BBC Drops Dog Show Coverage

I imported a Black Russian Terrier dog from Russia about two years ago. I promised his breeder in Russia that I would finish the dog at the Westminster Kennel Club Show if she sold me one of her top puppies at a reasonable price. Even though my dog is a 2point major away from his championship in the open class I pulled him from the show ring as a result of his handler's indiscretions and the actions of the competition. To make a long story short the handler in question literally destroyed my dog's coat causing several months of medicated bathes and a special diet to aid in the acquisition of a new coat. This handler literally burned his coat and skin with a blowdryer in addition to ripping his undercoat out. Other areas were literally gouged out. At the Philadelphia Kennel Club Show there is benching where the dog is actually crated for hours each of the two days causing the dog to become ill. This benching is done to raise money for the Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. The doctors of veterinary medicine should demand that all dogs should be held by the owners or handlers at all times and exercised forbidding any caging of these animals for more than 15 minutes at a time enough time to allow the handler andor owner to use the restroom and grab a fast bite of food. Otherwise these dogs should be free and exercised going in and out of the building several times during the course of the show. Caging an animal for hours is cruel especially those dogs left alone in trucks. If one sits out in the parking lots of these shows near the trailers one can hear the dogs crying barking and wimpering. These dogs are not happy to be at these shows. They may intially like the attention the people and other dogs but after a while it is most evident that these most cherished dogs want to be home in the park or on its owner's couch or bed. Dogs are meant to be beside their owners at all times not caged on floors or in trucks.

Well done BBC. Although I loved watching id rather not at the expense of our four legged friends.

Ok in a nutshell you need to get the facts straight. I am a breeder. I have been involved in breeding dogs since I was born and I also show my own dogs. These dogs live in my house as pets. And I have to say that when I leave for a dog show they are all wanting to come with. They love to show. They love being groomed. For them when they walk in that Best in Show ring they know all those people are clapping for them and it is just like a person modeling in a runway show or preforming in their school talent show. They LOVE it! And I don't show them if they do not love it. As far as breeding goes. When you get a dog from a good breeder you do know exactly what you are getting into as far as health issues go. Every one of my dogs have their hips patellas and elbows certified by OFA their Thyroid certified their heart certified their eyes certified and we do a DNA test to check if they are clear carriers or genetically affected with PRA this is all before they are even considered for breeding and then they still have to have an impeccable temperament aka be a good pet for anyone friendly and loving. And then IF they are bred we check the hearts eye and do the DNA test for PRA before they are even placed with a good family. So you see by getting a dog from a breeder you will know what you are getting into. I can tell you if the dog will have hip or elbow dysplasia if it has the potential to be afflicted with PRA if it has a heart problem I can give you the history 6 generations back and I know what type of temperament you are getting. So if by breeding purebred dogs I am no better than the KKK well that is fine but at least my dogs have better health care than I do they live in my house and in my bed they eat a more expensive food than I do and I spend more time taking care of them than I do on myself. So you know what...I think I can live with myself. And before you continue to judge us AKC and dog show people maybe you should come live in one of our houses first and see what it is actually like see how these "poor" dogs live and how much they love what they do.

It's about time! Although pure breeds are very beautiful the behind the scenes breeding and inbreeding of these dogs is a nightmare! These breeders are elitists and say they do it for the love of the breedIf they really loved the breed they would rescue those breeds from death row in shelters instead of breeding more where ultimately a lot of them will end up. There needs to be stricter laws on breeding and even though the halting of the show on BBC won't stop the show from going on it is a small step for animal lovers and more importantly the dogs!

they should just cancel the whole show. they treat those dogs like crap.dogs are supposed to be loving animals not living things put on diets!