Pedigree Dogs Exposed

Pedigree Dogs Exposed
Genre	Documentary
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Production
Producer	Jemima Harrison
Running time	58:33
Production company	Passionate Productions
Original release
Network	BBC One
Release	August 19, 2008 (2008-08-19)

Pedigree Dogs Exposed is a BBC One investigative documentary which looks into the health issues facing pedigree dogs in the United Kingdom.

The Kennel Club - the governing body of dogs in the Uk - which runs the prestigious dog conformation show Crufts was criticized for allowing breed standards, judging standards and breeding practices which are said to compromise the health of purebred dogs.

The Kennel Club denies the filmakers' assertion that many dogs suffer from diseases and states that "the vast majority of dog breeds are healthy".

The program generated much criticism of the Kennel Club. And caused various sponsors including the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and UK's largest dog welfare charity Dogs Trust to withdraw their participation from Crufts and other Kennel Club events.

Content

A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is shown to be in agony due to a condition known as Syringomyelia, which occurs as a result of the skull being too small for its brain. Veterinary Neurologist Dr Claire Rusbridge describes the brain as a "size 10 foot that's been shoved into a size 6 shoe" and estimates that up to 1/3 of the breed suffers from this problem. Another problem that plagues the breed is heart disease. Cardiologist Simon Swift explains that about half of a Cavaliers aged 5 would have heart murmurs and the rate increases such that by age 10 to 11 almost all Cavaliers would have the condition.

About 3/4 of the 7 million dogs in the UK are pedigree breeds and the program revealed that they chalk up 10 million pounds worth of vet fees every week. Leading geneticist Steve Jones attributes one of the key problems to inbreeding. RSPCA Chief Vet Mark Evan singles out competitive dog showing.

Drastic change

Old photos of the Dachshund, Basset Hound, Bull Terrier, Bulldog, Pug and German Shepherd Dog illustrates how much the breeds have changed over the past century. The German Shepherd used in the show ring is contrasted with the working German Shepherd, which still looks much like the German Shepherd of old.

Crufts Judge Terry Hannan insist that the working German Shepherds are anatomically incorrect and that it is the show dog that is more to the breed standard. When it was put to the Chairman of the Basset Hound Club that what they are breeding are deformed, congenital dwarfs, he rejected that accusation and claims that current Basset Hounds look very much like those of the 1800s. When shown a photo of a Basset Hound from sixty years ago, he was less than impressed.

On how Bulldogs breeder try to explain the breed's extreme traits such as severe underbite and facial wrinkles as based on historical fighting purposes, Historian David Hancock point out that "the way in which breeders try to justify the short face, the excessive wrinkling and the physique it now depicts as being traditional is just simply untrue." Bulldogs heads have becomes so large that the majority are unable to give birth naturally.

The Boxer breed is presented as suffering from heart diseases and high rate of cancer. One Boxer is shown having an epileptic seizure.

Dogs were initially bred for practical functions such as hunting and guarding but in the middle of the 19th century, they became a status symbol and dog breeding a sport. The function of the dog then took a back seat to appearance.

RSPCA Chief Vet Mark Evans calls the Crufts show "a parade of mutants" and "a freakish, garish beauty pageant that has frankly nothing to do with health and welfare." He points out that breed standards takes no account of temperament and fitness for purpose.

Eugenics

The program then traces the Kennel Club's history to the eugenics movement which it says purebreed dog breeding is based on. A Rhodesian Ridgeback breeder interviewed on the program advocated the culling of healthy ridgeless puppies as breed standards forbids ridgelessness in the breed. The Chairman of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club stated that she considers ridgelessness a genetic fault. The ridge is a mild form of Spina bifida and about 10% of ridged pups suffer from dermoid sinus. One in twenty puppies are born ridgeless and are not affected by the condition. A section of the code of ethics of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club is shown to state that "Ridgeless puppies shall be culled."

When asked about the practice of culling healthy puppies, Kennel Club chairman Ronny Irving denies knowledge of such activities and says that such practice are not acceptable. It was shown that after the interview, the Kennel Club wrote to the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club condemning the practice and requested that the club review their code of ethics. The breed club says that the Kennel Club knew about the code of ethics as they have to be ratified by the Kennel Club every year.

Apart from Ridgebacks, other examples mentioned includes Great Danes with wrong markings, white German Shepherds and white Boxers, although it is mentioned that cosmetic culling is not as common as before as more breeders choose to neuter individuals who do not meet breed standards.

The program points out the irony of dogs being selectively bred for being in poorer health than a mongrel.

Inbreeding

Deliberate inbreeding, including mother-to-son, father-to-daughter and brother-to-sister matings is said to result in serious genetic disease being perpetuated in many breeds. A 2006 report by Companion Animal Welfare Council called for major changes stating that "inbreeding needs to be controlled" and that "animals with genetic defects should be barred from breed shows". Irving rejected the claims in the report claiming that it was based on emotions rather than science.

A 2004 paper authored by the Kennel Club's own geneticist Jeff Sampson mentioned that "Unfortunately, the restrictive breeding patterns that have been developed as part and parcel of the purebred dog scene have not been without collateral damage to all breed..." and that "increasingly, inherited diseases are imposing a serious disease burden on many, if not all, breeds of dogs." Yet when interviewed for the program, Sampson claims that "the vast majority of dogs we register [...] will life long happy and healthy lives." A study by Imperial College London shows that despite 10 000 pugs in the UK, they are so inbred that their genes are the equivalent of only 50 individuals.

Health testing

It is shown that of the more than two hundred breeds registered by the Kennel Club, compulsory health tests exist only for the Irish Setter and Irish Red and White Setter. The Kennel Club defends the lack of health test saying that it would drive breeders away from the Club. The president of the British Veterinary Association Nick Blayney agrees with the Kennel Club stating that "if it becomes too reactionary and loses the support of the majority, it would cease to have any influence.. They are doing the best they can in a very difficult situation."

No official system for recording hereditary diseases exist and the program claims that any health screening that exists are "often inadequate or ineffective". In the Cavalier breed, while responsible breeders have used heart screening tests since 1995, as many ignore veterinarian advice to only breed dogs over a certain age, there has been no health progress in that front. The Kennel Club defends the lack of improvement, stating that things could have been worse had nothing been done.

Positive steps

The program acknowledges the Kennel Club's attempts to fix the health issues, in the form of the Accredited Breeder Scheme, and DNA tests funding but says neither solves the issue of inbreeding. It also acknowledge that Chairman Ronny Irving has spoken out about exaggerated traits in some breeds. Some breeds standards, such as the Bulldog's, have been changed to temper the exaggerations. Instead of a "massive head" new breed standards call for a "large head". The Kennel Club has also added health and welfare issues to the curriculum for judges. But the program warns that all that would come to naught if breeders continue to deny the need for change or interpret breed standards anyway they like.

Sick champions

The program shows examples of individuals with serious inherited diseases being crowned show champions. Such individuals are not forbidden from being bred and some go on to produce offsprings who inherit the same diseases.

The 2003 Crufts champion - a Pekingese - had to sit on an ice pack to have its photo taken and it was explained by the program that the breed tends to overheat due to its inability to breath properly as a result of its flattened face. The dog was revealed to have undergone a soft palate resection earlier, to fix a problem caused by the flattened face. Professor Dan Brockman from the Royal Veterinary College explains that the condition is inherited and is very likely to be passed down to later generations. Despite that, the Crufts champion has sired 18 liters.

The program states that people in the dog world who try to do the right thing finds it tough going against "a system that often rewards doing the wrong thing." It points out that the Kennel Club has started funding research into Syringomyelia in Caveliers but that breeders are not taking the issue seriously. It also points out that because of her proactive approach to the Syrinomyelia issue, Cavelier owner Carol Fowler, has been attacked with vitriol in online mailing lists. Breeder Margaret Carter has also took up the issue after her own dog were diagnosed with the condition and is lobbying for change as part of the Breed Club's health committee.

A Cavelier that won a Best-in-Show is revealed by Carter to have the condition. (One and a half month after the program aired, Carter was removed from the Cavelier Club Committee for this "breach of confidentiality".) Despite veterinarian advice not to breed from the dog, the dog went on to sire 26 litters, adding to the 8 litters sired before the diagnosis. Dr Claire Rusbridge expressed her incredulity: "If you took a stick and you beat a dog to create this pain that you could get from Syringomyelia, you'd be prosecuted, but there's nothing to stop you from breeding a dog that can be painful."

When told that Kennel Club is not doing enough, Irving rejects the claim that many breeds are in trouble, and states that the Kennel Club and its Charitable Trust are doing much to fix the problems in "some breeds". The program ends with RSPCA Chief Vet Mark Evans calling for a "complete top-to-bottom review of breed standards and the rules and regulations of dog showing to move it away from its obsession with beauty through to quality of life...".

Reaction

The program, which spanned a production period of two years, was watched by 3.9 millions viewers.

After the program aired, BBC, which has broadcast Crufts for 42 years announced that it was considering cutting its ties with the show. Various sponsers including the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and UK's largest dog welfare charity Dogs Trust have since pulled out of the show.

Before the program aired, the Kennel Club issued a statement warning that the program may be highly biased. After the airing, it released multiple press releases criticizing the neutrality and "sensationalism" of the program. It also lodged a complaint to broadcasting regulator Ofcom claiming "unfair treatment and editing". The Club too was considering their association with BBC saying that they are confident of finding another broadcaster should things turn sour. The BBC has stood by the journalism in the documentary.

The RSPCA stated that it is "concerned about the unacceptably high levels of disability, deformity and disease affecting pedigree dogs."

In his speech at the Welsh Kennel Club championship two days after the program aired, Kennel Club Chairman Ronny Irving said that “If this programme teaches us anything – I hope it will teach the ‘purists’ in some breeds that they simply must get a move on and realise that in these politically correct and well informed days some old attitudes are simply no longer sustainable”. Maintaining that the majority of dogs are healthy he said that "the roughly 90 per cent of us who thankfully have healthy breeds must continue to guard against exaggeration and must bring pressure to bear on the laggards, otherwise we will – all of us – continue to be tarred with the same brush".

Dogs Today editor Beverley Cuddy who said in the program that "dogs are falling apart and the number of genetic problems are increasing at a frightening pace" disputes the Kennel Club's 90% figure. She points out that a British Small Animal Veterinary Association/Kennel Club health survey shows that 37.4% had at least one serious health issue by age 5 and that the Kennel Club had to discount conditions such as hip dysplasia, slipping patellas and hereditary cataracts to get their 90% figure.

On October 5th, Margaret Carter, who revealed the health condition of the Best-in-Breed Cavalier in the film was voted out of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club (CKCSC) committee by its members in a Special General Meeting for "breach of confidentiality". The Kennel Club has expressed concerns with the decision by CKCSC.

On October 7, the Kennel Club announced that it is rolling out new health plans. Breed standards for every breed are under review and show judges would be required to take health into judging considerations. It has also requested regulatory powers from the Government, which would allow the club to take actions against breeders who do not comply with health standards.

Sequel

Plans are in the way for a sequel.

External links

• Crisis in the kennel: Is Crufts cruel?
• Top dogs and low tactics: how the pedigree of Crufts came under a shadow
• Extent of inbreeding in pedigree dogs revealed in new study Imperial College London
• Flaws on paws - Welfare problems in breeding pedigree dogs New Scientist
• Designer animals or breeding for welfare? (video) - British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation