Crufts is the last place you'll find a dog lover
Discussion
Just read this restrained BBC piece and it reminded me of when the missus and I went to Crufts a few years back because we wanted to buy a dog and wanted to talk to lover's of all breeds. All we found was a trade show for breeders who were happy to unnecessarily cut off tails and show-biz "mums" using the dogs for some reflected glory. Left feeling dirty.
FamilyGuy said:
Just read this restrained BBC piece and it reminded me of when the missus and I went to Crufts a few years back because we wanted to buy a dog and wanted to talk to lover's of all breeds. All we found was a trade show for breeders who were happy to unnecessarily cut off tails and show-biz "mums" using the dogs for some reflected glory. Left feeling dirty.
should've watched your step.
We spent two years on the dog show circuit, showing one of ours (the black one in the profile picture if anyone is interested) We met some very nice people but they were by and large in the minority. The rest were a bunch of scheming two-faced back stabbers. The judges tend to be breeders for the breed they are judging, and it was quite clear that unless you were part of the inner circle, you had no chance of winning anything let alone placing. I did become something of an expert on which showground did the best bacon butties though so it wasn't a toatl waste of time 
tonyvid said:
I went a few years ago and was suprised how much it felt like a non-public event. Yes, there are tons of stalls and seating around various rings but it really is for the show-ers and not Joe Public - it may have changed but I doubt it.
I always had the impression it was for the participants.Good luck to 'em. Provided they treat the dogs well it's their business. I know there have been ructions about the health of some "pedigree" breeds and some changes are going on with that.
Not interested in the show myself but I used to enjoy watching the agility stuff on TV...mainly because border collies always did well and I absolutely love them.
Agree about the Dogs Trust, when we went to look there was no pressure, my daughter got a chance to walk the dog she had picked, and lots of good advice.
She now has a happy 6 year old lab cross who, whilst not the sharpest chisel in the tool box, is one of the family now.
I know a few vets, and whilst, like cars, there are reliable and unreliable models, 'Pedigree' can give lots of trouble.
When some breeders are breeding Fathers and Daughters that can only lead to disaster for that breed.
From the BBC documentary I suspect that it wasn't only the dogs who had close bloodlines!
By getting from the Dogs Trust/ Local home you give an animal a second chance, and its one less sale for the breeders.
She now has a happy 6 year old lab cross who, whilst not the sharpest chisel in the tool box, is one of the family now.
I know a few vets, and whilst, like cars, there are reliable and unreliable models, 'Pedigree' can give lots of trouble.
When some breeders are breeding Fathers and Daughters that can only lead to disaster for that breed.
From the BBC documentary I suspect that it wasn't only the dogs who had close bloodlines!
By getting from the Dogs Trust/ Local home you give an animal a second chance, and its one less sale for the breeders.
The Londoner said:
We spent two years on the dog show circuit, showing one of ours (the black one in the profile picture if anyone is interested) We met some very nice people but they were by and large in the minority. The rest were a bunch of scheming two-faced back stabbers. The judges tend to be breeders for the breed they are judging, and it was quite clear that unless you were part of the inner circle, you had no chance of winning anything let alone placing. I did become something of an expert on which showground did the best bacon butties though so it wasn't a toatl waste of time
+1 on just about all of the above ,the in laws used to do the same many years ago,used to spend every weekend going to shows all over the UK just to try to get the points needed to get to Crufts Finally they managed not only to do that but win best in breed there ! They then got in trouble with the owners club(read judges)for selling the pups on from the winning b
h not to other showers but to people who wanted them as family pets 
Cheeky Jim said:
I'm sorry to say, but wtf would you want to 'show' your dog for?
Surely, surely you could find a more interesting hobby than slaving away over a dog. I mean it's a dog, it walks, poo's and eats... and sometimes licks your face.... thats it...
To be fair, you can say the same about car shows...Surely, surely you could find a more interesting hobby than slaving away over a dog. I mean it's a dog, it walks, poo's and eats... and sometimes licks your face.... thats it...
Cheeky Jim said:
I'm sorry to say, but wtf would you want to 'show' your dog for?
Surely, surely you could find a more interesting hobby than slaving away over a dog. I mean it's a dog, it walks, poo's and eats... and sometimes licks your face.... thats it...
Sometimes it eats poo before it licks your face!Surely, surely you could find a more interesting hobby than slaving away over a dog. I mean it's a dog, it walks, poo's and eats... and sometimes licks your face.... thats it...
Chim Chim said:
If you want a dog go to the Dogs Trust/local charity and get one that way is my advice.
I should have mentioned them - are they what the NCDL became? If so we saw them at the same Crufts and were a breath of fresh air. Not zealots, just genuinely cared about and interested in dogs and gave us loads of informed advice. We'd go for a rescue dog if it wasn't that we've a lot of small children and many rescue dogs have been abandoned for a good reason. I'm sure it's typically not the dog's fault but that still doesn't make them necessarily a suitable companion for toddlers.We accidentally bumped into a "Scrufts" event at Westonbirt a couple of weeks back and it was everything we'd hoped Crufts would be. Genuinely caring and enthusiatic owners.
Edited by FamilyGuy on Friday 6th March 10:54
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