Page 16 - Chow Life - Spring 2018
P. 16
Do the Right Thing
By Patricia Trotter
The British Broadcasting function, as well as good health, in it was bred. As breeders, we
Company’s recent portrayal their stock. must accentuate good health and
of the purebred dog as a sickly A question we must ask ourselves longevity in our stock, and work
animal debilitated by inbreeding is how can we make lemonade diligently to remove from the
is without doubt one of the from these dreadful lemons? Even gene pool any animals that do not
most acute examples of yellow the most venomous critique can be measure up.
journalism ever aimed at our used as a tool for improvement if Over the centuries master
dog-loving community. England’s approached properly. Have we the breeders have linebred and even
extraordinary contributions over dog fancy ever focused on extremes inbred to superior sires and dams
the centuries to the development at the expense of functionality? in their efforts to concentrate
of the purebred dog, as well as If so, we must refocus on the fact desirable genes and improve
outstanding breeds of horses, that breeds were perfected in the their stock. It all depends on
cattle, sheep, and other what the breeder selects to
livestock, are recognized by include in the gene pool of
the world as commendable. Don’t let the hate future generations. Pedigree
Yet the recent television research, where one knows
documentary ignored this mongers get your the health and quality of all
positive element while the dogs in the pedigree for
targeting certain ill animals goat as you defend generations, is a required and
within given breeds to shock valuable tool.
the viewer and make the the purebred dog.
case that purebred dogs are The key to defeating the
a disaster. Almost worse is assault on our very existence
that respected, responsible is to concentrate on selection,
breeders who cooperated with beginning to work, not to show. pedigree study, health, and
veterinarians they trusted to make Are there among us breeders who temperament. Selection means
headway against those particular need further guidance to stay intelligent decision-making that
physical problems were betrayed by committed to those concepts? is totally unbiased and wise. This
those who broke their faith! More than 100 years ago, in requires that you appreciate the
good dogs of others and not over-
Exactly how the international his book The Show Dog, H. appreciate your own. It also means
dog community can respond to Woodworth Huntington voiced following the advice of those who
this unscrupulous program is not concerns that dogs could become are more able than you, relying on
clear. It seems movements are too extreme. He wrote, “The them to guide you in your decision-
afoot to outlaw inbreeding as well specimen which is possessed of making. It is about understanding
as linebreeding of any kind, and the ‘essential quality’ in the most that an excellent breeding record
to regulate all breeding decisions. abnormal degree is the winner of is far more important than an
Certainly the misguided animal- the blue ribbon.” As breeders, we excellent show record!
rights people believe that as long recognize there is a point where
as any mixed-breed dog is available extreme can become somewhat The no-nonsense ladies in
to the prospective pet owner, there incapacitating. For example, their tweeds and gentlemen in
should be no breeding of purebred quarter-horse fanciers are paying hunt jackets who have forever
dogs. Credit that gentleman Border the price for their pursuit of bred quality dogs throughout
Terrier breeder and chairman of the ultra-dainty foot with short, the British Isles understood that
the Kennel Club, Ronnie Irving, upright pasterns. The breed is breeding was more important than
for his courtly defense of purebred now troubled by navicular disease winning. Tragically, they have been
breeds and master breeders when because it has lost its natural dishonored by this media madness.
faced with the BBC debacle. shock absorber. This has resulted We must stand up for them—it is
Irving has long supported in a lovely horse that can be led a dereliction of duty not to do so!
the dedication of true into the show ring but can no We must emphasize that all show
dog breeders to form and longer tolerate the work for which dogs are pets, even though not all
pets are show dogs. Show dogs are
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