14 Crufts – The hidden torture of best in show
As dog trainers across the country get ready for Crufts, Closer investigates the devastating consequences of inbreeding and asks whether winning can ever be worth it…
When three-yearold German W Shepherd Cruaghaire Catoria was crowned “best in breed” at Crufts 2016, she became famous overnight.
But rather than being known for her excellent obedience or agility, it was her appearance that caught viewers’ attention. With her heavily sloping back and disproportionate legs, many animal lovers thought Cruaghaire Catoria looked “deformed”.
Her owner, Susan Cuthbert, hit back at the criticism, saying that she had been “tried and convicted by social media”.
But her dog swiftly became the face of accusations of animal cruelty at Crufts, sparking the introduction of stringent new health standards.
DESIGNER DOG
However, animal campaigners fear that these changes are not enough to stop dogs suffering.
Mimi Bekhechi, PETA’S director of international programmes, explains, “Animal lovers see certain dogs on Crufts and might be persuaded to purchase one from a breeder, without knowing how much some pedigree dogs suffer from being bred for looks over their health.
“One in four pedigree dogs will be affected by a serious health problem – from epilepsy to bone conditions. Breeders know this; the health issues associated with pedigree breeding is even discussed on the Kennel Club’s website, but it seems like some people’s desire to create the perfect designer dog is more important to them, and it’s always the dogs who pay the price for it.”
Most of the health issues that affect pedigree dogs are caused by extreme inbreeding. For example, 10,000 pugs are descended from just 50 dogs in order to produce the extreme and unnatural features associated with the breed.
Mimi explains, “Many features such as short muzzles and flat faces have been taken to the extreme to meet these arbitrary breed standards set by The Kennel Club, but for the dogs, it can make things like exercise and even breathing a struggle.
“And many dachshunds have hereditary back problems because of their deliberately elongated spinal column and short rib cage. We owe it to man’s best friend to immediately put a stop to breeding diseased and deformed dogs.”
However, Crufts still attracts up to 150,000 dog lovers every year. The show runs over four days and, alongside being a trade show for dog-related goods and services, also hosts competitions in agility, obedience and heelwork.
Although the BBC dropped its coverage of the show in 2008 after 42 years – reportedly due to concerns over animal welfare – it’s still being broadcast on Channel 4. And Crufts continues to cause controversy. In 2015, dog breeder Rebecca Cross sparked outrage when she picked up five-year-old Scottish Terrier Knopa by the tail.
The puppy still won “best in show” and viewers claimed that Crufts was turning a blind eye to cruelty – with more than 100,000 people signing a petition to strip her of the “best in show” title following the competition.
In the same year, threeyear-old Irish Setter Jagger collapsed and died just hours after winning a silver medal in his class. His devastated owner Aleksandra Lauwers, 34, was convinced the pedigree dog must have been poisoned at the event, though a report later suggested he had died after consuming a “fastacting poison” in Belgium, not at the show.
CRUELTY CLAIMS
News of Jagger’s death had led to reports that as many as six other dogs had also fallen ill after taking part in Crufts, though this was rejected by the event organisers.
Responding to claims of cruelty, the show maintains that it plays a vital role in caring for dogs and educating their owners. Caroline Kisko, secretary of the Kennel Club, which runs Crufts, said, “Crufts is a huge celebration of dogs – both pedigree and crossbreed.
“Crufts has a duty of care for all dogs and as such health and welfare is our main priority. The breed standards – which pedigree dogs are judged by at the show – make it explicitly
clear that any physical exaggerations, which would be detrimental to the health and welfare of the dog should be avoided.
“Every dog in breeds that are considered at risk of developing health conditions that wins a Best of Breed award at Crufts must undergo a veterinary check at Crufts before the award is confirmed.
“In addition, every dog going into the main arena undergoes a veterinary observation to ensure that dogs who may be suffering are not able to continue in the competition and that only healthy dogs are rewarded. We are also proud to be one of the leading organisations funding research into dog health.”