Pedigree Dogs: The Cruelty Behind Conformation

The Crufts dog show was plagued by controversy this year: Pedigree pulled their sponsorship, RSPCA boycotted the event, and the BBC refused to air the competition. The storm was created by a documentary called Pedigree Dogs Exposed, which took an in-depth look at the health and welfare cost of breeding for conformation. The program aired last week in the US, but the problems it exposes have long existed across the pond under the auspices of the American Kennel Club.

There's a clip from the BBC program on the Dancing Dog Blog about one of the most popular breeds in the UK, the King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, and a condition common to the breed where their brains are too big for their skulls. Brachycephalic dogs (short snouts, like Boston Terriers, pugs, bulldogs, etc.) often have chronic respiratory problems which can lead to tracheal collapse. Most bulldogs cannot mate or give birth naturally. But the AKC ignores these transgressions against nature because the dogs "look good" in the show ring.

The UK Kennel Club initially protested the documentary, claiming it was unfairly edited and inaccurate. Yet a few months later, they started making changes. They updated breed standards and launched the Fit for Life campaign so that "every dog should be bred to be fit enough to enjoy its life to the full." They will no longer register direct inbreeding (father/daughter, mother/son, or siblings) and have commissioned an independent investigation into pedigree dog breeding that will present its recommendations next year. What will it take for the American Kennel Club to catch on and start living up to its mission to "protect the health and well-being of all dogs?"

The AKC is probably the wealthiest, most powerful organization for dogs in the country. They use their power to lobby against legislation that affects purebred dogs in any way, including bans on cosmetic surgeries, like tail and ear docking, and any bills that seek to regulate breeding. You would think that if they were so dedicated to the health and integrity of purebred dogs, they'd want to stop breeders who perpetuate unhealthy bloodlines and inhumane conditions. Instead, they happily certify puppy mill dogs and support dog auctions.

Dog shows shouldn't be craft shows for people to display what they "made." If people want to compete with their dogs, there are plenty of competitions out there that showcase a dog's fitness, such as agility, flyball, and rally obedience. For people who love purebreds, they can compete for what their breed was created for in events like field trials for hunting dogs and lure coursing for sight hounds. None of the breeds were created to strut around show rings, and the obsession with conformation is destroying dogs. The AKC needs to take a hard look at its standards and start promoting healthy dogs and purebred rescue instead of cruelty and mass production of puppies.

UPDATE: You can now watch the documentary and take action to demand that the AKC stops promoting deformities and starts supporting healthy dogs.

Photo credit: AppleBlossom12