http://www.crufts.org.uk/news/more-4-broadcast-crufts

I, for one, am grateful.  Can't afford to go - [d

I find it so funny that its being sponsored by a furniture store!

Same here LucyandMeg.  I have visions of the BOB winners all going home with Sofas strapped to the roof of their cars.....Hey...can you imagine.. a sofa with the words Crufts Best of Breed 2010 written all over it!!!

Im pleased too,i missed it being on tv this year!

Any spare sofa going?   Mine have been eaten and mauled LOL

Wouldn't it be great if they had random sofas dotted around the nec for weary people to sit on! 

> I, for one, am grateful.

I'm pleased too :-) I don't show anyway, so would not leave the dog for the day to go to crufts, I'd much rather curl up on the sofa with him & watch it on TV :)

Here's a snippet from the link in the OP

"The programming will also provide a high profile platform to inform the public about issues of health and welfare in pedigree dog breeding."

If the BBC actually cared about dogs welfare (other than fearing public opinion fueled by riled people who had seen PDE and not realisied it was a biased show) then why could they have not continued to show crufts, but with the stipulation that screening of crufts would have to include INFORMATION on health & welfare. A informed public is a powerfull tool that could do so much good in combating puppy farmers and ensuring health & welfare of all dogs.

A informed public is a powerfull tool that could do so much good in combating puppy farmers and ensuring health & welfare of all dogs.
Can't agree more Mastifflower

> If the BBC actually cared about dogs welfare (other than fearing public opinion fueled by riled people who had seen PDE and not realisied it was a biased show) then why could they have not continued to show crufts,

The KC were never really happy with the way the Crufts coverage was done by the BBC. They asked each year for more information on the health issues and advice on how to buy a healthy non puppy farmed puppy, but each year all we got was airhead presenters, very silly camera angles which showed nothing and oh yes lets not forget the shopping!

Did the KC tell you that, Polly?

Very amusing. And not true.

Jemima

> Very amusing. And not true.
>

And can you verify your statement, Jemima?   Please let us have chapter and verse!

Yes they did tell me this I spoke to Caroline Kisko.

Can you verify yours?

I think you will find on almost every internet forum you visit except possibly Dogs Today, which has people like the members of champdogs, that the one complaint for as many years as I can remember people have complained about the amount of time spent on shopping, presenters and silly camera angles, when what we actually want to see are the dogs and hopefully some mention of the work being done to improve health and welfare.

> Very amusing. And not true.
>
> Jemima

This is a problem you see, you talk at people, not with people and when we say something you do not like you can be very condesending, as this comment appears. It is one reason many people who would have written more on your yahoo group fortheloveofflatcoats will not write, they are too scared in case they receive a lash of your tongue.

It must be so nice to be all knowing (and all condesending)....... but possibly in time it might even get lonely.

>The KC were never really happy with the way the Crufts coverage was done by the BBC.

That's certainly the message I got from when I've complained to the KC about the quality of the TV coverage; that the BBC producers want a different, dumbed down, programme to the one dog lovers would prefer. That's why the internet coverage of the groups and BIS this year was a joy - it did what was wanted! It showed the dogs and nothing but the dogs - no shopping, no silly interviews.

This is a problem you see, you talk at people, not with people and when we say something you do not like you can be very condesending, as this comment appears. It is one reason many people who would have written more on your yahoo group fortheloveofflatcoats will not write, they are too scared in case they receive a lash of your tongue.

It must be so nice to be all knowing (and all condesending)....... but possibly in time it might even get lonely.

Her buzzer doesn't seem to be working properly today. Thats twice the 'J' word has been mentioned on this thread and she hasn't magically popped up yet. Maybe her batteries are flat?

That's certainly the message I got from when I've complained to the KC about the quality of the TV coverage; that the BBC producers want a different, dumbed down, programme to the one dog lovers would prefer.

The BBC's remit was to make the show interesting and entertaining to a general audience - after all, it was primetime telly.  So there wasn't enough ring-coverage for the show-heads and no doubt those very into dogs did find it all a bit lightweight (I'd admit that I did in some respects).  What I was disputing was Polly's statement re the BBC refusing to entertain KC requests to include health issues in the programme - as if somehow it was the BBC, not the KC, that was ignoring health issues. Can you honestly imagine the old BBC Crufts including, perhaps, an item on Ronnie's concerns about exaggeration? Or how some show breeders of ridgebacks were culling puppies because they were born without a ridge? Or how devastating syringomyelia is in the cavalier?

Anyway, as Toolz said yesterday, the views here are mostly very entrenched and we all have work to do. Thank you to those who have contacted me off-list (it's for you that I venture into the lion's den). I continue to be passionate about pedigree dog health, hence why I devote so much time to it, and anyone is free to contact me should they want to learn more about the issues as I see them.

Jemima

>The BBC's remit was to make the show interesting and entertaining to a general audience - after all, it was primetime telly.

The BBC's remit is to cover events - compare the coverage of Crufts with the coverage of Wimbledon, for example. What proportion was devoted to actual tennis as compared to the proportion devoted to the dogs taking part in the rings?

There's a reason why the BBC's mission is to "Inform, Educate and Entertain" - in that order!

Anyway, as Toolz said yesterday, the views here are mostly very entrenched and we all have work to do. Thank you to those who have contacted me off-list (it's for you that I venture into the lion's den). I continue to be passionate about pedigree dog health, hence why I devote so much time to it, and anyone is free to contact me should they want to learn more about the issues as I see them.

How very noble of you.. We are not worthy. This is why people find you so condescending Jemima. You talk down to people. I think we are more than aware of the issues as you see them, it is afterall the issues as you see them that has made you so unpopular here. Thanks but i think i'll pass on contacting an investigative journalist with a bee in her bonnet about the KC if it's all the same. Mwaaah darlink!

See i can be pretentous too. xx

Oh yes - they contacted you off list, and then defended you on line in the Sunday Times :)

I'm nobody special - have never ever pretended to be an expert,  have only ever shown lightly - and never ever got bob - we have more blue rosettes than red have never bred a Crufts winner (although one of our breeding did get a 2nd in his class at Crufts once :) ) - and in over 50 years of dog-ownership can still count the number of litters bred on the fingers of one hand.  But I have learned as years go by about the weaknesses in my breeds, what to stay away from, what to go towards.  In fact I'm probably spot-on for Mrs Average-plus dog owner.

However experience and talking to people has taught me a lot - that good breeders do care about the welfare of their dogs, that they are members of their breed societies and adhere to such codes of conduct.    I will share my information with anyone who asks, and I will give chapter and verse for any facts that I pass on.

To insinuate that anyone who does not follow your mind set and is not passionate about pedigree dog health is insulting and pretentious to the n-th degree.   You say people can contact you should they want to learn more about the issues as I see them - as if your view is the only view of value.   How dare you?  

If only she knew just how much damage she has done. We have had a population explosion of designer cross breeds down here, purely bred for money. The public believe that as they are crossbreeds and not KC registered therefore they must be healthy! We saw a labradoodle puppy at work bred by "doodle" breeders whose parents hipscores were well over the breed averages, but nevermind they aren't inbred are they so they must be fine!! After all Dogs today love promoting the "healthier" (said very tongue in cheek) cross breeds! :-(

the views here are mostly very entrenched and we all have work to do. Thank you to those who have contacted me off-list (it's for you that I venture into the lion's den). I continue to be passionate about pedigree dog health, hence why I devote so much time to it, and anyone is free to contact me should they want to learn more about the issues as I see them.
I believe everyone on here is passionate about dogs - pedigree or otherwise.  Why can't you listen to the concerns people are making and answer them directly - ignoring the sometimes aggressive approach?  Entrenched views, if listened too fully and with respect, can, if need be, be changed.  I think you are as guilty of 'entrenched views' as anyone here if not more so. 
I also found it interesting that you qualified your remark on issues with 'as I see them'  You appear to be writing as an authority on the subject so I would hope you can back up your views with proper research - not just as you see them.  
Don't get me wrong - i'm as concerned as most about the exaggerations [IMHO brought about by unscrupulous breeders seeking CC's] that cause health problems in breeds - but informed discussion is what is needed not this antagonist tirade.

I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed that the new coverage will have informed presenters!   The pretty-boy airhead that the BBC insisted on employing really got on my nerves.

And yes, let's hope that there is less coverage of shopping and more coverage about dogs.   For the general public information about buying healthy, well bred puppies, the special needs of highlighted breeds*, feeding and training would be fabulous.

* Meaning, when showing border collies in obedience or flyball ... do mention that they are not suitable for a home where no one is interest in exercising them!   Or, although this Pom dog looks fabulous, keep in mind it takes 5 hours of grooming a week to keep them looking that way ...  

> * Meaning, when showing border collies in obedience or flyball ... do mention that they are not suitable for a home where no one is interest in exercising them!   Or, although this Pom dog looks fabulous, keep in mind it takes 5 hours of grooming a week to keep them looking that way ...  

Definately agree with this! My friend is a dog groomer and she is always telling me horror stories of dogs coming in whose coats are so tangled they can not be at all comfortable.

Tonight at dog club we had two new puppies start coming for basic pet training. They are GSD x labradors, both pups sold to one family...... How long before they are re-homed? These 'very healthy mongrels' are already getting out of control and arrived at club lunging out at all the other dogs there, hackles up etc... The owners are among those who have gone for a non pedigree because they were worried about health issues.... They paid more for each pup than I know most pedigree pups would have cost.