Tuesday, March 13, 2012

The Kennel Club Explains Crufts Vet Checks



Does anyone think this bulldog is a model of success?

Compare the heavy, plodding, dentally-challenged dog, above to the rather amusing fast-running cross-breed that leaves his editorial comment in the ring. Nice on several levels!




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4 comments:

Viatecio said...

I'm confused.

They're saying that the vet isn't allowed to do anything more than the judge would be able to do. No stethoscopes, no ophthalmoscopes, no otoscopes.

Isn't that kind of the fox running the henhouse?

Judges look at the FORM of the dog. Vets examine the HEALTH, what the judges can't see. Of course, the dog with a grade 3 heart murmur will pass under a judge--but of course, it should also be placed under consideration by the vet for a heart issue!

Why not just use another judge for a second opinion if the vets aren't going to be utilized to their fullest extent? I'm fine with leaving the MRI and X-ray machines at home, but to tell someone that they can't even use the basic tools of the trade to do their JOB--well, sounds a lot like what armchair trainers with biddable goldens say to those of us who are actually in the trenches working with the real problem dogs!

As excited as I am about these developments in the show, I'm quite disappointed at the way vets are used, and their overall role in things.

You don't bring in the house inspector to look at a home and then say "You can only look at the things I see, don't look at the 'bones' of the house or the inner workings, we don't care about them."

Karen said...

I found the Bulldog video funnier than the agility video. While I am not a Bulldog fancier, those dogs physically look pretty damn similar to me. So much for "new & improved"

Kenya said...

I see the same things happening with pitbulls and american bulldogs. They are more than ever being bred for dysfunction and exagerrated features. There is NO WAY a pitbull should be 118 lbs and 16 in. at the shoulder. there is NO WAY a Bully type american bulldog should have such a receding muzzle that they end up with a "rope " over the nose.

As for the New and improved english bulldogs, it will take at least 15-20 years to see notable changes unless breeders are willing to outcross to healthier, somewhat related breeds(old school pitbulls, health checked boxers,etc.)
It reminds me of the guy who developed jalapeno peppers that were not hot. WTF!

Jenn said...

You can see the agility goof coming at 7 seconds in. I'll bet that some dog did some kind of elimination on the spot this dog takes note of at some time earlier in the day.