news - 10/03/2011
CRUFTS 2011 Day 1 - United Kingdom
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by Karl Donvil
Crufts on the right track after 120 years.
It is this year 120 years ago since Charles Cruft organized his first dog show. He would probably never have believed how far certain breeds were caricaturized as in those days only healthy dogs were kept and shown but I leave it in the middle how happy they were. This had changed a lot for the worst and a chocking BBC documentary was necessary to bring the Kennel Club (and not only the British Kennel Club) back on track, the right track leading to happy, healthy dogs (and owners). Since then the KC and the BBC are no longer close and friends. The BBC did a lot of bad things too, indirectly I admit, by making this show extremely popular, creating breed hypes and focusing on popularity ratings rather than on the impact they had on the wellbeing of the dogs. When suddenly they chocked the BKC by broadcasting the famous revealing documentary on breed anomalies, health problems and suffering caused by inbreeding, the BKC had to make a 180° turn to boost their popularity again. I can only say “BKC CONGRATULATIONS, you are on track”.
Of course it will take many years before all problems will be solved and some will probably never be solved, but one thing is for sure, the focus of the BKC is now on healthy, happy dogs (and owners). It is amazing how many initiatives the BKC has taken since in the favor of our dogs. We don’t need a ban on dog shows, dog sports or pet owning, man will always look for the companion of pets anyway. It is only important that those pets can live healthy and happy and this for a long life. A sound and healthy dog, mentally correct is a blessing for his master, as nobody feels happy with a sick dog at home. Instead of focusing on glamour and extravaganza of the BBC period, the focus is now on the good relation between dog and master, the responsibilities of breeding, the long term relationship between breeder and owner, dog and ancestors, ownership and breed-club or Kennel Club. The BKC is reinforced after the incident and takes up its responsibilities . Potential buyers are informed correctly, have assistance by the KC team or Breed Clubs, breeders can consult the Mate Check program to create healthy combinations, pet owners are sensibilized to have their pets microchipped in massive campaigns during the National Microschipping Month, Breed club rescue programs are sponsored , etc. 3 New initiatives were taken this year. First there are the KCAI, or Kennel Club Accredited Instructors. These specialized trained instructors help people to solve annoying habits. It is the first and only nationally recognised qualification in the UK for instructors involved in
teaching dog training and canine behaviour. Together with UK fitness guru Rosemary Conleys a fitness program has been set up in order to train dog and handler to lose weight and get fitter. But most important in my eyes and focused on dog shows itself is that from 2012 on 15 breeds (see Notes to Editors at the bottom of this article) will receive their championship title only after been given a clean bill of health by the show veterinary surgeon before their Best of Breed awards are confirmed and before they are allowed to continue to compete in the final stages of the show involved. A good thing as 195 breeds do not have special breed problems, but anomalies in the 15 vulnerable breeds can cast a shadow on the reputation of showing and breeding all dogs. The Kennel Club confirmed that the detailed regulations to give effect to these new moves are currently being developed and will be published in due course. I hope that these 15 breeds will need to be examined every show again, or at least at one show in the year. Certain anomalies cause start giving problems at a certain age only and if it needs to be done only once or a few times, there is a risk for corruption. It is a good thing and probably a blessing for the breed. It will probably be a relief for breeders, judges and handlers too. While now there was always a tendency of breeding more and more caricatural in order to be able to win, this downward spiral can be stopped. Healthy puppies make a fair chance again and we will probably see certain breeds change again for the better. I recently saw a miniature schnauzer with cropped ears and tail and I had to admit that it looked very nice, but I got so familiar with the new type of Schnauzer that I almost forgot how they all looked like some years ago. If we love our dogs we must think of them in the first place. In fact the BKC must be grateful to the BBC if we see what has changed since then. The BKC worked very hard on its image and they deserve a new BBC program, one that brings them in other spotlights this time. BRAVO !
120 years have passed since Charles Cruft organized its first show in 1891 with 2437 entries in 36 breeds. This edition had a total entry of 28.000 dogs, including the dogs entered in the different competitions and the number of recognized breeds is now 210, including the two recently recognized breeds, the Finnish Lapphund and the Hungarian wirehaired Viszla. This year I don’t find a top 10 list of the most represented breeds in the catalogs or showguide, but I presume it will be a reflection of the KC’s 2010 puppy registration list with the Labrador leading as usual. I have no idea how large the first show was but after 120 years the show moved a few times to be held now in Birmingham National Exhibition Centre since 1991, the centenary show. This huge exhibition centre has still extra capacity left I necessary. Crufts 2010 had the second largest visitor attendance and covers now 5 halls, the Pavillon and the Arena or about 25 acres. The NEC is very interesting as right near Birmingham airport, attached to the railway station and close to major roads. Although it was the 120th anniversary there was nothing much to see that brought this anniversary into the spotlights. I presume the KC will focus extra on the 125th . I had the impression that the number of visitors was decreased compared to other years, but some stand holders disagreed with me on that. Still it is good for 138.000 visitors! It is, however, a very expensive happening if you visit it with the family. Adults pay 15 £ if ordered in advance and 17£ for on the day. BIS tickets are to be ordered extra and range from 17,50 till 25,50 £. No wonder that the arena was far from sold out on Sunday. Add to this expenses for the trip, food and drinks, maybe a catalog at 7£ and without having spent on something for the dog, you end up with a very expensive day out with the family. Of course organizing a show of this size and popularity is extremely expensive and I can hardly imagine what the price for the renting of the halls might be but it probably must be a numbers with 8 digits.
The number of overseas exhibitors increased significantly to 1231 or 5,5% of the total number of entries, but this was mostly thanks to a few countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and also Russia as most countries remained at the same level of had less entries. The number of represented countries is 36.
I am still impressed by the Official Show Guide as it holds so much information for the professional as well as for the visitor, unfamiliar with world of dogs and its sports. Every aspect is covered and explained and all the breeds are represented by a small drawing.
One of the Internationally most attended and followed items is the International Junior Handling competition. Judge for this year was Mr.Christopher Habig, vice-president of the FCI and former Chairman of the German kennel Club. He had 39 juniors to judge from as many nationalities, ranging from the UK to as far as Australia, Japan, the Philippines over South Africa, Venezuala, Iceland and of course a vast majority from Europe. The final winner was Paulina Lisiak from Poland. . As usual the vast majority of the judges were British as were the Group judges. But it was a surprise that the BIS judge was from Italy, no other than Mr. Paolo Dondina. Mr.Dondina has an impressive judging career all over the world and bred many champions, but also co-owned the 1975 Crufts winning Fox Terrier; Ch.Brookewire Brandy of Layven.
His runner up was a hound, his favorite breed group, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen “SOLETRADER PEEK A BOO”, Jilly for the friends, a bitch owned by Gavin and Sara Robertson from Wallingford, Oxfordshire. His Best In Show dog was the very lovely Flat Coated Retriever “SH CH VBOS THE KENTUCKIAN” a dog bred by Jim Irvine from South Queensferry, Edinburgh, who calls him Jet. Unfortunately this dog did not feel at ease on a podium and stood in front of it instead of on it as usual. A nice dog and one of my favorites to win.
The show will go on, no doubt on that after 120 years, but a new era has started, one that takes the dogs health and happiness into account and that is a very positive evolution. For certain breeds it was 5 to twelve, we must admit that and I think the Kennel Club admits it too now. There is still a long way to go, in Britain, as well as in other parts of the world. But it is important that the ship sails now the right course. Maybe the time is right now to focus on the prevention of buying puppies in an impulsive way. Still too many puppies as bought impulsively and too many via puppy farms. It is a myth that they are cheaper there and the few hundred pounds saved there are spend afterwards on veterinarian care. Unfortunately future owners, not familiar with pure bred dogs, believe that pure bred dogs are much more expensive, while most of the time the prices are similar. Dog Shelters are overpopulated all over the world. The only way to prevent this is to inform people about breeds, about prices, about consequences , about responsible ownership, about an active happy life together with man’s best friend. This task can only be fulfilled by dogshows, shows that show us how dogs look like, how dogs behave, what dogs can do, how dogs are helping us, what consequences it takes to have a dog, how dogs can make a difference in our lives and how we must make a difference in our dogs lives. Whatever the anti lobby says, we need to use the power that dog shows have for the benefit of our friends. Crufts undoubtedly has the biggest impact on that and shows the right track as an example in many ways to other dog shows all over the world.
Text and photo’s by Karl DONVIL
DFS Crufts 2011 Results
Best In Show Best In Show Judge: Dr Paolo Dondina [Italy]
SH CH VBOS THE KENTUCKIAN
Retriever (Flat Coated)
Dog
Owner: MR J M IRVINE
Res Best in Show
SOLETRADER PEEK A BOO
Basset Griffon Vendeen (Petit)
Bitch
Owner: MRS S ROBERTSON
Gundog Group
Judge(s): Dr Ron James
BEST OF GROUP
SH CH VBOS THE KENTUCKIAN
Retriever (Flat Coated)
Dog
Owner: MR J M IRVINE
RESERVE BEST OF GROUP
SH CH STANEGATE SPARKS WILL FLY (AI)
Spaniel (Irish Water)
Bitch
Owner: MRS J L CARRUTHERS
THIRD OF GROUP
SH CH STANEGATE SPARKS WILL FLY (AI)
Spaniel (Irish Water)
Bitch
Owner: MRS J L CARRUTHERS
OF GROUP
FOURTH OF GROUP
LINIRGOR MACTAVISH
Retriever (Golden)
Dog
Owner: MRS I & MISS L FRATER & DUNBAR
Hound Group
Judge(s): Mrs Eleanor Bothwell
BEST OF GROUP
SOLETRADER PEEK A BOO
Basset Griffon Vendeen (Petit)
Bitch
Owner: MRS S ROBERTSON
RESERVE BEST OF GROUP
CIB/SE/NO/FI/DK CH BORZOWSKI'S PHENOMENON [ATC AM00146SWE]
Borzoi
Dog
Owner: MRS L HAMEL
THIRD OF GROUP
IR CH ASHAHNI AMIR
Afghan Hound
Dog
Owner: MRS C BOLLARD OCALLAGHA
OF GROUP
FOURTH OF GROUP
IT CH SOBERS INGRID [ATC AG00091ITA]
Whippet
Bitch
Owner: MR P & MRS B PRIMAVERA & AHRENS PRIMAVERA
Pastoral Group
Judge(s): Mrs Jo Bispham
BEST OF GROUP
CH ELMO VOM HUNHNEGRAB
German Shepherd Dog
Dog
Owner: MR J G CULLEN
RESERVE BEST OF GROUP
CIB/EST/FIN/LT/LV/RUS CH PILGRIMAGE SNOW BALL [ATC AM00213EST]
Samoyed
Bitch
Owner: MS Y & MRS K CHEN & USPENSKI
THIRD OF GROUP
CH/DK/NO/VDH/INT CH THORNAPPLE AFTERSHOCK [ATC AH00217USA]
Australian Shepherd
Dog
Owner: MISS B WOHLICHE
OF GROUP
FOURTH OF GROUP
NUCH LUXCH NORDV-10 BEW-10 KIMURA'S JENSEMANN [ATC AM00177NOR]
Norwegian Buhund
Dog
Owner: MRS C SONBERG
Terrier Group
Judge(s): Mr Phillip Greenway
BEST OF GROUP
CH TRAVELLA STARLORD
Fox Terrier (Wire)
Dog
Owner: MR V MALZONI JNR
RESERVE BEST OF GROUP
CH/AM CH LONGVUE JACKPOT OF SAREDON
Airedale Terrier
Dog
Owner: MRS J AVERIS
THIRD OF GROUP
CH HUBBULLS THE PROMISE
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Bitch
Owner: MR B & MRS A TROW
OF GROUP
FOURTH OF GROUP
RAGUS JAZZ KING
Norwich Terrier
Dog
Owner: MRS L A CRAWLEY
Toy Group
Judge(s): Mr Richard Haynes
BEST OF GROUP
CH PAMPLONA BRING ME SUNSHINE
Bichon Frise
Dog
Owner: MR M COAD
RESERVE BEST OF GROUP
CIB/NORD CH CHIC CHOIX MARKEY LIFAR [ATC AL00505FIN]
Lowchen (Little Lion Dog)
Dog
Owner: MR I OJALA
THIRD OF GROUP
N/S/DK/FIN/NORD/RUS/LV/LT/BALK CH TANGETOPPEN`S UNBREAKABLE NEWS [ATC AL01158NOR]
Pug
Bitch
Owner: MR B E LOKEN
OF GROUP
FOURTH OF GROUP
DK/SE/INT/SK CH SOFFIES QUEEN BEE WW09 [ATC AJ00042DNK]
Pomeranian
Bitch
Owner: V JACOBSEN
Utility Group
Judge(s): Mr Terry Nethercott
BEST OF GROUP
CH VICMARS RAVE ON JW
Poodle (Standard)
Dog
Owner: MRS S PINE-HAYNES
RESERVE BEST OF GROUP
CH ZENTARR ELIZABETH
Lhasa Apso
Bitch
Owner: MRS M ANDERSON
THIRD OF GROUP
CH RUTHDALES CANDY FROM A BABY
Akita
Bitch
Owner: MR, MS, MR & MRS BOSTOCK, ARMSTRONG & STARK
OF GROUP
FOURTH OF GROUP
SANTOSHA THUNDERBOLT
Shih Tzu
Dog
Owner: MR D & MRS S M CROSSLEY
Working Group
Judge(s): Mrs Kari Wilberg
BEST OF GROUP
CH/IR CH WINUWUK LUST AT FIRST SIGHT
Boxer
Dog
Owner: MISS J & MR T BROWN & HUTCHINGS
RESERVE BEST OF GROUP
CH/IR CH FAIRWEATHERS KNOCK OUT WITH BROOKLYNBEAR (IMP)
Newfoundland
Dog
Owner: MR W & MRS A DOBBIN
THIRD OF GROUP
CH SUPETA'S OZZY OSBOURNE JW
Dobermann
Dog
Owner: MESDAMES S, T & S SMITH, BENNETT & MYCROFT
OF GROUP
FOURTH OF GROUP
CH OLEARIA BLAZE OF GOLD
Rottweiler
Dog
Owner: MRS M & MR C MONK & DRABBLE
Notes to Editors
• The Kennel Club, organiser of dfs Crufts, is the UK’s largest organisation dedicated to the health and
welfare of dogs. At its heart are programmes and investments in education and health initiatives to
help dogs across the UK to live long, healthy, happy lives with responsible owners.
• dfs Crufts is a unique celebration of happy, healthy dogs and of the loving relationship that they
enjoy with their owners. It recognises the varied roles that dogs play in society and highlights the
many different disciplines and activities in which dogs are involved.
• The fifteen high profile breeds are as follows: Basset Hound, Bloodhound, Bulldog, Chow Chow,
Clumber Spaniel, Dogue De Bordeaux, German Shepherd Dog, Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Pekingese,
Shar Pei, St Bernard, French Bulldog, Pug and Chinese Crested.
• Show vets will be given clear guidelines on the issues that need to be considered in deciding whether
or not to allow a dog to proceed further into the Group competition. The vets will be directed only
to prevent dogs from going forward if they are suffering from some clinical problem which obviously
adversely affects the dog’s wellbeing. They will not be permitted to exclude dogs merely for
aesthetic reasons or because of exaggerations alone, unless these are causing the dog some
adverse clinical effect on its health or welfare.
• The guidance will focus on clinical signs associated with pain or discomfort which will come under the
headings of external eye disease, lameness, skin disorders and breathing difficulty. The show
veterinary surgeon will be looking for signs such as ectropion, entropion, corneal damage, dermatitis,
breathing difficulty on moderate exercise, and lameness. The fifteenth breed is the Chinese Crested
where the principal issue will be the presence of skin damage arising from hair removal and thus signs
of clipper rash or chemical insults to the skin will be looked for.
• An exploratory meeting to establish the practicalities of these issues has already been held with a
number of established show vets. This has been extremely helpful to the Kennel Club in planning for
the detailed regulations which will have to be introduced to give effect to this new requirement.
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