What sort of people do dog shows and are they unethical?

I don't have a problem with dog shows it's the breeding issues which concern me more. Its unethical to breed dogs purely for their looks without considering how this will impact on their health & well being.
I think the larger shows like Crufts and their ilk really need to look at where they are taking the canine world. Smaller dog shows are a lot of fun for everyone and of course dog lovers want to show off their pets.
I think your colleagues should keep their unkind criticism to themselves Schoolofnursing

Sodapop has replied perfectly. Dog shows are harmless - fun and competitive, although it must be remembered that the puppies of show winners can usually bring a higher price.
Dogs get used to being groomed, titivated and are taught to stand, walk and show themselves. Is that better than having a bored pet that’s hardly exercised? Probably.

DH bred, competed with and judged working spaniels. A totally different kettle of fish with looks being immaterial and ability paramount.

It's the breeding issues which concern me too, sodapop. You only have to look at German Shepherds as one example - there was an outcry after Crufts a few years ago at one poor dog in particular, which had such a sloping back that you could see it was a far cry from how the breed really ought to look.

My Sis-in-L used to show dogs. They had 3 staffies. The dogs were well loved pets. I think they only used to show one of them. Their dogs at least weren't badly treated in any way, although they were certainly well trained, and seemed to be as happy as Larry during the shows. I don't understand why the shows are cruel? I can understand that some people think that animals shouldn't be used for entertainment so maybe that's what they consider cruel??? Not really our thing but we did go to Crufts once when they were showing and there were all sorts of people there.

My whippets breeder shows and judges all the time. I’ve never had such a good dog. The puppies that she breeds are handled, talked to, socialised etc etc before you get them at 8 weeks. She did a family tree of them a while back and, thus far ( touch wood) only one dog that she’s sold has died young and that was the result of a tragic accident. She breeds for temperament and conformation ( very important for such a fast dog). I don’t know how people can spend every weekend at dog shows but it is very much a social event too. I don’t feel so positive about the flat faced breeds. I’ve seen pictures of Pugs from the past and they look nothing like the current breed and certainly weren’t flat faced. Sighthounds from hundreds of years ago look pretty much like they do now! And I agree about German Shepherds with their sloping backs. I’m fascinated by how dog breeds have evolved, though and how different their temperaments are. I guess it’s ok showing to a breed spec if that spec makes for a healthy dog. And showing does mean that good temperament is paramount because you can’t do well with a dog that bites people. It’s more people that have a dog and then ask around for any old stud dog without checking on inherited illnesses etc that annoy me.

Completely agree with your last sentence, MayBee70. There are far too many people out there who think they can make a quick buck by breeding a litter/litters of puppies without giving any thought whatsoever to the long-term health implications, etc.

Agreed. And the Kennel Club has a lot to answer for.

Could never buy a dog, and will never have the joy of having a puppy. Just too many dogs out there needing a good home.

I would love to do agility, but not showing- it is such an ordeal for those dogs, being brushed and air dried, and having to travel in cages, and wait in tents, etc.

I don't think there is anything wrong with them except for the breeding issues as mentined above.
We have always had rescue dogs, the last two border collies.
We had also wanted to do agility solely for the dogs to keep them active. However it wasn't to be, due to cruelty by the previous owners it wasn't safe for us to do so.

I’ve never been to a dog show but have seen bits of Crufts on television - surely the dogs don’t enjoy all the primping and preening, sitting in cages, being carted around? The Kennel Club certainly has a lot to answer for in terms of encouraging unnatural features such as the flat faced dogs with severe breathing issues and the sloping

Pressed too soon, was going to say the sloping back in GSDs which causes painful hip and hind leg troubles. So glad my current GSD, who was rescued in Southern Ireland, has the straightest back I’ve seen in years.
I have always enjoyed watching working dogs going through their paces in competitions on television - such as One Man And His Dog. Intelligence and ability prized above looks.

It’s the breeding issues that bother me, and e.g. the docking of tails/ears, though I believe that’s been eradicated now.
Also that clipping of standard poodles’ coats that makes the poor dogs look ridiculous - don’t know whether they still do that, though.

OTOH now and then I’ve enjoyed the type of fun dog show that any old mutt can enter, for waggiest tail, etc. Still feel sorry for the ones that don’t win though!

I entirely agree about the selective over breeding. I'm not a dog owner though I am fond of them.

I enjoy watching the dogs on the agility courses and the fly ball. Somehow, those dogs look like they're loving every moment of it. I hope they really are.

Witzend

It’s the breeding issues that bother me, and e.g. the docking of tails/ears, though I believe that’s been eradicated now.
Also that clipping of standard poodles’ coats that makes the poor dogs look ridiculous - don’t know whether they still do that, though.

OTOH now and then I’ve enjoyed the type of fun dog show that any old mutt can enter, for waggiest tail, etc. Still feel sorry for the ones that don’t win though!

The clipping is actually because they’re water dogs and the clips are for a reason. Although I agree that they look silly. Spaniels tails were docked because they have long straggly tails and wag them a lot so they are prone to I think it’s called whip tail. And working dogs can damage their tails in under growth etc. I can’t bear to see docked ears. Thankfully we don’t do it here. The thought of those poor puppies being mutilated horrifies me. They still do it in America. Scooby Doo has clipped ears . People really need to know if they are suitable for the sort of dog they’re buying. The breeder I got my whippet from made me sign no end of things to get her and I mustn’t rehome her if anything happened. She must go back to the breeder. I love talking to people about their dogs and their temperaments etc.

I think dog shows are disrespectful to dogs. Do they really want to be washed, brushed and cleaned up then paraded round.
Dog shows are for people. Not in the interests of dogs.

I agree AGA.

I'm happy being washed, brushed and strutting my stuff. And I'm a a bit of a show off too! Gravy bones seem plentiful on such occasions. Woof!

Dd does dog agility which involves competitive shows but agility is different from showing and is mostly about working dogs who seem to really enjoy it. She has working cockers and they need a lot of exercise and agility training and competitions use up the extra energy those dogs have. She has been on team England when the older dog when he was younger.
I have to say that dd has become very obsessive, going to trials all over the country. She really loves and looks after her dogs but that is not necessarily true of everyone who competes where winning becomes the be all and end all with a trip to Crufts the prize.

I watched a really interesting documentary quite some time ago about what selective breeding had done to so many dogs, drastic changes in breeds such as the Pug, German Shepherd, Basset Hound, Bull Terrier and Dachshund and poor Bulldogs, like the massive and short-faced head - which is actually totally detrimental to the health and welfare of the dogs. They even stated that most Bulldogs are unable to give birth naturally because their heads have become so large......in my opinion it's just cruel.
A lot of these so called standards were pushed forward by the Kennel Club so I have no time for that kind of "show"

sodapop has said it all for me.

I agree with soda pop too, people who show dogs are so precious about their bloodlines that they mate too closely and cause health problems. dogs are lovely with all their individual quirks

I have shown dogs and qualified for Crufts but gave it up. Am not happy about judges/other dog handlers looking for the perfect dog, there isn't one. I dislike handlers that keep their show dogs for 7 years and then pass them on as they have 'done their time', had their litters and not required anymore. It is not a cheap hobby and its a very cut throat, a rough ride which I didn't enjoy. I think fun dog shows are great but the Kennel Club needs to have a good look at itself along with unscrupulous breeders.

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Don't get me wrong, mine come from working stock so they need a lot of activity, both mental and physical. They even go on the paddle boards. It's like anything, a balance and plenty of variety including walking round a show ring if they want to. I love people interacting with their dogs

Agility shows and such are demonstrating and utilising those breeds natural skills and talents, but I hate Crufts and all this 'breed standard' business. Having seen what has happened to many breeds of dogs it is shameful. Unless anyone needs a particular type of dog for working purposes, I would prefer it if people bought from rescues instead. If your dog is a pet, a companion, why do you need to spend in excess of £1k for a puppy?

In my particular case our previous dog unexpectedly died during lockdown and the whole situation (not being able to say goodbye etc) was tragic and heartbreaking. We just had to get a replacement from the same dad, who was from the same line as a previous dog and so on. We actually paid 3 times that amount, because we could, but that wasn't the point. Also we knew exactly what we were getting because the only time we ever had a rescue it was obsessive over food and my DH got badly bitten on the arm at the same level as our children's faces.
But everyone is different and I am sure there are good and bad experiences all round. We are not aiming for Crufts, just local village shows in a rural part of the country.