Earlier in the year we brought you the shocking information that the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of Great Britain was recommending the ‘culling’ of any puppy born without a ridge. As stated at the time, the ridge is not a sign of a dog’s health or lack of, it is simply a cosmetic element that means a dog would not fulfil the criteria set out by the breed standard.

The revelations drew shock and condemnation from dog lovers all over the world. The Kennel Club itself stepped in and advised that it had written to the club and advised them to revise their position.

Now it seems the Kennel Club may need to be called in to action again.

The Doberman Club’s code of ethics:

11. Substandard or inferior animals should either be destroyed or sold with written agreement to have the animal altered or papers are withheld, and a ‘no breeding’ contract signed. The Dobermann Club does not condone or promote the breeding of white Dobermanns.

Inferior?

Substandard?

Hello, a little clarification here please.

inferior. adj. definition

a.  Low or lower in quality, value, or estimation: inferior craft; felt inferior to his older sibling.
b. Second-rate; poor: an inferior translation.

substandard. adj. definition

Failing to meet a standard; below standard.

How, it must be asked, are we to interpret what a ’substandard’ or ‘inferior’ Doberman puppy actually is before we get down to the nitty gritty of killing it?

Substandard, does that mean, as the dictionary defintion tells us, ‘below standard’ – so that is breed standard?

Inferior, does that mean, as the dictionary defintion tells us, ’second rate’?

What is the ACTUAL criteria for a puppy to be killed under these ambigious guidelines?

If you are a dog breeder and you choose to pro-actively bring new dogs in to this already overpopulated world, surely you have a moral and ethical responsibility to the animals you have set out to create? At what point is it is acceptable to simply bump off the dogs that YOU bred because they don’t meet some ’standards’ as set out by some other nameless, faceless entity?

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Related posts:

1. Breed Club Recommends Healthy Puppies Be Killed
2. Kennel Club Issues Response to Healthy Puppy ‘Culling’ Advice from Breed Club
3. Breed Club STILL Recommending Healthy Puppies Be Killed – Kennel Club ‘Extremely Concerned’
4. RSPCA Condemns Deplorable Puppy Culling Advice from Breed Club
5. Another Council Recommends Breed Specific Legislation