Editorial: April 29, 2022

As these pages have written in the past, the animal-rights influence on the breeding and well-being of purebred dogs has been well documented. Their influence has had standards changed or put into question for breeds that have been in existence and functioned for hundreds of years, and by sheer tenacity they have been successful in their efforts. The English Kennel Club had certain breed standards changed and health checks put into place at its dog shows. This practice has been growing throughout Europe, and now Germany requires general veterinary-health inspections of all dogs entered at dog shows, with special examinations of certain breeds (we print the entire list below of these so-called “torturous breeds”) for “visible indications of hereditary disease.” “Further examinations for hidden indications must be carried out in advance,” the German kennel club explained in an email. “If the examination form is not completed by a certain date, you will not be entitled to participate in the show.” While we collectively strive to breed healthy animals, the pressures put on us and up-and-coming fanciers is a great deterrent to get or stay in the sport. The list of breeds is quite long, but we print them to show you the extent of their reach. They are: Afghan Hounds, American Cocker Spaniels, Australian Kelpies, Basset Hounds, Boston Terriers, Bouvier des Flandres, Boxers, Portuguese Water Dogs, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Chihuahuas, Chinese Crested Dogs, Chow Chows, Coton de Tulear, Dandie Dinmont Terriers, Great Danes, German Pinschers, Dobermans, English Bulldogs, English Springer Spaniels, Entlebucher Mountain Dogs, Flat-Coated Retrievers, French Bulldogs, Dutch Shepherd Dogs (rough coated), Irish Wolfhounds, Japan Chins, Leonbergers, Vizslas, Miniature Bull Terriers, Pugs, Pekingese, Tatra Shepherd Dogs, Poodles, Saarloos Wolfhounds, Salukis, Samoyeds, Siberian Huskies, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Dachshunds, Czechoslovakian Wolfhounds, Welsh Springer Spaniels, Yorkshire Terriers, Miniature Poodles and Miniature Schnauzers. Even in the United Kingdom, when health checks were first implemented at dog shows, it was left to a randomly hired veterinarian to determine whether a dog should be exhibited on the day; that was met with much unhappiness, and the process was quickly changed. As more and more countries start imposing these regulations, we should always remember that First “They” Came for Them, and then “They” are coming after us. 

A postscript to this editorial: We just received word that the upcoming International Neumunster show has been cancelled, and we quote the show-giving club’s notice: “You have all followed the discussions about the changed Animal Welfare Dog Ordinance, which have been going on intensively in recent weeks. It is still unclear which breeds are really affected by the tormented breeding paragraph. In view of the situation and the prospects, as a small national association, we cannot bear the financial risk associated with an international dog show.”