I was appalled that the handler of the BIS Scottie  was allowed to pick the dog up by its tail and neck - I thought this type of handling was against KC rules, and have just written on the KC Facebook page to that effect.     What sort of a message does that convey to the public?

Jo

I was getting irked by the way she kept poking him in the side.  Didn't appear to serve any purpose at all except upsetting him.  About time the KC took a proper stance against poor handling like this and sent handlers out of the ring the moment it happened, BIS ring or not.

The KC's stand is that it's undesirable

It doesn't hurt westies or Scotties - they have tails designed for that. I have never done it myself because to me it at least looks like it would hurt even though I know it doesn't - but if you look at the westies and Scotties being stacked or put on the table for grooming ring side you will see most handlers/owners will do so. That said they don't pick it up a huge distance by its tail and neck they only do it when lifting the back legs off the table to correct stance and they only hold them by their tails for a split second and only the back legs off the table by an inch or so. The scottie lady did much more than that, she lifted the whole dog off by its neck and tail in order to put him on the floor - really not good nor nice to watch!

Yes - I know the terrier people say it's ok because you need to pull a dog out of a hole by its tail - but even if any of these show dogs went down a hole, it doesn't mean it's ok to lift them by the tail when it's not necessary for a working terrier!

It's such a bad role model for young handlers - and apparently this American girl is giving a seminar on handling in the UK soon......the mind boggles....

I don't think  that pullling an earth dog out of a hole in an emergency and Crufts BIS exactly equate with each other, do they?

Jo

> I don't think  that pullling an earth dog out of a hole in an emergency and Crufts BIS exactly equate with each other, do they?

nope - just because they are able to be lifted by their tail doesn't mean they should unless necessary - totally agree.

Mind you, I also watched some small dogs, after being gone over by the judges on the table, where the handlers barely bent down before letting go of the dog so they drop/fall the last foot or so to the ground - rather than bending over and placing the dog on the ground......they don't get hurt but I hate seeing that too.

> It doesn't hurt westies or Scotties - they have tails designed for that. I have never done it myself because to me it at least looks like it would hurt even though I know it doesn't - but if you look at the westies and Scotties being stacked or put on the table for grooming ring side you will see most handlers/owners will do so. That said they don't pick it up a huge distance by its tail and neck they only do it when lifting the back legs off the table to correct stance and they only hold them by their tails for a split second and only the back legs off the table by an inch or so. The scottie lady did much more than that, she lifted the whole dog off by its neck and tail in order to put him on the floor - really not good nor nice to watch!

I guess my measured answer to this is that even if you accept that this argument is true, how do any of the millions of people watching on television know the limitations of which dogs can take this and which can't? I have no breed specific knowledge to make me accept this argument, but even if it's true, it is not appropriate in this context.

The Crufts paperwork every exhibitor receives clearly states that dogs should not be handed this way, and the KC press release today says this woman was told several times about not to handle this way, yet she still did it.

Surely she should be disqualified then? It makes me cringe when people do it and makes the poor dog just look like an object
I didn't like the way she kept prodding and poking the poor thing either although it didn't seem to bat an eyelid.

Oh it did - the last time she did it before her final circuit before the judging it jumped sideways and spread its legs wide, clearly upset and startled by it.  Totally unnecessary and unpleasant.

Don't comment very often , but IMHO , Whether or not terriers are happy to be handled this way the K.C ,Crufts and general public say NO ! Let the Scottie keep its title , but give the Handler a ban in this country !

> Don't comment very often , but IMHO , Whether or not terriers are happy to be handled this way the K.C ,Crufts and general public say NO ! Let the Scottie keep its title , but give the Handler a ban in this country !

She probably won't come back anyway, now she's "done" Crufts. It's a notch in the bedpost.

I totally agree a fine for the handler, after all the handling isn't the dogs fault and if the dog was the best then it should win regardless of handling.

I'm sure any wins my dogs have are often despite my handling.

I too think this gives a bad immpression and should not be allowed. I also HATE to see the amount of dogs moved round on leads so tight thier front feet barely skim the ground !! Loose leads or nothing should be the order of the day.
The very thin collars are cruel if pulled so tight, like a cheeswire round your throat.
Aileen

Can't see her being banned, she seems to have a lot of support from the top hierarchy of the dog showing community here in the UK!!

Yes correct I must have missed it first time, goodness knows how!? It doesn't do anything to help change a negative attitude to showing. It's a living animal not a piece of furniture.

Apparently she is due to do a handling seminar over here, whether she still will or not remains to be seen

Theres now a petition to KC online to strip the title from her, 105,000 sigs so far

and in the USA just as vociferous support for her http://www.bestinshowdaily.com/blog/category/crufts-category/  Not many posts under it but seen a huge one on facebook.

Pro the Scottie handler on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/westandforrebecca

I dont think the title should be taken as after all if the dog was the best it should keep its bis award.
The problem is although the kennel club was discouraging handlers from doing it they haven't come out as said its against the rules. So as far as the rules go she hasn't done anything wrong. Much like the KC discourage people from removing whiskers yet loads of people still do it and show as its not a rule you cant.
So although I don't agree with picking up dogs this way doing think the KC would have a leg to stand on as she broke no rule.