The problem is not isolated to the United States. Nor does it affect all breeds or breeders, many of whom are as passionate about health as appearance. But where problems do exist in the U.S., the American Kennel Club (AKC), which governs the sport of dog showing, and breed clubs, which control the "standards," have long been in denial.
In a 2014 segment on HBO’s
Real Sports, focusing on bulldogs and other troubled breeds, an AKC spokesman said breed standards do not need to be changed, adding that when they’re followed, “we have happy, healthy dogs.”
In other countries, many breeders and the sports' governing bodies would disagree and have developed programs to begin to address the issues.
After a scathing BBC documentary in 2008,
Pedigree Dogs Exposed, showed heart-rending scenes of dogs suffering from inherited conditions, about 70 British breed clubs amended their standards, at least slightly. The Kennel Club, the British equivalent of the AKC, created an early warning system to identify health concerns. A dozen breeds have been identified for “visible conditions or exaggerations that can cause pain or discomfort” and are subject to vet checks at shows. In 2012, six breed group winners at Crufts, the United Kingdom’s equivalent of Westminster, were disqualified by vet checks from competing for the top prizes — the kind of high-profile penalty that gets breeders' attention.
In Sweden and other Nordic countries, those involved in breeding and showing have collaborated on health-conscious breeding strategies for every breed and identified 39 breeds as high-risk, in need of special attention.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...ates/80373002/
