door Karl DonvilCrufts shows a new side
The first Crufts after the heavy storm, caused by the BBC program, has caused little damage to the show. This edition was good for 22.667 entries, the 3th best ever. It is obvious now that Crufts doesn’t need the BBC to be successful. I always thought that the success of Crufts with regard to visitors was due to the BBC who covered the event life. This is not the case, as even after the frustrating reportage “Pedigree dogs exposed”, that was in the first place a direct attack to Crufts , it looks like the British Kennel Club proves to be build on good foundations.
But there was much concern and lots of worries. On Sunday a big demonstration against Crufts was planned, but in the end only a handful of demonstrators turned up. They were fenced outside the halls and allowed to show their boards and scream their slogans. Inside the halls the exhibitors were warned regularly not to leave their dogs or cages unattended as there were threats that dogs would be let out of their cages or painted with sprays . It was told that there had been a few incidents the first day, but it was not officially confirmed. Bobbies were stationed outside the halls, while inside I had the impression that there was more security around. It was obvious that the Kennel Club was very alert.
The Kennel Club had focused on their “Healthy Dogs” program, a reaction against the BBC accusations. I thought it was a little overdone and even irritating at the end. No doubt that mistakes were made in the past with regard to certain breeds, let us be honest about that. Almost all the Kennel Clubs in the world , including the British, have never made a priority of general health and have only focused on the most threatening physical defects as HD and Eye problems. Right now , it looks like everything is possible and never before the Kennel Club was more concerned about the health of all the breeds. Let’s put it very simple: “there are some very serious problems in certain breeds, they have been neglected far too long, the BKC has been rapped the knuckles, the BKC has admitted and promised to make a change for the future”. Claiming that all participating dogs are healthy and free of defects by definition is like claiming to not have touched the pralines with chocolate still sticking on the lips. It was impossible to avoid the slogans containing variations on “health” or “healthy”, wherever you looked. The spoken comments in the main ring were focused on the same theme and after a while it felt like ridiculous and seriously overdone. The major part of the new Kennel Club stand was reserved for the new “Healthy Zone”. Scientist, genetics, vets and specialized breeders (!?) were at disposal for questions. If this information was objective is still the question.
After having seen the BBC program I have looked at this event from another point of view and we must admit that we use our beloved pets on shows and in the sports gain more status. What is the art of producing a top dog? If you combine two champions you are much more than halfway. After that it becomes in the first place a matter of money if you want to turn your Champion into a Top Champion. In the USA it is a matter of advertising if you want to increase your chance to become BIS, and of sending newsletters to judges all over the world. A PR campaign of 25.000$ for one year is not unusual as I have been told by my US colleagues. In Britain and on the continent this trend is coming over too. The BIS and runner-up are nominates months before a show as favorites. Photos and advertisements are filling full pages in prestigious dog magazines. OK, usually it concerns Top Dogs who are absolutely gorgeous, are nicely trained for shows and look fit and healthy. But I doubt if the difference with their breed mates is so significant. The British Kennel Club is focusing too much on only healthy dogs, but there is much more than that. There is the ethical question too. We emphasize too much on beauty, look or performance. But do we have the right to breed dogs on pure cosmetic qualities, even if these animals are healthy for the rest? Certain breeds are no longer functional and are no longer able to reproduce naturally like the Chihuahua’s who can get pretty old and usually have a healthy , long life. The Kennel Clubs have a much broader task than only taking care that dogs are fit and healthy. They must prevent that breeds turn into caricatures, far from how they originally looked or were bred for. They must inform future amateurs, train judges and advise clubs. This task will never be over and they must question themselves again and again if they are on the right track and if not they need to re-orientate like now. In the meantime the BKC has changed its breed standards to prevent exaggerations, the breeding of caricatures and characteristics that affect health.
It would have been better if the BKC would have emphasized more the things they are really good at, the positive interactions between dog and man. It looks like the British have finally discovered “Canicross” , called “CaniX” or “Canine Cross Country”. Usually new disciplines origin from Britain and are brought to the continent, but this time it is the other way. It must be said that the Kennel Club’s PR-machine is working smoothly. The initiatives taken by the Kennel Club and presented on Crufts are numerous. Honor where honor is due, the BKC has done a fantastic job and it would be most unfair to turn our back upon them now for everything that goes wrong in the cynologic field. This year they presented the “Accredited Breeder Sheme”, a new initiative for breeders who can subscribe a commitment to assist new owners in socializing their puppy. Over 3500 breeders have already done so. The most noble in my opinion is still the “Friends for Life” award for a dog that came into the spotlights for his noble duty towards man (usually disabled people). New is the possibility to upload photos and videos to the Kennel Club via Flikr and YouTube within the theme “How we love our dogs” and it is also possible to make friends via Facebook within the Kennel Club. The BKC PR-machine grabs every change to use modern technology and communication facilities to blush up its imago. Under the motto “Making the difference for dogs” the BKC campaigns against puppyfarms and tries to sensibilise companies, shops, hotels and restaurants to be more “dog friendly”. Notwithstanding the fact that the BKC has always taken nice initiatives, it looks like it has increased its tempo now. This proves again that a good shock can open the eyes and result in positive actions.
I had a strong feeling that the number of visitors decreased compared to other years. But the fact that Pedigree has withdrawn from Dogshows (and Crufts) completely can have mislead me. Some say that this was due to the BBC program, but it was said last year already that Pedigree would no longer be sponsor and withdraw from Crufts. Their usually giant stand was no longer there and this created more space for the other stand holders. Eukanuba significantly increased the size of its stand. The corridors between the stands was broader too leaving more room for the visitors to wander around. Perhaps this created the impression that it was less crowdie. Some stand holders said they created a better turnover due to the better flow of the crowd. Exhibitors were more inclined to visit the stands and as they intend to buy more specialized (and more expensive) stuff it compensates. This is logical cause if it is too crowded you can see less and will buy less too.
Te Arena, the hall for the main ring, was sold out again on Sunday. Nothing changed here. All 4 days you could sit here a whole day if you want and follow all the different competitions and disciplines like the International Championship Freestyle and Junior handling. Since Crufts is no longer life on BBC, fans could follow everything streamed life on Internet. The British must have liked this very much, dog people in the first place as there was less talking and interviewing and much more to see. This was also appreciated by the foreign Press as they were not forced to wait in the photo corner due to long interviews from the BBC people with the winners.
Crufts had 28.000 dogs. 22667 Were there for the show, all others for the different demonstrations and competitions. 1114 Dogs were “Overseas”, representing 33 nationalities. It is almost to be considered as a tradition that the Kennel Club accepts new breeds. This was the case this year for the Bordeaux Dog, a breed added to the Working Group and judged here by Mrs.Van Brempt from Belgium. She had 127 specimen in the ring. The Podenco Portugues was added to the Hound Group and was judged by Mrs.Carla Molinari from the country of origin on the breed. They were 82 all together, which is a very nice entry taken into account that so far only the smallest rough coated variety is accepted. The Bracco Italiano and the Spanish Waterdog were added to the Gundog Group. They were with respectively 55 entries for Mr.CA Atkinson and 65 for Mr.J.Horswell. The KC recognizes a total of 187 different breeds now.
It was Peter Green from Wales who was honored to pick out Best In Show. In 2005 he was still at the other end of the ring when he ended BIS with his Norfolk Terrier. There seems to exist an elite group of persons who won and judged BIS at Crufts. His Reserve Best In Show was the white Standard Poodle CH/AM CH AFTERGLOW THE BIG TEASE owned by MR J LYNN. This dog won numerous shows like Blackpool, was UK’s Top Dog last year and was the UK delegate for the Eukanuba World Challenge 2008 in California. Best In Show was even more famous, the well-known Sealyham Terrier AM/CAN/SU CH EFBE'S HIDALGO AT GOODSPICE van M & S GOOD & MIDDLEBROOKS from Canada. We met this dog also in the BIS podium of the World Dog Show in Stockholm and the world-famous Westminster Dog Show in New York. No doubt about the superb qualities of these Top Dogs and is has probably been a very evident decision of the judges who have put these dogs up, but I cannot but wonder if this isn’t also a very safe and easy decision of the judge? Is this winning dog so unambiguously perfect that he becomes unconditionally the very best dog several times in a year on such Super Dog Shows as these, in different continents and with different competitors? Is he with head and shoulders pointing out of those other 22666 dogs at Crufts? Statistically and objectively this is as good as unlikely. From a subjective point of view the explanation is more acceptable as the PR campaign to promote this dog is probably enormous and seems to work.
Certain accents within the Cynological field, and certainly with that of the British Kennel Club, have been changed for the better. Now we must watch out not to become dominated by the power of money, if not we are facing a new problem tomorrow, as unscrupulous money doesn’t go well with pure and sound ethics.
Text and photo’s : Karl DONVIL
RESULTS
Gundog Group
Judge(s): Mr Chris Bexon
BEST OF GROUP:SH CH/AUST CH HUNGARGUNN BEAR IT'N MIND
HUNGARIAN VIZSLA
Owner: MRS N & MRS K CRAGGS & ARMSTRONG
RESERVE BEST OF GROUP:SH CH ANSONA GAMEKEEPER AT AARRANZ JW ShCM
WEIMARANER
Owner: MRS L DANNEAU
THIRD OF GROUP: TRIMERE TALKING POINT OF ALLENIE JW
SPANIEL (ENGLISH SPRINGER)
Owner: MR A C & MR R P ALLEN & BOTT
FOURTH OF GROUP:CH/NED CH FREDDY VOM KAPELLENHOF AT BAREVE (IMP)
GERMAN WIREHAIRED POINTER
Owner: MRS B & MISS S PINKERTON
Hound Group
Judge(s): Mrs E Anne Macdonald
BEST OF GROUP:INT CH NORTHGATE'S AS YOU LIKE IT [ATC AJ01287FIN]
PHARAOH HOUND
Owner: MISS J HALL
RESERVE BEST OF GROUP: CH SOLETRADER MY APHRODISIAC
BASSET GRIFFON VENDEEN (PETIT)
Owner: MRS S ROBERTSON
THIRD OF GROUP: CH COURTHILL CAST A SHADOW
WHIPPET
Owner: MR R M & MRS P M STOCK & GILMOUR
FOURTH OF GROUP: CH/CAN/AM GRANDGABLES MS SUPERNATURAL AT CARPACCIO (IMP)
DACHSHUND (MIN SMOOTH-HAIRED)
Owner: MRS S & MR J HUNT
Pastoral Group
Judge(s): Mrs Brenda Banbury
BEST OF GROUP: AM CH VILLAS CRUELLA AT DIZZNY [ATC AJ01198USA]
OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG
Owner: MR P, MRS I & D V WALLSTROM & CUJDIK
RESERVE BEST OF GROUP: CH RIVERSIDE WICKED WONDERFUL [ATC AJ00758USA]
WELSH CORGI (PEMBROKE)
Owner: MRS D SHINDLE
THIRD OF GROUP: INT/DK/LUX BUBBLETON BIRTHDAY BIJOU [ATC AJ01102DNK]
HUNGARIAN PULI
Owner: MR K & MR J ANDERSEN & RAVN
FOURTH OF GROUP: IR CH TONKORY MOVE OVER TO HUNTLY
BORDER COLLIE
Owner: MR D, MRS M & MRS J CONNOLLY & GREGORY
Terrier Group
Judge(s): Mr Harry O'Donoghue [Ireland]
BEST OF GROUP: AM/CAN/SU CH EFBE'S HIDALGO AT GOODSPICE [ATC AJ01056CAN]
SEALYHAM TERRIER
Owner: M & S GOOD & MIDDLEBROOKS
RESERVE BEST OF GROUP: AM CH ROUND TOWN MERCEDES OF MARYSCOT
SCOTTISH TERRIER
Owner: MRS A MUSSER
THIRD OF GROUP: CH RAGUS RINGS TRUE
NORWICH TERRIER
Owner: MRS L A CRAWLEY
FOURTH OF GROUP: CH BRAZAN SEGHILL
IRISH TERRIER
Owner: MRS M R LOVELACE
Toy Group
Judge(s): Mr Tom Mather
BEST OF GROUP:
QUEEN BLESS JP ROYAL CONNECTION [ATC AJ01137JPN]
PAPILLON
Owner: J & E ROOSENS & ABELOOS-DEVOS
RESERVE BEST OF GROUP: CH BENATONE GOLD RING
MALTESE
Owner: MISS S & MRS R JACKSON
THIRD OF GROUP: CH/INT/SWE PREFIX REALLY SOMETHING [ATC AE00292SWE]
CHINESE CRESTED
Owner: R AGRONIUS
FOURTH OF GROUP:
DK/LUX CH SOFFIE'S QUEEN BEE [ATC AJ00042DNK]
POMERANIAN
Owner: MRS V JACOBSEN
Utility Group
Judge(s): Mr Ernie Paterson
BEST OF GROUP:
CH/AM CH AFTERGLOW THE BIG TEASE
POODLE (STANDARD)
Owner: MR J LYNN
RESERVE BEST OF GROUP: CH DVOJICA VOODOO JW
DALMATIAN
Owner: MR M DUNNACHIE
THIRD OF GROUP:
DAMJOZ FIRST EDITION
LHASA APSO
Owner: MESSRS J & L NORRIS & STUDHOLME
FOURTH OF GROUP:
CH SCHANTI'S SONNY LAMLEH AT WALKAMILE (IMP DEU)
TIBETAN TERRIER
Owner: MRS H STICKLEY
Working Group
Judge(s): Mr Robin Searle
BEST OF GROUP: CH WINUWUK LUST AT FIRST SIGHT
BOXER
Owner: MRS M, MISS J & MR T WARD-DAVIES, BROWN & HUTCHING
RESERVE BEST OF GROUP: CH/AM CH BRIAROAKS CHILI FANTASA
ROTTWEILER
Owner: MRS E DUNHILL
THIRD OF GROUP: SIERRAS YOGANANDA (IMP)
TIBETAN MASTIFF
Owner: MS A & MR T SUTTON & NAGRECHA
FOURTH OF GROUP: CH AMAZON COLD PLAY JW
DOBERMANN
Owner: MR C & MRS N, MRS V EVANS & BYRNE
BIS:
AM/CAN/SU CH EFBE'S HIDALGO AT GOODSPICE [ATC AJ01056CAN]
