An outstanding event, or a dog welfare nightmare?
Dog welfare is at the heart of pretty much everything I do. I am a staunch promoter of force-free ethics and I can’t stand it when people do not behave with the same consideration of our floofers.
So, my first visit to Crufts was always going to be a tale with two sides.
On one side, is the ridiculous and downright cruel.
For example, this French Bulldog, who won their category.
They do not even meet the breed standards. The poor dog is so deformed his nostrils do not open (nasal stenosis). Coupled with his flat (brachycephalic) face, the poor animal can barely breathe. How on earth is that a winning example of a healthy French Bulldog? Is that poor dog really the best that can be produced of his breed? Responsible breeders at least try to reintroduce noses that actually function.
Imagine life as a dog, being unable to breathe properly, let alone sniff and use that wonderful sense of smell they have. The sheer number of olfactory pictures and sensations he must miss out on daily are astounding.
Then we have the dogs being dragged around on choke chains, slip leads, martingale collars. These dogs are not given the freedom to sniff or explore; instead, they are forced to walk perfectly beside their humans by yanking on their delicate throats repeatedly. Dogs who are clearly stressed and being strangled for their effort. Panting, eyes wide open, struggling to find relief while they get “corrected” for simply being alive.
Why can their humans not see what we do? Do they not care?
Even respected companies (who pride themselves on providing enrichment toys, which help destress and calm anxious dogs) do not do their due diligence. They bring in aversive and compulsion based trainers, to sign books and lord it up bragging about “infiltrating Crufts”. So then, how is the average Joe supposed to know what is right? If the “kind” companies are promoting those who use less than kind methods? (Side note – they have since apologised for not doing their homework, and crufts have banned said trainer from ever coming back.)
Thankfully, on the flip side there are reward based and force free, dog welfare advocates there, who we can support.
Stall after stall of things like Pet Remedy, who have actively taken a public stance against the use of aversive equipment and methods. Or Xtra Dog who pride themselves on applications of gentle methods such as Ttouch and well designed and promote comfortable equipment. The KAD-Kids Around Dogs stall where I was helping for the day while doing my book signing. So many more that it would be impossible to mention them all. But they are there flying the dog welfare flag.
The more support we give those who have dog welfare at the centre of their businesses, the more likely it is that more ethical companies will pop up and succeed. We must encourage those that we feel comfortable with. A huge event like Crufts and a massive organisation like the Kennel Club, could be huge forces for good – but they will only be so if the demand is there to be so.
With all things, the power is in the hands of the consumer.
We must offer the consumer choices and knowledge to help them make the best, most effective, kindest decisions. This is where events like Crufts could make a difference, given the exposure they enjoy with the dog owning public.
They could enforce breed standard rules to make sure that unhealthy, deformed dogs do not get to enter, let alone win prizes.
More could be done helping rescues and shelter dogs find homes. More welfare initiatives supported, instead of all the focus on tv being on the show ring.
The show ring itself could be made far less stressful for the dogs. Creating a more spacious and relaxed area for waiting. Not using stupid shoelace thick slip leads and popping harnesses on instead. Thinking more about the dog’s comfort.
They could put dog welfare at the centre of the event.
Make it the focus rather than a side thought. A celebration of each breed rather than a competition to see which is the most unhealthy, stressed out looking specimen this year and slapping a rosette on them.
There are so many ways we can make a difference.
I thoroughly enjoyed my day at Crufts and was overjoyed to point so many people in the right direction to getting help for their dogs. However, seeing those dogs who were not enjoying it so much was difficult.
Here’s to hoping that next year brings even greater success for those of us who have dogs at the centre of our endeavours.