This is interesting reading

R Taft

Active member
Bulldog and Pekingese fail Crufts vet checks

No dog representing the Pekingese and Bulldog breeds will compete in Thursday evening’s Best in Group competitions at Crufts after they failed the new veterinary checks that have been introduced to the show.

The Best of Breed award was not given to Pekingese, Palacegarden Bianca, or Bulldog, Mellowmood One In A Million, following their veterinary checks, which were carried out by an independent veterinary surgeon. This means that the dogs will not be allowed to continue into the Toy or Utility Best in Group competitions respectively.

The Kennel Club has introduced veterinary checks for the Best of Breed winners at all Kennel Club licensed General and Group Championship Dog Shows from Crufts 2012 onwards, in 15 designated high profile breeds. This measure was introduced to ensure that Best of Breed awards are not given to any dogs that show visible signs of problems due to conditions that affect their health or welfare.

The fifteen high profile breeds are as follows: Basset Hound, Bloodhound, Bulldog, Chow Chow, Clumber Spaniel, Dogue De Bordeaux, German Shepherd Dog, Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Pekingese, Shar Pei, St Bernard, French Bulldog, Pug and Chinese Crested.

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: “We are determined to ensure that the show ring is a positive force for change and that we help to move breeds forward by only rewarding the healthiest examples of a breed.

“The veterinary checks were introduced to ensure that dogs with exaggerated features do not win prizes. The independent veterinary surgeon decided that the Pekingese and Bulldog should not pass their checks and therefore they did not receive their Best of Breed awards and will not be representing their breeds in the remainder of the competition.”

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/4199/23/5/3
 

Ginny

New member
Donna posted this on FB. I'd like to know what their 'exaggerated features' or 'signs of problems due to conditions that affect their health or welfare' were. Knowing how strict the Brits are on changing a dog's appearance i.e. tail docking, ear cropping, I'm assuming these are dogs from outside of the UK and those that don't meet their standard...

I'm assuming these are dogs from outside of the UK and those that don't meet their standard...
Not the case: just looked up both breeders and they're from the UK! Looks like a melding of a breeder's interpretation of the standard and what's best for the dog's health, is in the offing. Good for them.
 
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R Taft

Active member
I thought it might be more to do with health conditions, such as breathing, soundness and such, seeing that it was done by a vet........it would be good if it was for the health of the dog/breed.
 

ardeagold

New member
I don't know if any of you are on the Dog Show Forum on FB or the AKC Judges Report Card also on FB, but there are lots of discussions about this there. It's about the health of the breed, however, most feel it's all about the Animal Rights groups agenda.

The Neopolitan Mastiff and the Clumber Spaniel also failed. HOWEVER, I read today that the Peke was re-examined by a different Vet and passed? (Have no idea if it's true or not, since I don't see anything new on the Cruft's site)

What I don't understand is why they don't examine the dogs BEFORE they go in the ring versus humiliating the breeder and his/her kennel AFTER it wins?

Anyway...there are 15 dogs on the "list" as Ronnie said. The Newf, thank heaven, is not ONE of them.
 

Ginny

New member
I just heard that the Clumber was DQed for conjunctivitis. I agree with Donna about doing the checks before the wins.
 
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