I notice that the opinions in the UK reflect the same nonsense that was put about in Australia some years back. It got so bad here that our company took action in the Federal Court of Australia against the RSPCA for statements which we maintained were false and which harmed our business. After two years of preparation and a two week hearing, the Court convicted the RSPCA of defamation and awarded our company damages.

With two years to prepare their case and two weeks for the hearing, the RSPCA could present no evidence to show that harm could be caused from the correct use of an electronic collar. If anyone is interested they can read the Court’s Judgement at http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/cases/cth/federal_ct/2002/860.html?query=orion%20pet

We operate our business with the confidence that we do not harm dogs, but in fact we save dog’s lives. During the course of our business we have saved thousands of dogs from euthanasia and worse.

Regards

John Holliday
Innotek Australia Pty Ltd

As regards the KC’s quest to ban the Remote Trainer, it is using a very small number of so called dissenters (including MPs whose motivation has nothing to do with animal welfare if it does not translate into votes) to dash the hopes of over a hundred thousand, well-informed, actual users. I hold a file of over 500 genuine user letters (all necessarily coded for security purposes), the contents of which would be available to you on request. They make very interesting reading.

One can only believe the KC’s main purpose in this area is to create a smoke-screen to disguise its own significant failures and misdemeanours.

As it happens I agree with just about every word. I’m certainly no great fan of electric collars but I totally and utterly agree that the kennel club is in no position at all to be preaching about animal welfare. I’ve written letters to the BBC before about Crufts and why it promotes such a mediocre view of what dog ownership is all about. Health, health, health. That’s all that should matter. Health and function to be more honest. How many breeds have not only lost on semblance of health as well as a complete breakdown in being able to perform even basic functions?

I am surprised but highly delighted that a mainstream pet magazine has been bold enough to raise this issue. Big congratulations

If they are campaignig for animal welfare then they need to sort out the issues with pedigree breed health first. Other pressing issues include the DDA, puppy farms, inadequate sentencing guidelines for animal abuse etc.

If they are just a register, even then they need to toughen up their criteria for what they will register. They need to insist on health clearances and breed suitability tests before breeding.

As for e-collars, like them or not, many myths are perpetuated. They have not caused death by being left on or due to EMF. Additionally, they can be used on any size or shape of dog - if a dog is not able to wear an e-collar, it is not able to wear any collar.

The frightening thing is that there are a lot of unelected ‘experts’ be it ‘one person bands’ or those working for unelected organisations that seem to think it is their god given right to tell the government how dog owners should be legislated against. One minute they merrily follow the government line, then when the tide turns, they all scurry to be at the front of the queue to denounce the latest government decision.

Fiona is dead right regarding the changing look of dogs, an example being Bassett Hounds, there are two types, the KC type that seems to be an exact copy of the cartoon ‘Fred Bassett’ with low slung body and stubby legs, then there is the hunting Bassett Hound, that looks like a dog, is well built and seems to have different legs? In fact the hunting version look like Foxhounds with their legs chopped off but they can shift across country and they look like a dog that is not bogged down with future medical problems.

I totally agree with K9 Magazine that the Kennel Club needs to get its own house in order before it ‘lobbies’ for various changes elsewhere, also if the various types of E-collar are so bad, why are they on sale all over the world?

The time for self serving, elitist ‘establishment’ type organisations is well over, concentrate on restoring dogs to their original breed standards and not to some cosmetic type pleasing to the eye before wasting time and resources on campaigns that half a dozen similar organisations are simultaneously wasting their money on!

Would the Kennel Club have stood up for American Pit Bull Terriers pre 1990 if their owners had been seen as ‘KC types’ or the dogs were included in the KC breed register? It would have been an interesting time if more middle class people had owned them, maybe they would not have been banned?

To really understand how many dog breeds have been breed with little or no regard for their health, a visit to the Rothchild museum in Tring, Hertfordshire is a must.

Dog owners from the past hundred years have donated their pets bodies to be sensitively preserved. It is amazingly sad to see what changes have been forced upon our ‘best friends’ over the years. In the museum you can see bull dogs with longer legs, slimmer bodies and - vitally- un squashed muzzles. Pekinese dogs, again with ‘normal’ legs who didn’t suffer the terrible back problems afflicting their modern day counter parts, nor their breathing problems.

I believe some enlightened breeders are trying to breed back some breeds to their natural state. I hope they succeed.