Comments on: Pedigree Dogs Exposed Filmmaker Releases Extended Footage of German Shepherds

By: Karen Capon

Karen Capon — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:49:36 +0000

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!

By: sheltie1

sheltie1 — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 04:16:07 +0000

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.

By: Kim_Bruce

Kim_Bruce — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:46:14 +0000

This video footage really is very sad to watch.

By: Joanne

Joanne — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 08:31:48 +0000

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.

By: Philippa

Philippa — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:04:04 +0000

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.

By: JOANNE

JOANNE — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 16:13:28 +0000

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.

By: mollosian

mollosian — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 12:27:31 +0000

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.

By: Liz

Liz — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:38:07 +0000

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…….

By: Philippa

Philippa — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 16:50:09 +0000

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.

By: ann

ann — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:40:46 +0000

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.