> How will they magically get longer muzzles etc now that their stock no longer meets the standard

Blossom          An extemely ineresting and thought provoking question.

There may not be a quick answer to this -  if indeed any answer... in many instances breeders have needed to breed disabled dogs to win top honours. I know that this may seem an extreme comment but if pekes were people they would be classified as disabled.Many people like they way they look, the way they run and the way they breathe .....but just because they like it doesn't make it right.
I wouldn't want to be in their shoes at the moment but then it's not too comfortable in ours at the moment.

Well it was done when the prize was offered to King Charles breeders to produce the longer nosed prior variant which is the Cavalier.

It seems as a casual observer that for example in Boxers there are differing muzzle lengths and I see fewer extremely short ones these days in the ring compared to some years ago, so there are bound to be some Pekes that have less exaggerations which if used will gradually alter things.

I remember one all rounder being critical some years ago about some of her Boston Terrier entry not having sufficient muzzle as called for in the standard, as many breeders and judges had gone the shorter the better root.

Unless breeders want to change things then no tweakign of the standard will alter the breed even given time.

Yes Brainless,
All exagerations can be bred out/bred in over generations by selecting/deselecting for a trait but this will take a considerable time.
The question was what will Peke breeders do now (with their show stock) that they have been given virtually no notice to produce specimens which comply with the new standard.
A very interesting time for those who judge the breed too.

Was the Peke that won crufts a few years ago (and shown on the documentry) American? They won't be changing their standards I assume so won't be bringing them over?

> Unless breeders want to change things then no tweakign of the standard will alter the breed even given time.

The KC are introducing vet checks too though aren't they?  The breeder could I suppose continue to breed in the way they prefer but it does appear they will not be able to show them in such exaggeration so I suspect they will either conform or leave the breed but hopefully others who have perhaps avoided the Peke for these very reasons may then step in.

> virtually no notice

There have been discussions with the KC for some time.  I think this letter gives us a hint of this.

The Peke wasn't American. However there are already a number of our breed standards that are different to those of the American Kennel Club or for that matter the FCI.

AlisonGold - I totally agree - why is it necessary to breed from a Golden Retriever with such a high hip score?  I'm sure they would argue that she has other 'good points' to offer being passed on through to her puppies.  My arguement in this situation is - why on earth do stud dog owners allow their dogs to be used on such bitches?  There can only be one reason and that is money!
Unfortunately there are still too many unsuspecting members of the public willing to part with their money on puppies from breeders who should be more responsible.

The KC has been asking reporters in the dog press to speculate what changes are coming having been given a rough guide the letter is an example of this. They have been trying to make chnges and have had some of the changes planned for a long time now.

Regarding the peke I worked in a peke kennel having left school at the end of the 1960's. The lady I worked for had an extensive history of the breed and many old pictures. In these pictures the pekes had less coat and had noses, infact they looked like todays Tibetan Spaniels.

> In these pictures the pekes had less coat and had noses, infact they looked like todays Tibetan Spaniels.

That is just like the Pekinese I knew from childhood here and abroad.