Congratulations Stump!

February 11 /09

America's Next Top Dog!

Did you happen to catch the Westminster Dog Show this week? What a great bunch of dogs! I just love the Best in Show winner, a Sussex Spaniel named Ch. Clussexxx Three D Grinchy Glee. His call-name is Stump.

At l0 years old, Stump is the oldest winner in Westminster's 133-year history.


Way to go

I heard that PETA was outside Madison Square Gardens protesting the show. There are lots of people who think that behind the scenes of conformation shows, dogs are abused. These are the same people who put down the breeding of pedigree dogs. They are wrong to make sweeping judgements like that.

There are extremes in all of life's pursuits. But I happen to know that there are lots of responsible breeders out there (like mine) who breed their dogs with their health and temperment a top priority. As a matter of fact, they actually breed to weed out congenital defects. Maintaining the physical traits that the dogs were originally bred for is important too. But these people don't sacrifice health for beauty. They love their dogs. They screen their clients diligently. And they stay interested in their welfare long after they've moved on to their new owners, often for the rest of the dogs' lives.

Is breeding done for money? Yes, by backyard breeders - the ones who mate siblings, churn out puppies indiscriminately and sell them by the truckload to the highest bidders, without caring if they could provide them with loving homes. There's no money to be made by breeding show dogs. It's done for the love and respect of the breed, and in an effort to continue strong and healthy bloodlines.

Did you know that 75 per cent of shelter dogs are mixed breeds? I bet most of the purebred dogs in shelters were bought at pet stores and come from high-volume puppy mills. So why are so many people critical of show dog breeders ? The recent BBC documentary that highlighted the brutality of some breeders doesn't represent the industry as a whole. It was a documentary, with the purpose of exposing the tragic practice of inbreeding. What it didn't show was that there are far more breeders who are caring and humane and, in fact, support organizations like PETA, at least in principle.

I have yet to meet an abused show dog, up close or from afar. You just have to watch them in the ring to see their joyful spirit. Show dog owners know the importance of exercise, good nutrition, top medical care and mostly, love. If any of these dogs led lives of abuse, it would be evident in their demeanor and they'd never make it past first base.

So, if we're going to empty our shelters and put the puppy mill owners out of business, people have to educate themselves and stop buying us in pet stores. They have to find responsible breeders, and then be responsible owners.

It isn't going to happen by dressing up as the KKK and picketing Westminster.

OK, I had my rant.

On with the shows.