Thought provoking documentary
Posted by Abigail on 06/10/08, filed under News | 4 Comments
Perhaps you saw the recent BBC documentary ‘Pedigree Dogs Exposed’, directed by Jemima Harrison, in which a variety of inherited canine diseases associated with inbreeding were investigated. Subsequently, Dogs Trust and the RSPCA have made the decision to boycott Crufts (as reported in Veterinary Times recently) to emphasise to the Kennel Club how strongly they feel that immediate action needs to be taken with regard to inbreeding.
I watched this programme and found it very informative and would be really interested to hear what you think.
Email me at abigail@grovelodgevets.co.uk.
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It was indeed a very informative programme. I had no idea how much suffering is caused through pedigree breeding and agree whole-heartedly with the boycotting of Crufts.
This comment was received via email:
Hello,
As did most people it seems, I watched Pedigree Dogs Exposed, but I want to actually do something about it. When most breeds were developed (like the cavalier in the early 20th century) our veterinary knowledge of good breeding practices was pitiful, but now it is anything but.
I want to embark on a breeding project if I can get enough other people on board to ‘reconstruct’ the cavalier, as was done in the 1920’s, but this time healthier. Veterinary knowledge has increased so much in the intervening decades, as has genetics. I would like to get advice from such knowledgeable people as yourself to make the developing breed as health as possible. Would this be possible? If not, could you direct me towards anyone who could help?
Thank you for your time.
Lucy
Lucy, I have the same interest. I have a good knowledge and understanding of the dog world, and of genetics, and a love of companion spaniels – especially the Cavalier King Charles. I have also delved into early Toy Spaniel history and origins. My love is of their temperament and, except for basic size and coat type phenotype is of little importance to me.
Outcross projects have been suggested in the various clubs, not only recently but as well when it was discovered MVD was such a problem in the gene pool. It has not been an accepted suggestion.
A reconstruction of a breed, similar to, but not a Cavalier, might be the way to go.
I’d like to bash about some ideas. How do I contact you?
Shirley
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