this is why the show world should be illegal - Page 5

Ok I like the old Rock and Country.   So Make it illegal to like both.

 

From the AKC Neapolitan Mastiff breed standard. There is a reason for all those wrinkles.

Official Standard of the Neapolitan Mastiff
General Appearance: An ancient breed, rediscovered in Italy in the 1940's, the Neapolitan Mastiff is a heavy-boned, massive, awe inspiring dog bred for use as a guard and defender of owner and property. He is characterized by loose skin, over his entire body, abundant, hanging wrinkles and folds on the head and a voluminous dewlap. The essence of the Neapolitan is his bestial appearance, astounding head and imposing size and attitude. Due to his massive structure, his characteristic movement is rolling and lumbering, not elegant or showy.

We can't argue about taste, however when breed standards are driven to extreem causing health problems or even wirst suffering of any animal then it should be legislated.

 

 

legislated by whom?  By Governments?  or by breed clubs?  I think the breed clubs should be responsible for what is produced.  What government would you have set the standard?  If you think the governments should set the standard then who is ultimately making the decisions of what a breed should be?  HSUS? SPCA? Obama?  Taiwan? China? 

and by what means is the legislation to be upheld?

And while we are at it lets legislate who can have kids.

There's an old book called Dogs of All Nations that's been available on the net for awhile. It shows how different breeds looked back in 1915.

One of the things that struck me when I was looking through it was how many breeds in the book have become extinct.

I think that's what's going to happen to some of these breeds that are so extreme that no sane person would ever want to buy one. Either that, or the breed club will eventually come to its senses and realize they are not only endangering the breed's health but also its very survival.

I'd say at one time the American showline GSd was headed down the path to destruction. Dogs were dropping dead for no apparent reason at very young ages. One breeder I know had a dog break its leg just running down a slope. If you've been around this board as long as I have, you've heard Louise Penery talk about those times, which resulted in her switching to the German line sheperds:

Don't worry-all these dogs are bent to self-destruct--as if their owners have a death wish for them..... I know that the gaiting hockwalker, Hoheneichen's Caisson Avalon, died at an early age.

Well, yes--I believe that Eiko Hazelda also had his spleen removed--presumably due to torsion. Yes, a number of Hoheneichen dogs and their families suffered early deaths. Poor dogs--if I saw that my canine family were dropping like flies, I'd have a temperament problem, too--wondering if I might be next.

Let take a look at some of the dogs (http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/527359.html) in the "peacock"'s illustrious pedigree: (1) CH Leiter's Excalibur--suffered ED (I believe, fragmented coronoid process). (2) CH Nike Clayfield Andretti--died young (I believe, toxic gut syndrome--TGS). This was the dog responsible for activating AKC's DNA testing program. Seems that some litters allegedly sired by this dog were instead sired by one of his sons. (3) Cobert's Sirocco Of Windigail--wore a pacemaker--died when it malfunctioned or fell out. (4) CH Karagin's Crusader--died young of toxic gut syndrome. (5) CH Covy Tucker Hill's Durango--died young. I owned the litter sister to his dam (Covy Tucker Hill's Turtle Dove) who produced both EPI and TGS. Hey, I'm on a roll--I could go on all night. ..

 

I've deleted at least half of her original post, too, where she goes on at length about other dogs that suffered similar problems, but were STILL allowed to breed before prematurely dropping dead. The point I'm trying to make is ethical breeders made a determined effort to improve the situation, and have done so. Yes, improvement is still needed (isn't it ALWAYS??) but things are much, much better than they were. 

It's up to the breed club to save these dogs. That's my opinion, and I'm sticking with it. If they don't have the will or common sense to do so, the breed will be relegated to the dustbin of history, along with many, many others.

Sunsliver I wish I could push the agree button more then once.

 

SS i agree we have come long way towards animal wellfare. Neverthelless if we did not have a law against animal cruelty where would we be right now.

So we let them persue features witch have no other purpose than esthetics and are proven harmfull untill they come to there senses, is like saying i am allright jack JMO.

Most countries have animal cruelty laws.  But when you start getting into breed standards of long established breeds now you are getting into a whole different set of circumstances.  Where does it stop?  If you have a breed prone to DM  or Dysplasia and some of your pups end up having problems are you going to fall under your new legislation because someone feels you shouldn't have bred that pairing?  Who makes these decisions?  Maybe you are willing to give up all your freedoms for the "greater good"  most are not.  Most already feel over legislated, feel the government makes decisions that isn't or shouldn't be any of their business.  Maybe you feel everyone needs to be protected from their own stupidity.  I don't.  I feel there is a thing called self accountability.  You suffer because of your own choices.  Nature is that way. If I cut down a tree with a rotten top and it falls out while I am cutting and busts my head open.  It is the result of my own poor judgment.  If I breed dogs that you deem are freaks of nature but there is a market for them.  Am I a poor breeder or a business genius?  Well it kind of depends upon view point doesn't it.  I personally think all these poodle crosses are stupid.  But they are selling and people are making good money it.