Flawed by Design

Or, 'The public wants what the public gets?'  The BBC aired a follow-up to the excellent 'Pedigree Dogs Exposed' that was originally shown in 2008.


Edited to add:  They took down the original YouTube.  This one shows both programs.  The new one is about 52 minutes in.

Some of it is encouraging but ultimately it looks like the Kennel Club in Britain is up to business as usual to the detriment of dogs.  Part of the problem is that they're trying to slap a band-aid on a terminal cancer patient.  And the AKC here in the U.S.?  Chyeah right they would cave to public pressure even if anyone cared enough to apply it.

You would think the market would take care of the problem because who would purposely buy a dog with so many health and physical defects?  Who wants the huge hit to their wallet in vet bills as well as the emotional heartbreak never mind being complicit in the creation of these poor animals?  People buy purebred dogs from breeders so they can see the dog's breeding so surely they would reject outright a dog that was inbred?  For my own part if I were to get a dog from a breeder, a dog with a conformation championship title in the pedigree would be an automatic deal breaker never mind evidence of inbreeding.  But people get dogs for strange, emotional, irrational reasons and I'm not sure what to do about that short of strict regulations that I'll probably never see in my lifetime.  Breeders breed for everybody but the average pet owner because the average pet owner is perfectly o.k. with buying flawed dogs.  They get attached to whatever breed for whatever reason and logic and compassion go out the window.

I'm not sure where it leaves me or the average pet owner who truly wants a healthy active dog with a good temperament that isn't inbred and prone to genetic diseases.  If there is any breed of dog left like that I surely don't know what it is.  And if you get a mutt, well, you're at the mercy of the genetics of the parents.  Put two seriously inbred purebred dogs carrying genetic diseases together and even if they're different breeds you're still not likely to get a healthy dog.  I've been so lucky with all my dogs so far but I consider it pure dumb luck rather than any faith in the health or vitality of a certain breed or mix of breeds.  I think the future of the dog lies in the hands of the average pet owner but until they're willing to leave their emotions and whims and respect of the show ring behind and put the health and welfare of the dog first then I think it's all a downward spiral.