Official: The Kennel Club Will Not Be Making Crufts Crossbreed Announcement
Contrary to the speculation we reported a couple of days ago, Caroline Kisko, secretary of the Kennel Club has contacted us to categorically state that no major announcement will be made regarding the studbook and a revised policy toward crossbreeding.
Just to let you know that we won’t be making any big announcement at Crufts about out crossing. In fact it would be a bit odd if we announced it now since we have been (a) allowing it and (b) encouraging it for years and have said so both before and since the programme so it wouldn’t exactly be news!
Recent examples – started 10 years ago – interbreeding of Bull Terriers and Miniature Bull Terriers to overcome PLL in Minis; more recently the introduction of a pack Bloodhound to a KC registered Bloodhound line to improve health (reduce wrinkle on head with resulting improvement in eye health); and interbreeding of Belgian Shepherd Dog varieties to increase gene pool.
All other proposals from breeders and clubs are carefully considered by committee and are proactively encouraged where there is a good scientific case to back this up.
Finally, following the recent publication of the RSPCA report on dog breeding, we responded to the 14 main conclusions of that report. You will see in this week’s Dog World, from Simon Parsons, commenting on our response to that report, as follows:
“……..there is the vexed question of ‘opening up the Stud Books’ which as we know has already happened on occasion……….The KC is prepared to go ahead here……………in spite of breed club opposition.”
I hope this clears up the issue.
Our thanks to Caroline for updating us.
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Related posts:
- Kennel Club Crufts Announcement: Canine Genetics
- Kennel Club is Looking for New Crufts Broadcaster
- Arrogant Kennel Club ‘Won’t Have Difficulty’ Finding Another Crufts Broadcaster
- Unconfirmed Crufts Rumour: Big News Announcement re Crossbreeding
- RSPCA Withdrawal from Crufts ‘Unhelpful’ Says the Kennel Club
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That's about as clear as mud. I can tell you that the KC has recently rejected such beneficial crossbreeding proposals out of hand without bothering to investigate. Hopefully they will be more receptive in the future, but they are distorting their history by saying they have been encouraging it for years.
I think the KC is trying to avoid the appearance that they are changing as a result of opposition or criticism, but changing nevertheless. Their tactic seems to be to say – oh yes, we were already doing that, as in "We were getting ready to change the standards and it had nothing to do with the documentary."
Instead of trying to save face, it would be a more effective strategy to get the critics on their side.
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That's extremely disappointing to learn Fred. But, like you, I have only heard of very, very limited cases of outcrossing being allowed and it is certainly not encouraged or widespread enough to be making a major impact on some of the more seriously genetically compromised breeds.
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