Weimaraners

2011

Ryanstock

Weimaraners

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Straight Talk 1

The first three of the ‘Straight talk’s’ are about the Kennel Club

and if you miss any then please go to the Library where you can catch up.

The Kennel Club it must be said will not be changed by ordinary dog folk or breeders, they must want to change for their own sake and only then could we all play a part in that change.

In the past they could easily just plod along and earn their fortune without a deal of effort,but not so today. They are coming under extreme pressure to change their traditions by the legislators, i.e. DEFRA, the welfare organistions like the R.S.P.C.A. and the Veterinary Colleges, and they do not know which way to turn next.

They tried to appear oblivious to the problems within breeds when questioned on camera by the ‘Pedigree Dogs Exposed Team’, it was hardly convincing, after all everyone knows that the Kennel Club is the overseer of breed standards. Since the programme we have seen rafts of panic driven legislation coming from the Kennel Club in an attempt to reaffirm their position. Just how do they think they can sustain their position when claims they are making are so easily found wanting.

 They claim to be the largest organisation dedicated to the health and welfare of dogs. Well let us take a look at that statement. Currently the best information I can get on the internet is that there are between 6 and 10 million dog owners in the UK. The Kennel Club represents those dogs registered with the Kennel Club which in 2010 for pedigree dogs was just over a quarter of one million,….yes one million ! The figures relating to ownership can be tracked back over a number of years and they have not fallen below 6 million for many years and so we must take the figures as a minimum constant number.

The Kennel Club published figures for registrations are in the public domain and so can be verified. although they show fluctuations by year , they too can be averaged as a constant number within the average tolerances. Interestingly the figures were growing steadily through the last decade and then 2009 saw a sharp fall and 2010 saw them achieve the same level as six years earlier, so no real need for euphoria.

Even with a few registered companion dogs and crossbreeds for ‘Flyball’ and the like they are not even scratching the surface. So how can they make such a claim ?

Health and Welfare within the registered pedigree dogs is by and large the domain of breed clubs and volunteers. Does the Kennel Club physically or financially help any breed within it’s jurisdiction ? , I very much doubt it, it certainly does not help my breed. Health and Welfare events held by the Kennel Club at present are just one.On their own website searching under all events from their health and welfare page you will find 51 events all of these are to do with showing, stewarding, judging, organising, catering or some other events based education, not one covers any specific welfare issue within any of the breeds registered with the Kennel Club. How do they think they can convince anyone that this is the best way to care about dogs which are bred in the UK. It proudly displays a notice for a ‘breeders symposium ’ run in conjunction with pet food manufacturers, but come on KC one event on health and 51 on activities this is wholly inadequate. Being an organisation that provides a service is one thing but making claims about your services is quite another. If you talk the talk then you must walk the walk.

 The Kennel Club are a private members club who can only govern by consent, they enjoy a monopoly at present because no one has as yet challenged their right to receive registration fees and to provide canine events. In truth they are an events based organisation and all their claims and rhetoric are just like shifting sand , moving whichever way the wind is blowing at the time. There will inevitably come a time when the Kennel Club will be forced to accept that if they wish to have a mandate to govern then they must engage with the people they purport to be governing. As a business they can make money from a captive audience but when we look into the running of the business are we seeing good management ? Next week we delve beneath the surface and explore the management, planning and procedures, then examine a few crazy schemes put forward by the Kennel Club.