog Show is one of the country’s oldest sporting events, and certainly the most adorable, but more than 20,000 dog shows are held nationwide each year. While the sport’s growth is a boon for fervent dog lovers, it may not be as rewarding to some of the dogs themselves. During competition, animals are judged on how closely they represent the “breed standard,” and some critics say this leads to the questionable breeding of dogs for beauty over health. Soledad O’Brien leads this REAL SPORTS examination of the world of competitive dog shows and the sport’s repercussions on dog health, in and outside the show ring.
While I won’t be on camera and haven’t seen the final cut, the producers asked the right questions and seem to be focusing on the most obvious abuses of conformation like the Bulldog and the rampant brachycephalism caused by their conformation and the fad to breed them with ever shorter snouts and more profuse skin.
You can even join in the fun with the AKC apologists on RealSport’s Facebook Page.
* * *
Comments and disagreements are welcome, but be sure to read the Comment Policy. If this post made you think and you'd like to read more like it, consider a donation to my 4 Border Collies' Treat and Toy Fund. They'll be glad you did. You can subscribe to the feed or enter your e-mail in the field on the left to receive notice of new content. You can also like BorderWars on Facebook for more frequent musings and curiosities.
* * *
Anton
Christopher
Lawrence Dillard
Lech
Stephanie
Essere
It will be nice to see another programme that makes more people aware of the negative breeding practises involved with pedigree dogs. The real consequences of the beauty pageants on dogs welfare, standards and inbreeding that creates show dogs and the even worse wastage that is past onto unsuspecting pet owners etc.
We don’t get any American TV, hopefully it makes a rapid appearance on UTUbe.
I never ever personally thought “showing dogs” was a “sport” Im not so sure many see it as a sport either, at least its not referred to as a sport in most countries. A hobby or interest maybe?
It should be more than interesting to see the rebuttals of the brainwashed.
If dog shows are a sport, then so are flower shows.
“And in he goes daffodil poised! Where will it go? To the left in the middle no gasp he goes for the back and immediately makes a good recovery with a piece of well timed filler.”
Some exciting action there from the British Olympic flower arranger in these finals lets see if the American can do better….
“Nooooo no, oh no what a disappointment…….. some mumble about happy healthy dogs (in an interesting Irish accent) shell shocked and wide eyed they seem to wait for the next onslaught. Vets only see unhealthy dogs after all don’t they? The majority are happy healthy bulldogs on ice packs back home and in the ring. Lets face it the sport takes the stuffing right out of em, bright lights applause can make even the fittest athlete collapse in an oxygen deprived coma”
And for the results. No no sadly it’s the British with their winning cosmetic make over that walk off with the trophy! There will be some truly disappointed faces back home trying to breath through those stenotic nares.
That’s all folks from the Happy Healthy Olympic sport of dog showing er flower arranging.
Is the Miss America pageant a sport?
Hi Christopher: This article compares Sponsors of Show Dogs to financing of Olympic contenders?
http://www.dogchannel.com/dogsinreview/financial-backers.aspx
Does anybody else think the AKC should require that every dog that is bred be required to have it’s health testing done, be micro-chipped, and have DNA put on file before the breeding takes place and any puppies can be registered? After all, it is very difficult and costly for anybody to question a pedigree within their registry. Additionally, I believe you have to have the permission of person who has a questionable pedigree before you can request a DNA comparison. This doesn’t make sense to me. Does anybody else think the AKC should be more vigilant in making sure the registry is accurate?