Crufts

Sad but true Georgesgran.

Completely agree Georgesgran

Most dogs bred for Crufts type competitions are bred for looks only - to comply with the KC standard. Sometimes these are un-natural and downright cruel. A springer spaniel is bred to ‘spring’ game so it shouldn’t have the long ears and excessively long hair (feathers) on its legs, or anywhere else really for that matter, which would get torn or caught when working hard through rough cover. A working springer would never qualify for Crufts as the standard has evolved for ‘show dogs’. Any ‘working’ awards are for Tests only, not on real game. The same can be said for most working breeds and don’t start me on some of the toy/tea cup breeds. Too much in-breeding producing nervous, highly strung individuals - many of which go on to produce litters only exaggerating the problems.
Rant over.

Cavaliers and Frenchies have been banned from showing in one country I believe. Or even banned completely ( I’m not sure).

Oldbat1

I love all dogs but can’t stand the way SOME breeders seem to encourage bad faults to keep recurring. Ie German shepherds with really bad hips/posture, labs with hip displasia and eye problems, cavaliers with heart problems, bulldogs, pugs, frenchies who can hardly breathe. Loved watching some of the fly ball though.

Even the German Shepherd that won it’s class this year seemed to have a badly sloping back. Not as sloping as they used to be but still sloping.

The flyball and the agility were terrific. The dogs really seem to enjoy it too.

I love all dogs but can’t stand the way SOME breeders seem to encourage bad faults to keep recurring. Ie German shepherds with really bad hips/posture, labs with hip displasia and eye problems, cavaliers with heart problems, bulldogs, pugs, frenchies who can hardly breathe. Loved watching some of the fly ball though.

Maybee when I got my poodle I was approached several times by folk hoping to use him as a stud. Actual strangers! As it happened I was able to say no as A. I have no problem doing this and B. He isn’t suitable due to a slight defect. I take health checking very seriously and when I bought him his pedigree was carefully considered.

I’ve still never worked out where they get the poodles from to make cockerpoos given that I’ve probably only seen one poodle in the past 10 years (if that)! And I’m someone that spends a lot of time looking out for unusual dogs. I’ve only ever known three people that have owned a poodle and one of those is my cousin who had one 50 years ago.

MayBee70, don’t tell everyone about the lovely Airedale x Lab. they’ll be the next cockerpoo ??

Spice101

I was hoping the Irish Terrier won, his owner breeder is a friend of mine. And the owner's mother and grandfather had the honour of winning Best in Show previously.

Having bred and shown Airedale Terriers for over 40 years I know just how much work there is in preparing many of the terriers, including the Irish to the high standard seen.

I met a Labrador/Airedale cross on the beach yesterday. He had been an accident ( it’s not a combination I’ve ever come across before) but he was lovely.

Spice101

I was hoping the Irish Terrier won, his owner breeder is a friend of mine. And the owner's mother and grandfather had the honour of winning Best in Show previously.

Having bred and shown Airedale Terriers for over 40 years I know just how much work there is in preparing many of the terriers, including the Irish to the high standard seen.

We met two Irish Terriers on the beach today. They were lovely and, as was pointed out yesterday, were far more sociable with other dogs than some terriers. I think the whole week has been very informative. I did see a Husky on the beach on a long line and wondered how it’s owners managed to get enough exercise into it.

So many lovely dogs I loved the fly ball just brilliant,the winner is stunning in fact I think they all deserved to win.

I record the programs so I can fast forward through all the endless waffle.
Love the fly ball, but would love to see more of the dogs and less talking.

I was hoping the Irish Terrier won, his owner breeder is a friend of mine. And the owner's mother and grandfather had the honour of winning Best in Show previously.

Having bred and shown Airedale Terriers for over 40 years I know just how much work there is in preparing many of the terriers, including the Irish to the high standard seen.

Mollygo, do you mean the husky? I was glad to see the owner giving sensible advice about the breed. Let off lead, they tend to run and keep on running.
Huskies and other wolf like breeds feature in dog shelters, sadly

Bit of a hobby horse but - all dogs need training. I watched some of the display from a kennel club bronze group. Excellent loose lead walking, walking past other dogs, obstacles and people. I wish all owners would commit to this. Im so fed up with people expecting me to let my dogs greet theirs.

I was a bit concerned about not being able t let your dog off lead. My dog loves off lead time and runs 3x as far as me off lead.

I love collies, too, but they need so much exercise and brain stimulation. There’s very protective of their property, too. I always remember my friends collie throwing his feeding bowl around because he liked the way the light was reflecting off it; she said ‘he’s a bored collie’. She lived next to a country park and her dogs were walked all the time. Another friend lived next to the same park. He had a Labrador that used to take himself for a walk every day.

MayBee70

I was a bit worried about the golden cocker doing well. When I used to have spaniels golden ones were very nasty; they’d been inbred to get the colour and it had resulted in behavioural problems. The problem has been sorted now but I’d still be loathe to get a golden. I’m sure they are ok now but unscrupulous breeders might start interbreeding again.

I think we all feel a bit like this about all the breeds. Everyone likes collies again but they are not easy dogs, spaniels aren't easy dogs either and I guess quite a few of the gun dog breeds need quite a lot of work too. I thought the lady who had the husky pointing out various difficulties with the breed was refreshing!

I hadn't watched any of Crufts this year, but now I wish I had.
Georgesgran, never having heard of a Glen of Imall terrier, I just Googled it, and came up with this picture.
It reminds me so much of our much loved Cairn terrier, being the same wheaten colour.

PETA don’t ( I believe) think that people should have pets. Their long term goal is probably no dogs existing at all. They are an organisation that I’m deeply suspicious of. I don’t like the very disturbing images that they put on social media…I realise that we need to know about how cruel people are to animals but I was very traumatised by one video that I watched when it was forwarded to me.

I had heard...

I thought the border collie lovely and l am slightly biased as we have one ourselves.
My husband was hoping that the flat coated retriever would win and yes the best dog did win on the night.
We like the agility and fly ball so we're happy to watch.
I had that the RSPCA and PETA won't support Crufts and wondered if someone can tell me on GN why that is please. I may be wrong though.

Imaal - predictive text or just bl**dy awkward today!

Yes it was nice to see a dog with a still wagging tail after all the palaver they go through.
That collie though...♥️