In the news

If pugs were human they'd be a burden on the NHS.

Or Steve Buscemi.

marty feldman, shirley

This blog - http://pedigreedogsexposed.blogspot.co.uk/ - has a lot of information on how breeding to meet show requirements has had disastrous affects on the health of lots of breeds. Not just the obvious ones - Pugs, Bulldogs, French Bulldogs - but also German Shepherds, Great Danes, English Mastiffs, etc. She has lots of photos of the old breed standards that emerged from the working dogs, compared to the modern show standards that accentuate health problems and shorten the life of dogs.

There are some pretty harrowing photos and reports. I'm astonished that people will buy "pedigree" dogs without looking into issues, health testing, checking hip and elbow scores, etc. But, I guess there's no accounting for some people's vanity and stupidity.

Buy a pug or Frenchie, spend your days watching something you love in pain and discomfort. I fucking hate humans.

^ "Dogs are as near-as-damn-it obligate nose breathers. And even if they can supplement by mouth-breathing when they are awake, they are unable to do so when they are asleep, meaning thousands of these dogs live lives of interrupted sleep as they have to wake up in order to not asphyxiate.

Study after study has shown that these dogs pay the price for not being able to pull in a decent lungful of air and that starts with the nostrils."

Best in breed at Crufts 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnE8EkevHnc

sadly there's plenty of french bulldogs to be had in Battersea Dog's home. Mrs Heck and I are considering adopting one when we move to a place with a garden. Will we still cop shade from the dog stasi?

Crufts & the kennel club can die in the face

Won't you think of Peter Purves...

@Markyboy

I read "Pedigree dogs sex posed"

Ha! Disappointed?

I really dislike dogs. Occasionally I encounter one that is almost bearable, and I resent it for daring to counter my view that they're hair shedding, mud spreading, yappy, bitey, mobile shit factories.

see also: children

At least my kids don't shit on the pavement on a regular basis.

When you said you didn't like dogs above I was going to say to you that a dog is basically the same as a toddler. But then I decided not to bother because I thought "I bet he hates kids as well".

And your kids definitely would shit on the pavement if they hadn't been trained not to and didn't you following around to clean up after them. If you saw a toddler shit on the pavement and the parent walked off and left it there, would you blame the parent or the toddler?

I really dislike dogs.

I like some dogs. As @frankenbike said, they are as well trained or shitty as their owners. Don't like any cats though.

Not a dog expert - can you explain the issue?
Looks a bit shaky, is that something other than nerves?

Its back legs are all wrong ?

At least my kids don't shit on the pavement on a regular basis.

My kids never , everer , shat on any sidewalk .
They may do now they are young adults.

She's definitely nervous. GSDs, like all dogs, should have a straight back "parallel" to the ground, but they've been bred for the show ring to have a sloping back in their stance. This one is an extreme version, in that her back doesn't only slope, it is curved and she walks practically on her hocks and with her toes pointed out (instead of forwards). Her back legs should be strong and they're not.

It's all exacerbated by her nerves in the video, but I'll bet this dog will be put down relatively young with back problems and hip dysplasia.

Thanks for explaining. On second watch, does look bizarre.

They've all got such terrible hip problems, Lori's parent's GSD hasn't looked comfortable on her back legs since she was a puppy... I don't like that at all...

We're dogsitting a labradoodle atm, this little fella has stolen my heart... I love dogs but not enough to go out and get one, would prefer a cat but the missus is worried about their predatory instincts and destroying the local fauna, which is a fair call... Dogs are almost as bad tho'...

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You're not going to convince me. Maybe there used to be an argument for guide dogs, but you can do that with a reprogrammed Roomba these days.