Fur flies after Crufts presenter orders sausage dogs off sofa
CRUFTS has been described as “irresponsible” by the RSPCA after owners were told to stop their sausage dogs jumping on the sofa or going upstairs.
Viewers were informed during Saturday night’s coverage that there were “real no nos” which could exacerbate the back problems suffered by many dachshunds, including allowing them to climb stairs or onto the furniture.
But the animal charity complained that the advice brushed over the real issue, which is the way that the dogs are bred. The comments were made by Peter Purves, the veteran Crufts and Blue Peter presenter who owns several dachshunds. He told Channel 4 viewers during group judging: “The big problem with them is that they are long dogs with short legs so are prone to getting back problems, they can get that – not all but some can.”
He added: “You can’t predict it but ideally they don’t get back problems if you don’t allow them to jump up. You certainly don’t allow them to climb stairs. Those are real no nos.”
In response the RSPCA posted on Twitter: “Great for Crufts to raise awareness of the problems that dachshunds face but very irresponsible to suggest that not allowing them to jump up is the only way to prevent them – they need to be bred less long and low.”
Dachshunds were originally bred to scent, chase and flush out badgers and other burrow-dwelling animals. The dogs are prone to spinal problems, especially intervertebral disk disease, due to their long spines. The problem affects an estimated 25 per cent of sausage dogs and experts say the risk has increased over the years by factors including poor breeding, obesity, jumping, rough handling or intense exercise.
Concerns have been raised that an explosion in popularity of the breed in Britain could lead to unscrupulous breeders cashing in and exacerbating the problem. Lisa Hens, an RSPCA dog expert, said that many dogs were bred to emphasise certain features, and in many cases these can cause health problems. “We would like to see these problems of breeding addressed rather than preventing dogs exhibiting natural behaviour like jumping,” she said.
The row comes two years after the Kennel Club introduced new health standards for the competition after a public outcry over a “deformed” German shepherd winning best in breed.
Dogs can now only be exhibited if they can “stand freely and unsupported in any way, in structural balance while both rear pasterns are vertical”.
A spokesman for the Kennel Club said there were “health challenges and issues” with dachshunds amongst many other breeds and that standards were being regularly reviewed. She said that the breed standard “specifies that there should be no exaggeration because the breed can suffer from back problems and needs to be responsibly bred and properly cared for to protect its back”.