Moving the Immovable

In 2006, I wrote a blog post called “Inbred Thinking” about the failed genetic theories and closed minds underpinning the world of Kennel Club dogs.

In 2007 I got an email, and then a phone call, from Jemima Harrison. She was interested in the history and canine health outcomes I’d written about.

In 2008, Jemima produced “Pedigree Dogs Exposed” for the BBC, a documentary that quite literally blew the doors off the Kennel Club.

Some months later, I was visiting with Donald McCaig at a sheep dog trial in Virginia. Donald could clearly see the enormous impact Pedigree Dogs Exposed was having, but he didn’t quite get it.

“Patrick,” he said, “we’ve been talking about this stuff forever.  There’s nothing new.”

“Right,” I said. “But we were TELLING them.  Jemima SHOWED them, and it’s showing them that has made all the difference.”

At first the Kennel Club tried to be OUTRAGED that anyone would question their morality or expertise. 

When that didn’t work, they tried lying and minimizing both the disease and deformity.

When that didn’t work, they bunkered down.  Surely we would eventually get exhausted and move on?

But we did not get exhausted, and we did not move on.  Instead, we were joined, sometime by critics, but more often by supporters.

Jemima created CRUFFA, and I discovered Facebook.  

Bloggers were joined by veterinarians and, in the process of trying to prove us wrong, or sometimes out of curiosity, thousands and thousands of people discovered the depths of disease, deformity, and dysfunction in the world of Kennel Club dogs.

Somewhere along the line, pet insurance actuaries joined the fray. 

Thanks to CRUFFA, I believe, a few countries in Europe banned the “torture breeding” of intentionally deformed and severely brachycephalic dogs. 

This morning, Jemima posted on the latest report from the UK Kennel Club, which squarely faces the myriad problems in the world of pedigree dogs, and begins moving everyone towards sensible solutions

Once again, I am reminded of my old friend Donald McCaig, who wondered if it was possible to move the Kennel Clubs whose position he likened to a religion, free of evidence and based on faith alone.

“Ah,” I said, “it’s possible.  But it’s a bit like moving the Pyramids; it’s the first three feet that’s the hardest!”

Twenty years on, many thousands of hands pushing on the very long fulcrum of the Internet, has indeed begun to move the immovable. 

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, THE FIRST THREE FEET >> https://shorturl.at/ERdtr. 

Please read the entire report.

The Chairman of the UK Kennel Club, Ian Seath, writes:

Our intention in commissioning this review was clear: to understand, with honesty and precision, where our current work is effective, where it falls short, and where we must focus our efforts to support a healthier future for generations ofdogs. The findings do not shy away from the complexities and challenges faced by breeders and by the wider canine sector.

Nor do they overlook the dedication, care and commitment demonstrated by the many individuals and breed communities who work tirelessly to preserve and improve their breeds.

This document sets out a structured and forward‑looking programme for the Royal Kennel Club. It provides a clear framework through which we will refine our support for breeders, strengthen our evidence base, modernise our tools, and address the most pressing issues in genetic diversity, conformation, and breed‑related disease. Importantly, it recognises that the Royal Kennel Club must offer leadership that is grounded not only in scientific rigour but also in transparency, collaboration, and accountability.

Dr Alison Skipper (MA Vet MB Cert VR MA PhD MRCVS), Veterinary and Research Advisor at the Royal Kennel Club, was recruited in January 2025 to write the report and suggested way forward.

The report focuses in three lines of inquiry and reform:

1. Genetic diversity and inbreeding
2. Extreme conformation
3. Breed-related disease

Please read the entire report.

As skeptical and cynical as I always am, I have to say this report is terrific, and Allison Skipper deserves all the roses, as does new Kennel Club Chairman Ian Seath.

Full applause here.  This is Herculean-level stable cleaning. leaders