Why the RSPCA won't be at Crufts this year

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RSPCA Get Puppy Smart - Part 2_ Which type of puppy is right for you?

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Seen a dog you like at Crufts? 46% of dogs (both crossbreeds and pure breeds*) bought in the last two years have suffered health problems and all of the 50 most popular breeds have some aspect of their body that can cause suffering.** [Get Puppy Smart exaggerated features factsheet]

Crufts uses breed standards to describe how a ‘perfect’ example of each breed of dog should look as the main judging criteria, which the RSPCA believes encourages the breeding of diseased and disabled dogs. The RSPCA will not have a presence there, sending a clear message that urgent action must be taken to improve the health and welfare of pedigree dogs.

The full detail:

Research* shows that 60% of dogs bought in the last two years were pedigrees and 46% of dogs (both crossbreeds and pure breeds) bought in the last two years have suffered health problems. Pedigrees are often vulnerable to unnecessary disease, disability, pain or behavioural problems because they’re bred primarily for how they look rather than with health, welfare or temperament in mind. For example, dogs with short flat faces often have narrow nostrils and abnormally developed windpipes which can lead to severe breathing difficulties and prevent them from enjoying a walk or playing. A recent scientific study** also showed that all of the 50 most popular breeds have some aspect of their body that can cause suffering.

Get Puppy Smart aims to help prospective puppy buyers make the right decision by thinking about what type of dog best suits their lifestyle, how to find a good breeder and how to select a happy and healthy puppy. Just 26 per cent of people said they researched the diseases common in the breed of dog they were thinking of getting, and only 17 per cent of dog owners saw the disease screening test results for their puppy’s parents.


Some useful links
- Get Puppy Smart guide to choosing the right puppy 
- Get Puppy Smart exaggerated features interactive
- Get Puppy Smart inherited diseases factsheet
- Get Puppy Smart on Twitter

*Research was conducted by TNS via OnlineBus, an internet survey. A sample of 7,272 GB adults aged 16-64 were interviewed. Of these, 848 people had acquired a puppy in the past two years. Interviewing was conducted by online self-completion from 23 November 2010 to 20 January 2011. **Asher L., Diesel G., Summers J.F., McGreevy P.D. and Collins L.M., 2009. Inherited defects in pedigree dogs. Part 1: Disorders related to breed standards. The Veterinary Journal. 182: 402-411

Disclaimer - written on behalf of the RSPCA.