I'm a purebred/pedigree dog lover (I have two purebreds), but I'm becoming increasingly concerned about the health of these dogs with all that's being aired and published about canine genetics.
I know this is a highly emotional and highly controversial topic, so please try to look at this objectively. I know that there's a lot of breeders out there who are doing their best to diversify the gene pool of pedigree dogs, but allegedly there's still many breeders who aren't.
I debated on whether or not to post this forum, but since it's being aired in the US, I know some of your clients will be discussing it. Just wanted to give you a heads up.
BBC America (BBCA) will be airing "Pedigree Dogs Exposed" on America's
stations this Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 8/7c PM. The channel number
for BBCA depends on what cable/satellite channel you have. On my dish
network it's 135. I viewed the first part on youtube and it's one of the
saddest and hardest to watch programs I've ever seen.
http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/29...gs-exposed.jsp
When this program was originally shown on BBC, it created much controversy
and caused various sponsors and trade exhibitors including Pedigree, Hill's,
the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and UK's
largest dog welfare charity Dogs Trust to withdraw their participation
from Crufts dog show. The BBC withdrew its coverage of Crufts for 2009
and 2010.
I've been researching to see what studies I can find on purebred or
pedigree canine genetics and have found some interesting articles.
Here's a link to a couple of studies which I think all purebred dog owners
should know about:
This is a summary of a study by the Imperial College London published in
August 2008 which was the impetus for the BBC documentary and public
outcry that led to the cancellation of the airing of Crufts.:
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandev...8-2008-12-22-2
If you want to read the technical version of the Imperial College study,
which was published in Genetics in 2008, you can find it here:
http://www.genetics.org/cgi/content/...tics;179/1/593
I know this is a highly emotional and highly controversial topic, so please try to look at this objectively. I know that there's a lot of breeders out there who are doing their best to diversify the gene pool of pedigree dogs, but allegedly there's still many breeders who aren't.
I debated on whether or not to post this forum, but since it's being aired in the US, I know some of your clients will be discussing it. Just wanted to give you a heads up.
BBC America (BBCA) will be airing "Pedigree Dogs Exposed" on America's
stations this Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 8/7c PM. The channel number
for BBCA depends on what cable/satellite channel you have. On my dish
network it's 135. I viewed the first part on youtube and it's one of the
saddest and hardest to watch programs I've ever seen.
http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/29...gs-exposed.jsp
When this program was originally shown on BBC, it created much controversy
and caused various sponsors and trade exhibitors including Pedigree, Hill's,
the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and UK's
largest dog welfare charity Dogs Trust to withdraw their participation
from Crufts dog show. The BBC withdrew its coverage of Crufts for 2009
and 2010.
I've been researching to see what studies I can find on purebred or
pedigree canine genetics and have found some interesting articles.
Here's a link to a couple of studies which I think all purebred dog owners
should know about:
This is a summary of a study by the Imperial College London published in
August 2008 which was the impetus for the BBC documentary and public
outcry that led to the cancellation of the airing of Crufts.:
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandev...8-2008-12-22-2
If you want to read the technical version of the Imperial College study,
which was published in Genetics in 2008, you can find it here:
http://www.genetics.org/cgi/content/...tics;179/1/593
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