Dec
12
The latest big dog news is that the BBC say it will not be broadcasting Crufts as usual next year.
Crufts is a major attraction with over 150,000 visitors and over 22,000 dogs which come from all over the world. The BBC show was regarded as having a six million strong audience.
The BBC’s request to The Kennel Club, UK, was that 14 different breeds were to be excluded from the world’s largest dog show group categories and Best in Show competitions. The breeds the BBC wanted removed are:
Disputed breeds
Basset hound
Clumber spaniel
Dogue de Bordeaux
Mastiff
Neopolitan mastiff
Pekingese
Rottweiler
Shar pei
St Bernard
Chow chow
German shepherd
Bulldog
Rhodesian ridgeback
Cavalier spaniel
This has come as a follow up to the BBC documentary “Pedigree Dogs Exposed” where several pedigree breeds were shown to have serious health problems which were thought to be related to breeding.
In October, Cruft’s major sponsor, Pedigree (pet foods) withdrew its sponsorship of the show and the RSPCA and the Dogs Trust followed its lead.
The Kennel Club, UK, says the show, Crufts, will still go on.
The Kennel Club has been reviewing and in some cases, making changes, to the 209 breed standards in the UK and has also announced mandadory compliance with its strict code of ethics for all breed clubs.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7779686.stm
