Crufts urged to admit ‘retro pugs’ to wipe out cruel breeding

CRUFTS is under pressure to break with tradition and allow so-called “retro pugs” without a squashed face to compete in the show ring, as campaigners say it would help end the suffering endured by the breed.

Retro pugs, a new variety of the popular breed, are a cross between Jack Russell terriers and pugs, but have fewer breathing problems because of their longer faces.

Campaigners say that they are a less cruel alternative to the pug, which can struggle to breathe because of their flat faces and narrow nostrils.

But Crufts, now in its 128th year, only permits pure breeds to compete.

Jemima Harrison, founder of the Campaign for the Responsible Use of Flat-Faced Animals, said the retro pug was a big improvement on the regular breed and that the Kennel Club, which organises Crufts, needed to do more to help eradicate the complex health issues the dogs face.

“If the Kennel Club truly wants to be seen as a modern organisation that supports animal welfare, then they should be encouraging efforts to breed these healthier dogs by allowing them to show,” said Ms Harrison.

“In the eyes of Crufts, the retro pug isn’t ‘pure’. Indeed, most breeders would dismiss these dogs as mongrels.

“[The pug] is the poster pup for all that is wrong in the pure-bred world. Some of these dogs literally fight for air every second of their lives.”

Last year, Crufts claimed it was clamping down on flat-faced dogs after warning its judges not to award prizes to animals that were unable to breathe.

“We want to put a stop to this and change how people breed reed their dogs,” said Caroline Kisko, Kennel nnel Club secretary, ahead of last year’s ’s competition.

Bill Lambert, senior health and welfare manager at the Kennel ennel Club, said: “There’s no doubt that t pugs and other popular brachycephalic alic breeds are suffering due to a huge e surge in indiscriminate breeding for or certain exaggerated features, like e flatter faces, which is driven by fashion shion and often perceived to look or sound und cute.

“We are working with ith vets, welfare organisations and breed ed clubs to stop irresponsible breeders s cashing in on demand, with no regard rd for health and welfare of their puppies, ppies, [and] to educate puppy buyers ers about the potential problems if they place looks over health.”

A recent study by the Royal Veterinary College found that 17.9 per cent of owners of short-muzzled breeds said their dogs suffered breathing problems.

‘[The pug] is the poster pup for all that is wrong in the purebred world. Some of these dogs literally fight for air every second of their lives’