The Kennel Club releases a film on dog health

Those of you that have followed the Kennel Club’s progress in addressing the issue’s raised by Jemima Harrison’s Pedigree Dogs Exposed film may be interested to view the KC’s latest attempt to prove that they are doing their best for dog health.   The film is entitled Dogs – A Healthy Future

Those of you that have followed the Kennel Club’s progress in addressing the issue’s raised by Jemima Harrison’s Pedigree Dogs Exposed film may be interested to view the KC’s latest attempt to prove that they are doing their best for dog health.   The film is entitled Dogs – A Healthy Future

Initially the film focuses on canine health problems that arise incidentally.  Including diseases like hip dysplasia.

Though they may be more prevalent in closely bred dogs these conditions (genetic diseases) were never intended to arise and the Kennel Club is putting a great deal of effort into researching new means of diagnosis, prevention and cure.

Later in the film the problems of deliberately induced (through breeding for poor conformation) health problems such as those found in bulldogs, and Neapolitan mastiffs,  are discussed.    In this respect the film was less encouraging.

The film acknowledges that there is still some way to go to change those breeds which are in poor shape,   but sadly for the dogs it appears that the Kennel Club is happy with the current pace of change,  and fails to recognize the potential extent of its own powers.

For example the Kennel Club chairman states that ‘The KC cannot force breed clubs to change things’ .   He suggests that an attempt to do so would make breed clubs ‘do their own thing’.   A outcome which many would consider to be most unlikely.

What do you think of the film?  Have the Kennel Club addressed the issues effectively?   Should the Kennel Club be looking at ‘out crossing’  breeds like pugs and bulldogs to restore some muzzle.  Could they be doing more and doing it faster?