> I think we will have to agree to differ

Good call :)

When my mastiff started to lose weight but was eating i didnt wait till she got in a state,i took her to the vet as weight loss is not normal.It turned out she had an inoperable heart condition,she couldnt play exercise or go in the garden without her mouth going blue,she then became incontinent(wee) and was in my eyes not enjoying life,when i took her to a vet she said" would you put your mother down if she had these problems" IT HAD TAKEN ME A FEW WEEKS TO DECIDE ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH! my poor girl was wasting away before my eyes and YES if my mother looked at me and said enough i would not let her suffer either.my girl was only 4 i know its hard to make that decision but people shouldnt use it as an excuse.And as for the vet i told her what i thought and took my girl somewhere else to say my goodbyes.

it's a very tough call knowing when to let go but its something as a responsible owner we have to do. 

i wouldn't show under him -if peope want to then thats their decision and they may have different info.  his opinion on my dog would be of no interest to me.

as others have said - JH is going to love this story, such a shame

Regardless of whether you think this judge has "done his time" or not there is absolutely no doubt this is a PR disaster waiting to happen.
Jeff.

I totally agree with everyone who says this man SHOULD NOT BE JUDGING DOGS! Irrespective of the background, that may or may not be true,  how on earth can this person be fit to judge when his dog was suffering intollerable pain, so much so this man was prosecuted for it?!
I posed the question on the Crufts Facebook wall simply asking if this is true about if this man is judging in 2013 & guess what...they removed my post & barred me from making any more comments on their FB wall! But not to be silenced easily I emailed The Daily Mail & explained what happened & why we all deserve an explanation & clarification on the matter & perhaps they could take it up & ask the KC on my berhalf as I'm now barred from doing so on their public forum. I have also emailed Steve Dean the KC Chairman & explained this to him too and that I had been in contact with a national newspaper. It will be very interesting to see what reply I get! If they apologise I will accept but I am also strongly campaigning for an explanation. Even if this is to back their decision at least we will all have a clearer idea about where the KC are on this. I don't want to be rude to anyone but silencing me when I asked politely a perfectly reasonable question is not on & this lady WON'T be going away lightly! :0)  

Also-I think the breed is outstanding & actually instead of dreading potential press coverage of this why not make a stand & support the inevitable public KC outcry if this man is still the named judge? It's such a shame that decent, ethical, knowlegable mastiff breeders will probably boycot the show if this decision stands. It's exactly these people that SHOULD BE AT CRUFTS showing the world what a good example of the breed looks like! I'm sorry if I have inadvertantly added to the rough road ahead you may feel you will get when this is all over the UK press Mastiff owners & decent breeders but it's just something the KC should not be allowed to get away with in my opinion by silencing anyone who asks them a reasonable question about this.
Think about the public credibility you & your dogs will get if you make your voice heard in the name of animal welfare & correct judging preferably by someone who knows what a massive cancerous starvation causing growth looks like! Just my view.

But not to be silenced easily I emailed The Daily Mail & explained what happened & why we all deserve an explanation & clarification on the matter & perhaps they could take it up & ask the KC on my berhalf as I'm now barred from doing so on their public forum.

Much as I agree this person should not be allowed to judge, I feel that contacting the Daily Mail was EXTREMELY wrong indeed and the only purpose it will serve is give JH and the media another stick to hit us all with! As always it will be turned round so that the general public will be led to believe ALL dog shows judges and exhibitors are cruel. Why not simply stick to the dog papers which are read by people that actually understand?

I respect your opinion however surely this is ultimately about the welfare of the dogs & life & health expectancy of the breed? The Mastiff was the dog who suffered unbelievably here not humans. This is not a slur on Mastiffs, quite the reverse. The KC are behaving like dictators, silencing & barring people from asking prefectly reasonable questions about a next year's mastiff judge. Don't tell me the papers aren't in full knowlege of this already, I'm sure my little voice made no difference to their awareness in this matter. What it will do hopefully is contribute towards:

firstly-hopefully seek answers from KC about why they feel they have the right to treat people this way who dare ask about it
secondly-get the story out of the way & concluded one way or the other b4 the eve of Crufts when it's too late & everyone is caught on the back foot & unable to consider judge alternatives or explanations
Thirdly-Raise the question who has the crudentials to be deemed a judge in the eyes of the KC
Lastly-If Mr. Blaxter stands down from being a 2013 judge the best & most respected breeders in the UK may actually show their dogs instead of boycotting the show.

Dog papers will be supportive in terms of coverage I'm sure but sorry, the KC need to be made to behave in a decent way & answer people about this & select readership won't do it alone in my opinion.

The exhibitors didnt boycott him at the OEMC . He had 58 entries/11 absentees.. So I checked 2010 entries , not much difference and higher absentee  rate .He seems to have the support of the mastiff club .Obviously we don't know all of the story.

I respect your opinion however surely this is ultimately about the welfare of the dogs & life & health expectancy of the breed?

Why? The judge isn't going to mistreat the dogs they judge, that's not the issue, so where does health and welfare come into it? If the dog chosen as BOB is unhealthy and that is missed by the judge then the independent vet will pick up on it before the group. Nor is the Daily Mail going to help in any way other than once again blame pedigree exhibitors for everything.

Of course a judge won't mistreat the dogs they are judging. My point is that is this the way someone who has been convicted of animal cruelty be rewarded, becoming a judge at the biggest dog show?? If the KC have their reasons for naming him as their 2013 Mastiff judge then let's hear them, at least we will be more informed & able to make up our own minds.
You couldn't make this stuff up! Especially after all the promises about concern for dog welfare made by Crufts/KC this year! People have stated on here that they won't show their dogs if he's judging next year. That's a great shame but a view that I totally get.

Don't get me wrong, I FULLY agree about not being allowed to judge -but I still think going to national tabloids is totally the wrong thing to do and is not going to do anything but cause damage.

> Lastly-If Mr. Blaxter stands down from being a 2013 judge the best & most respected breeders in the UK may actually show their dogs instead of boycotting the show.

Just a small point, but it might be important...

How will those who boycott the show because of the judge, be distinguished from those who are boycotting Crufts because of the withholding of the Mastiff BOB this year?

If this is a very major concern in Mastiff circles, then folks need to pick their battle/s and be very clear on what they are doing and why.

>Much as I agree this person should not be allowed to judge, I feel that contacting the Daily Mail was EXTREMELY wrong indeed and the only purpose it will serve is give JH and the media another stick to hit us all with! As always it will be turned round so that the general public will be led to believe ALL dog shows judges and exhibitors are cruel. Why not simply stick to the dog papers which are read by people that actually understand?

I also think this man shouldn't be judging, but although there shouldn't be a 'witch-hunt' as such, I feel exhibitors should be allowed to voice their opinions without being barred from the likes of Facebook.

I think the Daily Mail may well help, they have some excellent journalists.  I do feel the general public should be aware of what's going on.  When PDE was first aired it was for the general public and caused an outcry and the KC acted. We can only hope for the same to happen here.

> I think the Daily Mail may well help

I think it might be counter productive.  I'm afraid I disregard the Daily Mail completely as I don't approve of their reporting style.  However this type of story is only newsworthy to the national press  in the few days BEFORE Crufts, so I'm pretty sure nothing will be published.  I feel, like Marianne, that it should be pursued in the dog press and with the KC if you want to see something done

My thought is that all the media are well aware of this anyway & I'm quite sure my little voice made no difference whatsoever to their existing evidence on the subject of Mr. Blaxter being the named 2013 judge of Mastiffs at Crufts.
What I think is important here is  to at least try to make this newsworthy & in the press prior to within a few days/hours of the 2013 crufts show. It's going to happen anyway so my hope is that this gets in the press & out there sooner rather than later so everyone has the chance to make an informed choice & it's "old news" prior to crufts. I remain hopeful that this will happen but alas I fear it may not if sensationalism wins out & the story is "saved" for the right moment. Let's hope 1 national paper makes a stand before it is sensationalised  in this way.

I would bet anything that this situation is already well known in all media circles-let's face it it's a far too prominemt story not to be.

"Much as I agree this person should not be allowed to judge, I feel that contacting the Daily Mail was EXTREMELY wrong indeed and the only purpose it will serve is give JH and the media another stick to hit us all with! As always it will be turned round so that the general public will be led to believe ALL dog shows judges and exhibitors are cruel. Why not simply stick to the dog papers which are read by people that actually understand?"

Totally agree. Contacting a tabloid is just being sensationalist imo. You can guarantee that if this particular rag (it might take itself very seriously, but it really shouldn't!) picks up on this story it will deliberately cast the show world in general in a very negative light - it is currently very fashionable to do so ;-) I speak as someone who doesn't currently show.

Do you really think & believe that every national newspaper doesn't know about this already?? REALLY?? The named judges are in the public domain & this debarcle is all over the networking sites! If this story is "saved" to cause optimum damage & explodes 2-3 days before Crufts will that help the breed or decent breeders? It's too good a story not to be out there in all it's sad details about neglect & a cruelty conviction committed by...A CRUFTS JUDGE!
The breed he's judging is irrelevant, it's the fact that he should NEVER be "rewarded" in this way!
If the story gets out sooner people in the Mastiff community will be able to competently voice their opinion because they will have the time to do so prior to Crufts. If it's reported within days of Crufts they won't.
If you look on the Crufts FB page & scroll down several pages you will see a written account by a lady who has been showing her Mastiffs for 23 years. She has boycotted shows where David Blaxter is the judge. She had the backing of a significant dog publication requesting that he be banned from judging but in her words "it went nowhere".
& Most importantly have you thought that when the story is out there it can actually be used to express the positive aspects of the Mastiff breed, providing it gets out sooner rather than later because I haven't read anything negative about Henry's behaviour, the poor Mastiff who Mr. Blaxter was prosecuted for causing intollerable pain, starvation & suffering to have you?
It's waaayyy too late for any secret debates about this, the KC saw to that when they named him as their 2013 Mastiff judge! This story has been well picked up & is ready & waiting for the eve of Crufts as it stands! The sensible thing is to try to get it out there asap irrespective on anyone's views on a national paper.     

"This story has been well picked up & is ready & waiting for the eve of Crufts as it stands"

So, who is going to wait until the eve of next years Crufts before they release this story, or do you just mean the tabloids in general ?

I agree something should be done sooner, otherwise there is no purpose to the story going public other than to cast a terribly negative light over the show world, namely Crufts. It is the individual person who needs to be punished and of course not allowed to judge next year (or ever imo).
I do have the Crufts facebook page so will take a look.

Tabloids, broadsheets take your pick. Of course they're going to wait until days/hours before Crufts unless they are encouraged to get the story out there sooner. Maximum headlines/readership/public outrage etc etc...
To be honest I don't think the KC & Crufts need any help banging death nails in dog shows as they seem to be making a grand job of that themselves given this horrific decision and their arrogance when asked about it! Terrible behaviour! 
The comment made by the lady who used to show her Mastiffs but who is now boycotting shows where Mr. Blaxter is judging is in a thread on the crufts wall initiated by a lady called Emma about the state Henry was in when he was PTS. 

I find the notion that you have been banned from the FB page rather disturbing. The KC seem to be rather inept at managing their PR and you wonder if a whole load of KC top brass need to be replaced with more canny operators. Whatever way you look at it, to have a post removed and to be banned for asking questions just feels clumsy.

> Whatever way you look at it, to have a post removed and to be banned for asking questions just feels clumsy

Happened to a friend of mine on our Breed Club page too.  It was a perfectly reasonable question and phrased carefully too

...yet another reason why I dislike FB - people seem to use the friendship bit as currency :(

I have been reinstated following my email to The KC Chairman, (haha funny that :0)). To be honest I wasn't bothered about being barred from making comments on the Crufts wall. I was furious that they decided to bar me when, like your friend, I asked a prefectly reasonable question about if Mr. Blaxter is gas aoing to be their 2013 Mastiff Judge at Crufts in a civilised manner. For an such an organisation to treat people like that is a disgrace! It's down to some administrator somewhere "playing their little FB power game", but it looks dreadful on the KC and they absolutley need to be confronted about it. If your friend was as annoyed as I was they could perhaps write a quick e-mail to the Secretary of the breed club & possibly the KC Chairman too if they are linked?  You're right, I think such organisations could do with getting their house in order at present in more ways than one! 

"To be honest I don't think the KC & Crufts need any help banging death nails in dog shows as they seem to be making a grand job of that themselves given this horrific decision and their arrogance when asked about it!"

Yes, it would seem that way :-(

There is now an epetition regarding this matter - I did post a link but it has been removed (apologies to admin/mod I did not realise no petitions were allowed) but there is a dedicated facebook page called Crufts Judge Fined For Unnecessary Suffering To Mastiff where further details can be found if anyone is interested. This facebook page was set up by members of the Mastiff community. Thank you.

Surely that is just the same as posting the petition!

No amount of petition pushing is going to make the slightest difference, the judge will have a contract and the KC is not going to break it over something they have already dealt with. If you feel strongly you will not enter and that is the way to protest not internet based petitions that will achieve nothing.

It's just been announced in a press release that the judge has stepped down from the Crufts appointment.

CRUFTS 2013 JUDGING CHANGE

Mr David Blaxter has advised the Kennel Club of his decision to step down from his judging appointment for the Mastiff breed at Crufts 2013.

Mr Blaxter is an experienced judge who has also devoted many years to ensuring that the breed is healthy. It is in the spirit of wishing to see the best for the breed that he has relinquished his judging appointment. His replace...ment will be announced in due course.

Mr Blaxter was convicted for causing unnecessary suffering in 2009, due to a difficult case which arose from a personal judgment about how soon to euthanise a sick and aged dog. No disqualification order was imposed by the Court, nor were penalties imposed by the Kennel Club Disciplinary Sub-Committee. The Disciplinary Sub-Committee indicated at the time that it was satisfied that there was no deliberate or wilful intent to cause any unnecessary suffering

In recognition of his many years of caring for dogs, Mr Blaxter has concluded that he does not want any attention taken away from the issues of importance surrounding the breed as a result of his appointment.

Gerald King, Chairman of Crufts, said: "Mr Blaxter is a respected Mastiff judge but the Kennel Club respects his decision to step down from his judging appointment at Crufts 2013.

"We look forward to Mr Blaxter's continued contributions to the progress of his breed. Mr Blaxter has been instrumental in helping to understand and improve Mastiff health; he has contributed considerable time and knowledge to understanding and tracing the origins of Wobblers Syndrome within Great Danes and Mastiffs amongst other conditions, was one of the first members of the Mastiff Health Working Party and helped to draft the revised Mastiff breed standard. We hope that Mr Blaxter will continue making his knowledge and experience of the Mastiff breed available to interested parties."

Hardly sounds like the monster he has been painted to be???

I have seen friends keep dogs going long past what I would consider a good quality of life, but then I have not been in their shoes, all mine have gone quickly with no long term illness or debility.

I find it hard to see how this person has been villified so much and then a well known judge is being pittied for basically keeping 36 dogs of various breeds, one of which is my own breed and ha comes to shows once a year to pretend that he shows them cos they sell better with crufts qualified, all of which were in a poor state, the jap spitz ive seen him with are always filthy and plastered in urine and terrified but it wasnt his fault because he became sick (even though the dogs were like this well before he became sick) oh and back to back breeding and using a crested on a JS cos he couldnt get a stud and didnt want to waste a season, the priorites are ALL wrong in this country. oh and it looks like RSPCA are going to have to give the dogs back even though they have been convicted.