The club also funds research into canine health issues, tries to educate the public on responsible pet ownership, runs dog shows and field trials, and lobbies parliament on behalf of dogs. That's part of the reason we were miffed with the programme. It made it look as if we weren't aware of the issues and that we weren't doing anything, as if we had our heads in the sand. The Kennel Club has put 12 breeds on what it calls its "worry list".
These are breeds with recurring health problems that may be linked to the breed standard - a written description of the ideal dog that is holy writ for breeders. It has already revised the standard for the pekingese to encourage a less flat face. The gradual elimination of the pekingese's muzzle - in line with a standard that specified "profile flat with nose well set between eyes" - meant that these dogs, too, were having difficulty breathing.
Noses are now back in. The breed standards, many of which date back to the Victorian era, are remarkably detailed. Take the dachshund: "Rump full, broad and strong, pliant muscles. Croup long, full, robustly muscled, only slightly sloping towards tail.
Pelvis strong, set obliquely and not too short. Upper thigh set at right angles to pelvis, strong and of good length. Lower thigh short, set at right angles to upper thigh and well muscled. Legs when seen behind set well apart, straight and parallel. Hind dewclaws undesirable. There are also detailed specifications for general appearance, characteristics "intelligent, lively, courageous to the point of rashness" , temperament "faithful, versatile, good-tempered" , head and skull, eyes "almond shaped" , ears "mobile" , mouth, neck, forequarters, body, feet, tail, gait, coat, colour "no white permissible, save for a small patch on chest which is permitted but not desirable" , and, controversially, size - between 9kg and 12kg.
Controversially because there are suggestions that some owners starve their dachshunds ahead of shows to ensure that they make their fighting weight. The degree of detail is obsessive, the search for perfection hard for the outsider to fathom. This is one of those closed worlds which may make perfect sense to its inhabitants but look bizarre to those who stray into it. So, are the people who show dogs barmy?
Geoffrey Davies, one of the UK's leading experts on the pekingese, also rejects the charge of eccentricity. Showing is a hobby like any other, he argues, but he admits Christopher Guest's spoof documentary, Best in Show, is a wickedly accurate portrayal of the world of dog shows. Davies is fascinating because his life has been dominated by dogs.
He has owned more than pekingese in 50 years of showing, had 15 champions, owned best of breed and the toy group winner at Crufts, and judged all over the world. The pekingese is a small dog with the heart of a lion. They've brought so much to my life.
When I was first introduced to them, I was an introverted, shy, stuttering boy. They developed my life enormously, took me out to shows, and introduced me to people who covered every socio-economic group - from a cousin of the Queen to a man who swept the streets.
All social barriers were broken down through common love of the dog. Davies's enthusiasm is infectious, and it is tempting to play up the comedy of the bitchy world of showing. Dog Name Finder Browse our extensive library of dog names for inspiration. Find out the best and worst foods for your dog and which to avoid.
Additional Resources AKC. Clubs Offering: Training Classes. By Will Hank Sep 16, 4 Minutes. Sep 16, 4 Minutes. Note: This is not a comprehensive history and does not include all notable dates.
A group of sighthounds large and small, featuring a Whippet on the far right. A dreadlocked Komondor clears a bar in an early example of what would later evolve into agility. Founded in , the not-for-profit AKC is the recognized and trusted expert in breed, health, and training information for all dogs.
AKC actively advocates for responsible dog ownership and is dedicated to advancing dog sports. First, there was the question of the qualifications and integrity of the judges. Were judges biased towards friends and business associates? Could judges be bought by unscrupulous owners? Most important of all were the criteria for judging. This question had arisen at the very first show in Newcastle in , when sporting dogs were assessed on their look and shape, rather than their abilities in the field.
For example, a minimum height, a preferred shape of head, and a required conformation of front and hind legs. The Kennel Club was also challenged over the welfare of dogs. Owners reported that some shows were centres of contagion, spreading fleas and the much-feared distemper. There were also reports of dogs choking on the chains that secured them to benches, while the close confinement of dogs in strange surroundings produced interminable noise, which turned to pandemonium when dogs escaped their leashes to fight and run amok.
To validate pedigrees and identities, the club established a Stud Book, in which owners could record the lineage of their individual dog or kennel. Registrations were allowed to be back-dated to and after it became the national register of pedigrees, after differences with the Birmingham Society were settled in The Kennel Club also became the arbiter of breeds and breed standards.
While there was approval for the greater regularity of type, many fanciers complained that standards were being set on arbitrary, largely aesthetic grounds by enthusiasts in specialist clubs, without concern for utility or the health of the animal.
This meant that breeds were changing, and not always for the better. For example, the modern St Bernard was said to be a beautiful animal, but would be useless in Alpine rescue work.
However, vets reported that overall the health of pedigree dogs was no worse, and perhaps better, than that of mongrels. Dog shows were a phenomenon of the Victorian era, which spread from Britain around the world.
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