It's just been announced that the PDSA are pulling out of Crufts http://www.dogworld.co.uk/Home and that Vets want to be the people to give advice about breeding http://www.bva.co.uk/1404.aspx

I'm just glad I don't breed or show - although I had been hoping to be able to do both in a few years time. Will there be any pedigree dogs and dog shows to go to by then?

Good grief! What do vets know about breeding, behaviour and nutrition for that matter?  These are specialisms which are optional in the veterinary sector.

The BVA does at least acknowledge that any dog, whatever its parentage, has the potential for genetic problems, as do all other species. So at least it's not pedigree-bashing per se.

Will there be any pedigree dogs and dog shows to go to by then?

I think that is a little dramatic, good will come of all this and pedigree dogs with become healthier. If all the animal charties want to pull out of Crufts fine, I think thats a mistake on there part they will lose out on donations and support. However many breeds ALREADY run health testing and have done for years, so lets not forget that and stop assuming all pedigree's are at deaths door!

I'm pleased the BVA are getting involved, it's about time Vets took on a bit more an advised breeders.

I'm just glad I don't breed or show - although I had been hoping to be able to do both in a few years time. Will there be any pedigree dogs and dog shows to go to by then?

Don't think it makes much difference for exhibitors ...we don't go to shows to support the RSPCA,PDSA etc.Dog shows will continue and I'm sure the people who run most of the stalls will continue as they make money.Dog shows and pedigree dogs are here to stay!

I'm glad you are all so positive :) I have a friend in Holland who tells me that her breed has almost disappeared because the rules about breeding are so strict.

It will make no difference to us at all -we might even get a bit more space to move around Crufts which would be great. The normal shows will stay the same as ever -we don't tend to see the charities at them. It's the charities shooting themselves in the foot, THEY will lose money, nobody else. Beats me why they can't see that, as they all rely on donations from the public.....and where better to get close to a lot of dog lovers than at Crufts?

well said marianneb
counldnt of put it better myself.

crufts is a dog show and has been a dog show long before the trade stands ever came along, it is another championship dog show, you won't see  lka or richmond or any of the other champ dog shows going to the dogs (sorry) just because a few trade stands are pulling out.
yes the revenue they get from the stands will be a big blow to them, but there are others waiting in the wings to take over
i know crufts is very special but so what if the trade stands bow out big deal, i like shopping at crufts but i shop, i did not go to the pedigree stand,or hills etc
i went and got new leaders if i needed them to go with the others i have but you know how it is you always need one more,
i got my herbal remedies , i bought sometimes an ornament that i may not of been able to get anywhere else but crufts,
but most of all i went for the breed showing and meeting up with friends that i may not see from one year to the next.
is it really  a shame that these companies are pulling out ?
or will these companies realise there mistakes when they should be there promoting dogs for everyone show people,and joe bloggs as well ,telling people about the services they do etc, when you think of the thousands of people everyday that would of passed their stands at crufts and they could of spoken to people there they are the losers as it would of been a ready made audience for them, thousands of people who love dogs of all breeds and standards , pets and working dogs, they have lost out not us
carolann

I am only just starting out in the show world, our first show is an open show a week on Sunday.
I have been going to shows to watch for a few years now, but never been to Crufts.
I'm glad that the focus will be back on the reason for being there, THE DOGS SHOWING and not about the people shopping.
I have never seen any of the big charities at an open show, maybe a breed welfare stall but thats it, and open shows still continue to thrive.
Its very strange that the charities that are supposed to be all about the welfare of animals don't want to be there at shows to make sure the animals are all ok.
Shouldn't they try to educate the general public about making sure they ask the right questions with regards to health testing before they buy puppies instead of turning their backs? and where better to do this than at the worlds biggest dog show.
Just my opinion, and I'am looking forward to learning more about my breed from the experienced people I chat to at shows.
Paula
 

good riddance...all the pdsa are, are fund raisers for work shy scroungers who want a dog (usually an expensive pure bred) but then somehoW dont have the money to visit the vets. Not a charity i would ever want to donate my hard earned money to!

i used to work for the pdsa and i agree a lot of people are as you described, but we also saw a lot of older people, often with rescue dogs, and families who by no fault of their own have fallen on hard times and try to do their best for their pets. if anything i would donate food etc so that the animals dont miss out.

Must admit I'm wondering whether to continue in the world of dogs at this moment in time, even though I health test anyway.  This is just getting stupid now and I do think that not to long our hobby will be over.  The KC should be doing something to show how many of us DO health test our dogs and that the majority of pedigrees are not unhealthy dogs.

Come on peeps! Lets be positive, there is light at the end of the tunnel I'm sure. When all of this first came out I got a bit down about but I can now see some positive stuff happening. This is a massive task and will take many years of hard work but so many people are committed to their breeds I'm not going to give up. I love my breed and pedigree dogs I will fight for them! I don't agree with everything the KC are proposing and doing but they are all we have and by working with them we will get there. :) :)

please please don't all feel so low about this!!

its the classic case of what you don't understand you take against. the general public just don't understand about pedigrees and dogs shows etc and have built up the idea that its elitist and snobby and as its misunderstood people take a dislike to it.

ideas like this have been going around forever, we are just having a little peak of interest at the moment and it will die down just as it always does.

and if dogs popularity drops with the gp what of it? good i say as you'll get less uninformed people buying their cute puppy and abandoning their troublesome teenager, you'll see less random litters and will have fewer timewasting puppy buyers and more dedicated people. in short we might see a return to when dogs were a specialist thing where only the passionate have them. would that, at least from the dogs point of view, be so terrible?

at least, i hope it all works out

> good riddance...all the pdsa are, are fund raisers for work shy scroungers who want a dog (usually an expensive pure bred) but then somehoW dont have the money to visit the vets. Not a charity i would ever want to donate my hard earned money to!

So when I got injured at work and had to give up my job on the advice of a specialist, I then had to claim an illness related benefit - SO what would I have done had one of my dogs unfortunately required a lot of veterinary help that I couldn't afford?  

There but for the grace of God................

It's just been announced that the PDSA are pulling out of Crufts
Well that's them off my Christmas list then! Talk about jumping on the bandwagon. I have just switched my monthly donation from Dogs Trust to our own breed rescue as well. (And that after twelve years too!) At least I won't have to feel that I'm supporting the sanctimonious politically motivated brigade any more.

I supprt Border Collie rescue its my OH's breed but they have such a hard life when they are too old to work especially in Ireland.

get insurance?

And from £60/£70 per week Income Support/Incapacity Benefit, how would you expect someone to pay that and then the £50+ excess?

The same happened to me many years ago when I was unexpectedly made redundant.  My rescue elkhound predated my redundancy.  The PDSA treated him when he had a wart on his eyelid during my six months unemployment - we both had to move south in the end to get a job as there weren't jobs to be had in the Manchester area for newly qualified librarians.  I've donated to them ever since.