Height is not measured in most breeds. Neither are wrinkles!

Why not admire the dogs on the KC "worry list" that got through?

The Shar Pei was a superb looking dog - minimal wrinkles and wide open eyes that hadn't needed tacking. That's how some breeders have been working away behind the scenes to address certain issues.

The Chow Chow as well - a pretty open faced dog with big bright eyes, instead of the little piggy ones previously favoured.

The Pug must have been bang up to order as well, as they have had a hell of a lot of flack lately, despite many pugs doing agility and even CaniX.

Those are the dogs that everyone wants to see win because they are capable, and worthy of going on to produce the next generation.

It doesn't take a lot of knowledge to see what the tiny changes are, but if everyone demands instant transformation in a species that needs at least 5 generations to alter [read: 10-15 years of work], then impatience will be the biggest threat of all.

If change is forced more quickly then a severe genetic bottleneck will occur - fine by those who want all breeds eliminated; but not really acceptable to those who want to do right by their breeds.

I sometimes wonder about people who have no interest in breeding, how they think changes can be wrought so fast.

This is an excellent point and one that concerns me when people who have no idea about showing and breeding start demanding immediate changes.

People are working very hard to make changes for the better, but these things will take time. COIs can be lowered, in the vast majority of breeds (when you consider the dog population in Europe if not Worldwide), without getting hysterical and trying to outcross to the point where we have no breeds left at all.

That said, change has to start somewhere and if a short, sharp, shock is what is needed, and demanded by the likes of JH, then this is one way to do it!

Actually I do. My breed is an ancient breed which naturally has wrinkle, it would no longer be true to the breed without wrinkle, there wouldn't be any breeds left if they lost their type.

Agree with all this the Shar pei was excellent

On the Subject of the Vet checking isn't it now in force from crufts onwards for all CC shows, if so then the ones that were excluded shouldn't get to crufts next year

That was my understanding too and things have to start somewhere. By introducing it at Crufts, I believe, sends a clear message to both judges and breeders. Let's hope that message hits home.

I fully agree with the posters who are pointing out that it takes generations to make small adjustments in breed standards possible without risking further harm.

It was lovely to see the less exaggerated Shar pei in the ring. Healthier and, in my opinion, much better looking too

To me, this is a good step forward and one with will force breeders' arms to start breeding more responsibly.

Have just seen posted elsewhere that the bulldog failed on the eye check. When the vet shone the light into her eyes it showed up an old eye injury, I think it unfair to exclude it from the group if that is true, none of the others had to pass that test. I feel very sorry for the owners.

just like miss world, sideline these weird, outdated, and pointless canine beauty pageants to the margins, and no one would need worry about these issues in the first place

Completely agree. I said to OH as we were watching the coverage last night that I thought there was every chance that this was a set up to prove that they are doing something.

I'm sure on the coverage when someone asked whether the reserve would go through the answer was along the lines of 'no because we need to teach the judges a lesson'. So as you say MM, they seem to be getting at the judges athe expense of the exhibitors.

Don't get me wrong I'm all for dogs having to be healthy, but the whole way they seem to have gone about these vet checks seems very wrong to me.

Agree completely. Does anyone know whether the Vet reports are openly released?

it is a start.would have been an idea to tell the "judges" though.
how bad does that look? this will take ages to put right, but if the pressure is kept on, our poor little friends may stand a chance. well done JH!

and, just like the Miss World competitions, once sidelined they would spring up again in another guise .

Now we have top name models, shows about top name models, shows picking out the next top model.

The wheel would eventually be reinvented if today's dogs shows were abandoned because people do like to show off their dogs.