The Kennel Club is overhauling the controversial breeding rules
that prompted the BBC to drop its coverage of Crufts.
The Kennel Club and the BBC ended 2008 in a stand off
following the broadcast of Passionate Productions' BBC1 documentary Pedigree Dogs Exposed.
The film claimed the Kennel Club's breed standards were
effectively encouraging dog owners to breed ill-health into their pets. More

about damn time.

Agreed.

That's great news.

Great news but it will take years to undo the damage they have done.

My friends daughter had a pedigree Springer Spaniel and it just died suddenly. Only a few weeks ago.

A few years ago another friend had two English Bull Terriers and they died, not sure if it was to do with breeding.

I've heard that the standards cause many breeds to develop problems but I don't understand much about it.

old news they started the process ages ago

I still see dogs going about with their tails docked. There is no need for it in this day and age they used to do it for hunting breeds but now it's just done because it's meant to look more aesthetic.

It doesn't it looks awful. And the type of people that usually have dogs with docked tails are those that have some horrible bull-dog thing, a sister who is a niece and if you say anything to them, or look at them in a 'way' then "our chaz" will spark you out...

Can't beat a bit of 'hybrid-vigour'
Mixed breeds always did tend to live longer, and healthier lives in general.

My last 2 dogs were mixed breeds, and lived to 19yrs, and 17yrs respectively - current dog is a Labrador/Staffordshire cross-breed. Expecting him to go beyond 15yrs too (accidents etc. excepted)

I dont know why so many people want a dog which looks like a thousand others.
I much prefer the mixed breed/mongrel - they have far fewer health problems, more character and personality and each is unique.
One of my dogs was a dachshund x corgi x jack russell - a very pretty dog with bags of character, sweet personality, and a quiet happy dog.

How quaint. Could these be 'estate people'?

Greyhounds are the best pedigree to get, nothing to do with kennel club, they don't allow inbreeding, and they live for a looooong time.
Rescue a retired greyhound, they make amazing pets.

Couldn't agree more. As disabled oldies, our Greyhound makes an amazing companion for us. He is our second one and they have both been the most docile lovable dogs you could imagine. Even with the grandchildren.

You mean the Hunting, Shooting and Fishing set....who tend to have Spaniel gun dogs with docked tails