Pedigree Dogs Exposed Filmmaker Releases Extended Footage of German Shepherds
Submitted by Ryan O'Meara on January 26, 2009 – 5:10 pm32 Comments
For those who saw the shocking and upsetting documentary Pedigree Dogs Exposed, some of the most frequent feedback we have received relates to the footage of the German Shepherds being shown. The poor dogs seemed barely capable of walking properly as a result of sloping backs and hunched hind-legs.
Now Pedigree Dogs Exposed filmmaker Jemima Harrison has released extended footage of this piece of film.
Since the documentary was aired, the RSPCA, Dogs Trust and PDSA withdrew from Kennel Club events including Crufts. Likewise the BBC announced that it was suspending its television coverage of the event.
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This footage still makes me sad
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I've never been into breeding or showing. But as al long time owner of GSD's (45 years) and trainer and handler, that makes me feel so sad and angry. While I admit that a video like that can't show everything and may show poor angle views, there wasn't a single dog there that I would give a second glance at for working purposes. So sad for those dogs and the British lines.
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Dave the Dog Reply:
January 26th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Hello Moppetswood.
As I said I've never been interested in breeding as such so I don't care where the dogs originated. I didn't jump to any conclusions. Having lived in Germany and worked with German Forces and Police I am aware what tests there are in place. You are right that there is something wrong somewhere, with British Police having to start their own breeding programmes or follow the actions of our Armed Forces and go outside this country to acquire dogs which are fit to work.
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It makes me extremely cross!
. I hope that all those responsible for this, feel terribly terribly ashamed.
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Yes, a couple of dogs were hocky… this is not great, but they don't die from it and it will be much accentuated because of the surface indoors! This programme could have done so much more for dogdom, had it not been steeped in bias. How about an interview with someone versed in ANIMAL genetics? Dr Malcolm Willis is known world wide for his work in this field… YOU chose someone versed in HUMAN genetics?? We try and try to get the KC to enforce basic health checks before registration… will they? Not a chance, they're too worried about loss of revenue. We even offered them a 2 tier system, so that they wouldn't lose so much, but… NO! Do dogdom a REAL favour… make another programme, interview the right people and show the REAL story about what many breeders try to do for their breed, only to be thwarted by our own KC, every time!
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"they don't die from it" – so what?
Maybe an animal living in pain and suffering day in day out thanks to breeding practices which have disabled it, would actually prefer an early release.
A lot of things have started to happen SINCE this programme. I really don't see how it could have done any more 'for dogdom'. For starters, exposing tragedies such as the GSD's on this video.
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As a gsd owner and shower I can see you people are ignorant and the filmmaker is a fool. why not become educated to what you comment on and stop giving this breed a bad name.
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Dave the Dog Reply:
January 27th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
The breed doesn't have a bad name! Just the opposite. It's the poor quality dogs being produced which have a bad name and sadly it's not just confined to this country.
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ha, ha! Class!!
Raymond, you have GOT to be a plant. Admit it. You posted that for a dare didn't you?
Please tell me you posted that for a dare.
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Raymond
When you say 'As a GSD owner and shower', do you mean your a GSD owner who shows dogs, or do you actually mean you are a shower, as in 'an absolute shower; usually used by army officers to describe dad's army style incompetence! Lol
The breed has not got a bad name, people who allow the dogs to get in this sort of state have the bad name, like most things it is not the dogs that are at fault!
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The GSD people in UK come from different sides. Many Breed people pay to get their dogs qualfied under European systems by sending them abroad and paying a lot of money to get qualifications. On the other hand there are plenty of working lines in this country that look nothing like that poor specimen on the video but would never win anything in the show ring, thank goodness. Why would anyone want to own a dog that liiked like that!
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I have kept GSD's for 36 years now, only breeding from bitches I keep as pets once, usually about 3 year old.
They have wonderful straight backs, and legs that can trot for miles.
Arthritis? Rheumatics?. My dogs have lived for a minimum of 12 years, and the only one to have had arthritis was 14 when it started and he lived to be 9 days off his 18th birthday and went to Rainbow bridge while out walking and suffered a stroke chasing one of the younger pups in play.
If any of my dogs walked like that on ice or any surface, never mind what I took to be a concrete floor, I would have them straight down to the vet to be checked.
It is cruelty in whatever sense you say it, to deform a limb or the spine, diminishing anything from performing to the best of its capabilities.
Lets get back to the original working dog with a temperament any parent could trust. Selective breeding to alter the looks was the starting point for the snappy, untrusting ones that make the news today, bringing the breed into disrepute.
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I find that as each day goes by the weak are once again drawn into the web of deception. Does anyone ever wake up and realize that this is not for the good of the dogs behind all of this kind of pedigree trashing. If it was for the good of dogs then these so called keeper of the dogs would find a real place to attack where the biggest difference would be made which is the puppy mills. They are in the US as well but the UK and Ireland the problem is massive and these do-gooders don't give these poor animals any time at all. Where is their compassion? They have none because they are too concerned about getting their name in print for their 15 minutes of fame. Shame on them, but they will pay no heed. No one said pedigree dogs were the end all to be all, it is you that have trumped it up far beyond what it actually is. You keep it right out there with once again picking up what was one the cutting room floor because it will once again put you in the spot light. Wake up people they are using you, fight for the poor puppy mill dogs that are being starved to death, bred to death, caged with so many they can't move, kept in dark damp dirty barns, never getting a bath or brush, certainly not getting any medical treatment and just dumped in a pile when they can no longer produce or are so sick they are left to die. Where are your loyalties? To these that publish the worse cases to get your attention or should it be to the ones that have no voice. Can you live with yourself and sleep at night. It is in your backyard. To do nothing is commiting a crime.
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Dave the Dog Reply:
January 30th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
I'm sorry. I've read that a couple of times now and still can't understand it. Could you try again.
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Funny how you do the same as a couple of other web site. You moderate to the point that you do not want to hear anything that does not agree with what you post. Democracy does not seem to apply to this web site and things only get printed if you agree and never mind that other have opinions because it is only yours that counts. I don't expect that you will let this through either. Keep fooling the unfortunate because it will always come back to bit you.
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Ryan O'Meara Reply:
January 30th, 2009 at 10:34 am
Don't you feel a tad simple now Lee! Looks like it's come back to 'bit' you. Comments don't come through instantly, they get moderated first to avoid spamming. Doubt you're man enough to come back and apologise though.
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Oh dear what a shame Jemima Harrison didn't win the award she was nominated for, you seem to have missed reporting that story
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Ryan O'Meara Reply:
January 30th, 2009 at 10:38 am
And the obsession continues. My, how bitter we are – I can understand it though, your up to your neck in denial and can't seem to grasp some very basic things that are happening – your world is changing, tough. Deal with it. Crufts is OFF the BBC, The RSPCA is OUT of KC events, so is the Dogs Trust, so is the PDSA – the cat's out of the bag. Jemima's documentary being nominated for an award was a dog related news story – as it didn't actually win that award, that is not actually a news story, apart from to those who are consumed with their bitter obsession that is. Makes me smile, so it does. Keep banging your drum. Nobody's listening.
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Ryan O'Meara Reply:
January 30th, 2009 at 10:38 am
And the obsession continues. My, how bitter we are – I can understand it though, you're up to your neck in denial and can't seem to grasp some very basic things that are happening – your world is changing, tough. Deal with it. Crufts is OFF the BBC, The RSPCA is OUT of KC events, so is the Dogs Trust, so is the PDSA – the cat's out of the bag. Jemima's documentary being nominated for an award was a dog related news story – as it didn't actually win that award, that is not actually a news story, apart from to those who are consumed with their bitter obsession that is. Makes me smile, so it does. Keep banging your drum. Nobody's listening.
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Apparently Robert Killick is of the same opinion as moppetswood regarding Jemima Harrison, he writes that he was actually cheering and applauding failure? Surely he does that every time he writes his column for Our Dogs?
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So sad seeing the GSDs like that. I have been looking into getting a GSD for a few months now. Have given it alot of thought as its a big commitment. I've been using the kennel club and other places of research but from what I've come across is that there are alot of critics about the kennel club. Where can you find a trustworthy breeder if you're looking into getting you're first puppy, in my case a GSD. I live in the south east of england. Hope someone can help. Thanks in advance
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Liz Reply:
February 1st, 2009 at 12:38 am
I'm sure that Jemima won't mind me quoting her with regards the creating of her program:
"The programme highlighted problems that need to be addressed. I do not believe that the pet-buying public thinks all show breeders are bad apples as a result of the programme, any more than a programme highlighting, for instance, MPs accepting cash for questions would lead people to assume that all politicians are corrupt. " – Therefore there are GSD breeders out their who are breeding responsibly…….
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Karen Capon Reply:
July 2nd, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Manny
If you are looking to get a German Shepherd, there are alot of trust worthy breeders out there, you just need to do your resarch and the internet is a good place to start as many breeders now have their own websites. Do your resaearch throughtly. Ensure the parents are fully health tested and speek to people who have bought a puppy previously from them.
I hate what the show world has done to the German Shepherd, but you don’t have to buy from breeders of show dogs. There are many breeders that do not breed these banana backed GSDs, but breed the old type with a straight back:-)) And I think Jemima Harrison should get an award for exposing the show world for what it really is!!
I beleive the Kennel Club need to sort its self out and stop registering dogs from un health tested parents. This acredited breeders scheme is a joke and I refuse to pay extra to show my dogs are health tested, the certificates speak for them selve. yes I understand this scheme creates more administration but surely the cost of that should be passed over to the breeders that don’t bother to health test, not us breeders that do! I also disagree with the sugested two tier scheme, why should the colours such as the blues beconsidered lower, if they are health tested the same as the standard colours? They are a part of our breed that the show world has tried along with the white and liver to to remove, just for their vanity! There is no evidence of any health problems in the white, blues & livers any different from the standard colour, so they should not be put lower as long as they are health tested the same then they are equal and should be treated as such! And when did every other breeder out there get to have their say on this two tier system? I was never asked for my opinion, in fact I only just recently learned about it from anothber breeder, that is unfair, we should all have a say in what happens to our breed, breeders and owners alike!
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Dave, what is it with Our Dogs, more of a propaganda sheet for the Kennel Club and rabidly (pardon the pun) anti RSPCA. The RSPCA does not get it right everytime but at least they do their best for animal welfare? In this weeks Our Dogs there is a story about the RSPCA and companion dog shows, the style of writing is similar to Ian Fleming. Why the RSPCA HQ is depicted as if it is the lair of Dr No or Stavros Blofeld I dont know?
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For anyone looking for a GSD I believe the best way to go for confirmation strength and temperament you need to look at working lines in this country.
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Their back ends are an atrocity. Their front ends aren't much better. Manchester takes place in January I think at the Stafford County show ground – not exactly the warmest of venues so why are the dogs panting so much? Do any of them actually look like they enjoy the "show" experience? Not to my eyes. They look resigned to their task at best and stressed at worst. The GSDs from the Northumbria Police team we meet sometimes on our walks are a whole different dog. Gorgeous, squarer and totally alert and vital. This so called pastime of showing should be consigned ot history. IMO.
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The rspca are no more than the political wing of the animal rights movement content to ban everything without thinking about the real consequences of their actions if they had any real balls then they would be targeting the puppy supermarkets and puppy farmers but obviously it takes someone whose got a bit more about them like a borough council to achieve this.
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I am pleased with the documentary as i own George the pug who was on it.George is doing really well at the moment and we have been assured time and time again that he is in no pain,sadly our other pug who we thought had no health problems at all died a couple of months ago,at the age of 4. Something has to be done about the health of dogs.We have been through so much stress and pain and it is down to the breeding not bad luck. We will never buy a pedigree dog again.
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Philippa Reply:
February 1st, 2009 at 7:04 pm
So thrilled to hear George is doing well Joanne but very sad to hear of your other loss. Well done on speaking out. Pet owners like us who have to stuggle so much with the health issues of our dogs need to have a place to voice our concerns. Thanks to PDE we got that and also thanks to people like Ryan and Beverley Cuddy we have great champions for the pet owners views.
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Joanne Reply:
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:31 am
Dear Philipa, Thank you for responding to my message. I agree with what you are saying and i often wonder how we used to talk about the state of our dogs health etc before this documentary was aired. I do think that it has shaken up the dog world which is something that has needed to be done for a long time.I know that when you a buy a dog you can not guarentee how healthy and how long they will live,but look at my situation,George has almost every hereditary disease possible to a pug, he had major surgery at Cambridge Vet Hospital where he almost died.We have to live with the fear that each day may be his last as if his health declines and the vet can not help him and they say he is in pain then he will be put to sleep.He is 5 and a half years old and should have years left. Then my other pug who has never been ill in his life ,one sat eve just starts to fit and and 24 hours later he dies,the vet tried everything to help him but the vet said that as he was a pug that was against him . I have nothing against the breed and there are lots and lots of long living,healthy pugs out there.But ifrom what i have been through there are a lot of problems too.
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This video footage really is very sad to watch.
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Any fool can take unflattering footage of dogs, but since their owners love them I don't see any harm in them having exactly the kind of dogs they choose. If someone buys a breed with a tendency to health problems then they ought to ask about the health of the parents and think about what they're getting in to. A lot of people will put more thought into a car they will have for five years than a dog that could live for 15 years or more. The criticism of dogs shows is as rude and uncalled for as criticizing cat shows or horse shows or flower shows–surely a naive person will find something to criticize but that doesn't mean the experts shouldn't enjoy their hobby in peace. Leave dog shows alone.
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