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The Kennel Club should
answer the following question:
Would the
Kennel Club register a blind and deaf purebred litter of puppies from
parents with severe dysplasia, severe elbow dysplasia, epilepsy and
haemophilia?
The
PUBLIC has a right to know the answer!
The answer is
YES - as long as both parents are Kennel Club
registered.
The Kennel Club make
income from REGISTRATIONS their top priority, even over the desperate
need to introduce fundamental, meaningful and effective measures to
considerably improve the health and welfare of pedigree dogs. This is
the main reason significant and sustainable improvements in the health
and welfare of pedigree dogs will not be attainable through the Kennel
Club.
The Kennel Club do not
even include strict identification requirements for entry into licensed
shows, and possibly worse still, exhibits do not have to meet any
satisfactory health screening minimum requirements. Even the CRUFTS best
in show winner, never mind any other CRUFTS winner, may suffer from a
number of hereditary diseases, which could be, or indeed may have been
identified by health screening.
With the current
priorities of the Kennel Club the health and welfare of pedigree dogs
would definitely be best served outside of the Kennel Club. You only
have to carefully consider the manner in which the Kennel Club have
dealt with the numerically large and very popular breed, the German
Shepherd Dog, over the last year or so, in respect of its health and
welfare. Of necessity this is a summary, which I hope will give the
reader a clear picture of what the Kennel Club actually fails to do for
the health and welfare of German Shepherd Dogs. This can obviously be
mirrored across all other breeds.
German Shepherd Dog (GSD)
I have absolutely no doubts the health and welfare of the GSD would be
best served by the GSD National Breed Clubs that are World Union of
Shepherd Dog Club (WUSV) members, the GSD League and BAGSD, who along
with the GSD Breed Council which represents all GSD breed clubs within
the United Kingdom.
These respected
organisations joined together in 2008 as the GSD Partnership (GSDP) and
jointly agreed a Planned Improvement Programme (PIP) – (appendix 1).
This consists of a list of improvements for the health and welfare of
GSD which have been purposefully side stepped by the Kennel Club.
In November 2008 the
Kennel Club refused to have the PIP on the agenda at a joint meeting
with the GSDP. Despite further meetings with the Kennel Club in April
2009 and August 2009, no progress was made. Public statements by the
Kennel Club appeared to be designed with the objective of derailing the
joint discussions, further indicated when the Kennel Club stubbornly
failed to jointly agree the minutes of the August 2009 meeting,
insisting that their version was correct and stubbornly refusing to
compromise on the difference of opinion, so that joint discussions could
continue.
All of this culminated in
the Kennel Club, completely bypassing the GSDP and returning to their
customary dictatorial position with the GSD breed clubs, by
discontinuing dialogue with the GSDP and instead issuing a Press
Statement in the first week of January 2010. Their original stance to
withhold the allocation of Challenge Certificates to the GSD breed for
2012, was now followed by a Kennel Club requirement for individual GSD
breed clubs to sign an “undertaking” (appendix 2) in order
for them to be allocated Challenge Certificates. A clear policy of
divide and conquer, alongside a clear policy of suppressing the GSDP
Planned Improvement Programme (PIP), alongside their blatant
determination to continue making REGISTRATION income their TOP PRIORITY.
In addition comments within the “undertaking” are clearly
politically designed to give the impression that the GSD Partnership is
not seriously interested in the health and welfare of the GSD. NOTHING
COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. The Kennel Club are the real failure in
this regard. You only have to read the GSDP Planned improvement
Programme (PIP) to fully understand that.
This was still not enough
for the Kennel Club, they realised that many of the GSD breed clubs were
attracted to the German system of exhibiting their GSD. They also knew
of the popularity of the GSD BRITISH SIEGER EVENT which had been held
annually for the last five years. They also knew this event was held
under the German system, through the WUSV member clubs, and included
identification and health screening criteria within the entry
conditions. Something the Kennel Club shows seriously lack. Fearing
a real alternative show scene could and would be developed for the GSD,
the Kennel Club included the following clause within the
“undertaking”.
Clause 9.
“The Club confirms that it will act in good faith with the Kennel Club
on all matters including confirmation that it will not, without the
express permission of the Kennel Club, run any events under the rules or
regulations of any organisation other than the Kennel Club.”
Why this clause has been
included in an undertaking primarily and supposedly aimed at improving
the health and welfare of the GSD, is open to speculation.
I believe it has been
included to stifle GSD progress within the UK through WUSV events.
The Kennel Club clearly
illustrate their failure to use the powerful influence the dog shows can
exert on breeders, something which Professor Bateson highlights in his
recent report, in their reply to a GSD breeder when they were asked the
following question:
“We are currently
Exhibiting a GSD with a hip score of 3-47=50 (authors note – this is
severe hip dysplasia). We would be very grateful if you could please
clarify for us that if a judge is aware of our dog’s hip score, should
they penalise him in the show ring although he is very sound and
displays excellent movement?”
The Kennel Club replied:
“In answer to your query, judges are only required to consider
whether a dog is suffering from a visible condition which
adversely affects its health or welfare. Therefore any knowledge which
the judge may have with regard to the health status of the dog, such as
its hip score, should not be taken into account when judging, and it
would not be appropriate to base any judging decisions on such
information.”
This Kennel Club answer is
very revealing, first of all their use of the word visible
clearly illustrates their “out of sight – out of mind” attitude towards
health screening information. It also reveals their unwillingness to
place health screening results as a condition of entry for Kennel Club
licensed shows. Something which is disgraceful and which clearly shows
they also place show entries above the health and welfare of pedigree
dogs, second only to their first priority of safeguarding their
registration income. This is completely the opposite of what they should
be doing, and clearly reveals that the Kennel Club, in respect of the
health and welfare of pedigree dogs, are “unfit for purpose”.
I would ask, what “undertaking”
regarding health and welfare, are the Kennel Club requesting from each
and every pedigree dog breeder who wants to REGISTER A LITTER with them?
Remember the Kennel Club’s
effectiveness over implementing significant changes to bring about major
improvements in the health and welfare of pedigree dogs is seriously
compromised by their clear priority of protecting and maximising their
REGISTRATION income and the Kennel Club show entries. This could not be
made any clearer than seeing their failure to make any progress with the
GSDP and their excellent, health and welfare, Planned Improvement
Programme. The PIP would have required the Kennel Club to change its
priorities, and it is unwilling, and apparently incapable of doing so.
The GSD Partnership
(GSDP), and indeed the World Union of Shepherd Dog Clubs (WUSV), is well
aware of a degree of unsoundness in the hindquarters of some German
Shepherds. This is neither correct nor welcome, but can only be overcome
by an educated judging system being put in place, alongside an awareness
campaign throughout the GSD breed.
The reader should be in no
doubt that the GSD League of Great Britain (WUSV member); the oldest and
most influential GSD Club, will continue to take every step possible to
ensure significant improvement in the health and welfare of the GSD, in
line with the Planned Improvement Programme (PIP) which was initiated by
them. I am also confident they will be strongly supported by many of the
other GSD Clubs and the WUSV, who all share a genuine interest in the
future health and welfare of our magnificent breed.
David Payne
VIDEX GSD
www.videxgsd.com
Appendix 1
GSD Partnership
(GSDP) Health and Welfare “Planned Improvement Programme” (PIP)
this is the list of improvements which have been purposefully side
stepped by the Kennel Club.
1)
The breed
name of German Shepherd Dog (Alsatian) should be brought into line
with the rest of the World and changed to German Shepherd Dog. This
will also avoid the confusion that exists with the general public
who often believe that there are 2 different types/breeds - the
German Shepherd Dog and the Alsatian.
2)
Introduction of a mandatory breed survey before being allowed to be
bred from.
3)
No
female under the age of 21 months should be bred from.
4)
No male
under the age of 18 months should be bred from.
5)
Inbreeding closer than 3, 2 or 2, 3 should not be accepted.
6)
Mandatory training scheme for Judges with a scrutiny panel of
senior breed judges empowered by the KC and the Partners who
will monitor judge’s adhesion to the rules, with regular forums for
discussion.
7)
Reduction of the judges list to an active register and
qualified list
8)
Line
breeding to be shown on the KC pedigree in order to differentiate.
9)
A quick
win in differentiating GSDs who have had tests from those who have
not would be for the KC to acknowledge international working Health
and Working tests on Pedigrees. The standard of a good proportion of
GSDs registered with the KC would be raised demonstrably.
10)
Future breeding standards:-
11)
Any
puppies registered by the Kennel Club must have parents who have
both been hip X-rayed and each parent have achieved a total score of
20 or less, (with one side being no higher than 12) or a recognised
overseas grade which is similar.
12)
Any
puppies registered by the Kennel Club must have parents who have
both been elbow X-rayed and either graded by the BVA or have
achieved a recognised overseas status.
13)
The sire
of any puppies registered by the Kennel Club must have passed a
haemophilia test if bred in the UK.
14)
Any
puppies registered by the Kennel Club must have parents who have
both been either tattooed or micro-chipped for identification
purposes, in order for the individual dog to match his/her
documentation.
15)
The
parents of every puppy to be registered by the Kennel Club must have
had DNA identification recorded with the Kennel Club or a recognised
overseas authority.
16)
Any
puppies registered by the Kennel Club should conform to the Breed
Standard colour requirement.
17)
The
parents of any puppies registered by the Kennel Club must
have passed a Breed Survey (in the year in which the animal attains
2 years of age - or older) either in the U.K. or with a recognised
overseas authority.
18)
The U.K.
Breed Survey to be upgraded to include a fitness/endurance test
similar to the ' (AD) required by International WUSV
authorities.
19)
The
parents of any puppies registered by the Kennel Club should have
achieved either a recognised Kennel Club or WUSV working
qualification, with the minimum being a Gold Kennel Club Good
Citizen Test or a BH qualification.
20)
The breeder of
any puppies registered by the Kennel Club should hold a valid Kennel
Club prefix.
Appendix 2
the Kennel Club
“undertaking”
for the
GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG (Alsatian) Breed Clubs
At
its meeting on 5th January 2010, the Kennel Club General Committee again
looked at the issues surrounding GSDs.
As previously reported, the Kennel Club has been very disappointed with
the lack of progress made following meetings held with the GSD
Partnership during 2008/9. Failure to agree the Minutes of the meeting
of the 18th August 2009 is particularly frustrating, especially as the
problem of unsoundness in the hindquarters and hocks of some dogs is
widely acknowledged within the breed.
The Kennel Club has been waiting since July 2009 for the GSD community
as a whole to suggest a meaningful and practical way forward which
addresses those health and welfare issues in the breed which have been
legitimately raised by the Kennel Club. This has not happened and the
Kennel Club, as it indicated it might three weeks ago, has now chosen to
take some proactive steps with those individual breed clubs which are
prepared to help. This is an attempt to safeguard the health and welfare
of the breed and to secure its future and has been the Kennel Club’s
sole motivation throughout its discussions with the GSD breed community.
Basically only those eligible clubs which accept that
-
there is a degree of unsoundness in
the hindquarters of the breed
-
that these problems should be
penalised at shows and
-
that Kennel Club rules on double
handling will be adhered to in future
will be allocated
2012 Challenge Certificates. Those who do not accept this will not be
given the privilege of Kennel Club Challenge Certificate status.
Therefore, at its meeting this week, the Kennel Club General Committee
agreed detailed proposals which set out exactly what steps breed clubs
and others need to take in order to start to address the major issues
within the GSD breed and thus allow for the 2012 allocation of the
Kennel Club’s highest award, the Challenge Certificate. That allocation
had been deferred pending a proposed resolution to the problems.
In order to be considered for an allocation of Kennel Club Challenge
Certificates, all GSD Breed Clubs and General & Group Championship Show
Societies, which had previously been allocated Challenge Certificates,
and wish to have such Certificates in future, are to be required to sign
a formal Undertaking to abide by certain conditions for all future shows
with immediate effect.
Only those Societies which agree to this Undertaking will be
considered for an allocation of Kennel Club Challenge Certificates for
GSDs in 2012 and beyond.
The Kennel Club has written to all GSD breed clubs and affected General
& Group Championship Show Societies giving full details of the required
Undertaking. A deadline of 31st March 2010 for the receipt of signed
Undertakings has been set.
Kennel Club Chairman, Ronnie Irving, explained, “The Committee felt it
had no choice but to take positive and practical steps now with
individual clubs in view of the failure of the GSD community as a whole
to respond. Six months have elapsed since the Kennel Club asked for
these issues to be addressed and there has been a great deal of talk but
not much action. We couldn’t allow this situation to continue unresolved
on an open-ended basis.
The requirements in the Undertakings are entirely reasonable. I hope
that the GSD community will embrace this as an opportunity to take the
positive actions necessary to address those breed issues that are
apparent to everyone in the world of dogs.”
“The Undertaking”
that German Shepherd Dog (Alsatian) Breed Clubs are requested to sign,
requires acceptance and adherence of the following conditions:
1. The Club recognises that it will not be allocated Kennel Club
Challenge Certificates for German Shepherd Dogs (Alsatian) unless it
signifies agreement of the conditions set out below and provides written
confirmation of such agreement by the Club’s Secretary and Chairman.
2. The Club accepts that there is a degree of unsoundness in the
hindquarters of the breed and in particular in the hocks of some dogs
and that these problems are to be penalised at shows.
3. The Club will arrange education of its judges on the correct
conformation and movement of the breed; viz – the above faults should be
avoided.
4. The Club will brief judges prior to all its shows on their health
and welfare responsibilities particularly in regard to soundness of
conformation.
5. The Club will adhere to Kennel Club Regulation F(1) paragraph 17h;
“The attracting of the attention of exhibits by any method from outside
the ring is prohibited. It is the duty of the Judge, Steward and Show
Management noticing such attraction to ask that it cease.
6. The Kennel Club escalation procedure with regard to the practice
of Outside Attraction (Double Handling) will be adhered to.
7. The Club will ensure that its judges and stewards are under
contract in writing to abide by Regulation F(1) paragraph 17h. and that
they will adhere to the escalation procedure. Specific wording (as
supplied by the Kennel Club) to this effect must be included in the
judges’ and stewards’ contract letters.
8. The Club confirms that those who do not abide by the above
provisions will be reported to the Kennel Club within seven days of the
last day of the show.
9. The Club confirms that it will act in good faith with the Kennel
Club on all matters including confirmation that it will not, without the
express permission of the Kennel Club, run any events under the rules or
regulations of any organisation other than the Kennel Club.
10. Upon request, and in any event annually, the Club will provide a
report confirming and demonstrating compliance with these conditions to
include reports on any required enforcement of Regulation F(1) paragraph
17h. and how this was achieved.
A report on agreement to comply, and compliance with these conditions,
will be required during the autumn of 2010 before a review of the Kennel
Club Challenge Certificate allocation for 2013 is carried out and it is
intended that this requirement will continue on a rolling basis.
A practical demonstration that there are definite plans in place and
actions commenced in order to comply with these conditions will be
required in an annual report and any evidence and reports of non
compliance will be relevant factors when considering the Club’s next
allocation of Challenge Certificates. |
