Monday, March 9, 2015

TAILGATING AT CRUFTS

GCH CH McVan's to Russia with Love, 2015 Crufts BIS winner, 
with handler, Rebecca Cross

Ever since Henry the VIII beheaded his Lord Chancellor, our 14th great grandfather, Sir Thomas More, our family has longed for reconciliation with the British. We are unabashed anglophiles. We love Tudor houses, Georgian furniture, Harris Tweed, and English Breakfast tea. 

We are not, however, fans of the British animal rights crazies. They are ruining the dog game in Great Britain. First it was the ban on cropped ears and docked tails. (Did you see the Doberman at Crufts this year?) Then it was the High Profile Breeds, 15 mostly flat faced breeds selected for persecution by the risk adverse Kennel Club. Now we have what we shall call “Tail-Gate”, a social media lynching of the handler of the 2015 Crufts Best In Show winner. 

Rebecca Cross piloted the Scottish Terrier, GCH CH McVan’s To Russia with Love, to the top prize at the world's largest dog show on Sunday in Birmingham, England. After suffering through four days of watching mostly poorly groomed handlers badly handling mostly poorly groomed dogs, we were delighted to see the perfectly presented duo of Rebecca and the Scottie, Knopa, in the final ring. We have had the good fortune to follow the career of Knopa here in the US and have always been impressed with Rebecca’s presentation. She manages to groom Knopa to perfection and put her through paces flawlessly, while keeping Knopa in the happiest of moods, no small task with a Scottie. 

Rebecca drew the ire of an army of social media trolls (please see our right hand side bar -->) when she lifted Knopa from the table with one hand under Knopa’s chin and the other grasping Knopa’s tail, a move used by many, if not a majority, of Toy and small Terrier exhibitors in the US. Now we are not going to waste our column space explaining why earth dogs require sturdy tails, except to state that the majority of Rebecca’s critics are not knowledgeable Terrier people. We want to focus on the supposedly knowledgeable dog people who are being intimidated by the horde of trolls howling for Rebecca’s head. 

For some time now we have been dismayed by institutions that grant concessions to anonymous, faceless, credential-less, without status, internet thugs. Britain’s Kennel Club (we love that they think they are the only Kennel Club) spinelessly addressed the howling mob thusly, "We want to address the posts we have had regarding the handling of last night’s Scottish Terrier, Knopa. It was made clear to the handler at the show that it is not acceptable to pick a dog up in this way, and despite repeated requests not to do so, she went ahead. The handler is from the US where it is customary to pick up terriers in this way, but it has no place at Crufts and this is put in writing to all handlers before the show.” 

First of all, there should be no such rule. The Kennel Club should give your dedicated, dog loving, fee paying, exhibitors the courtesy of the assumption that they are the best arbiters of the welfare of their dogs. Secondly, we ask the Kennel Club show a little consideration for a young woman, who has worked exceedingly hard and sacrificed much to promote the sport of purebred dogs. You should be standing by her, your 2015 BIS winner, defending her and our sport to these surrogates for the animal rights terrorists that want to destroy our way of life. 

We are lucky enough to know Rebecca personally and know how close she and Knopa are. Knopa’s breeder and owner were fortunate to have such a dedicated person taking care of Knopa these past two years. We in the show going public are grateful for the opportunity to have seen them perform. We are appalled that what should be a career high moment of joy is now clouded by this phony controversy. 

Here in the US we abhor bullies and are only now enacting laws to deal with the cowardly internet trolls. You may be safe in the UK, but please don’t set foot in a show hall here on this side of the Atlantic. We know how to stand up for our dog lovers. By the way here in the US we tailgate at football games, not dog shows.

76 comments:

  1. My sentiments exaclty! Well done,
    Armando

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  2. Well said. Anyone who knows Scotties and has trained a Scot knows all too well that if someone mistreats them, even by tone of voice they dislike it intensely, they will not ever forgive or forget. They certainly won't show well in the ring. Knopa showed beautifully at Crufts and this is proof enough that Knopa did not think she was being mistreated. Isn't that at the heart of the matter? What does Knopa say about tailgate? She's already spoken!!

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  3. Debra Bouderra owner of JustinMarch 9, 2015 at 8:19 PM

    Amen Rebecca handled my West highland White to number 1 in 2013. Justin loves Rebecca even still today. Tails wagging and woo wooing her. I was very fortunate to have Rebecca handle him, and will not tolerate such lies. WE are with you Rebecca all the way. Congratulations on a job VERY WELL DONE!

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  4. I went to Westminster and yes I saw tailgating inside! Handlers and owners in the benching area drinking there wine by 11am. My 1st time going!

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  5. Here! Here!!! An amazing job as usual by Knopa and Rebecca the the superb job of winning Crufts.

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  6. well said. here here!!!

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  7. Congratulations to Rebecca and Knopa! What a fantastic win!!! Unfortunately we have them here too. Or did you miss PETA in crates outside the Pier this year? I'll never forget being at a dog show in Cleveland where PETA came through and let numerous dogs out of their crates claiming that dogs should be released back into the wild!?! This was 20 something years ago so I don't remember how many they let out before the police caught them. Dating myself... Yikes. They're everywhere I'm afraid I just pray the AKC has more backbone and sense then the BKC!

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  8. I had no idea that the English were so uninformed. After all, the UK is where most of the terriers are from. "The Kennel Club" has historically shown themselves to be spineless when dealing w/the AR Bullies Shame on them. Your rebuttal was Spot On Billy. Thank you for speaking up for the Fancy.

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    1. We're not uninformed thank you! Get your facts straight

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  9. Bravo! The snarking is offensive BUT the Kennel Club
    throwing this dedicated dog person under the bus is
    Absolutely disgusting!
    I suppose the staunch stiff upper lip British no longer exist.

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  10. Rebecca is a friend, a warm and caring person, and a great dogwoman. The Scottie adores her. This whole thing is very sad.

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  11. Thank you, Billy, for saying so eloquently what many of us are thinking. Rebecca, we support you!

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  12. Well said, thank you Billy! We stand with Rebecca!

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  13. Terriers have those strong tails so they can be grabbed and pulled out of the burrows. I agree. The people who protest these type things are not knowledgeable. They need to educate themselves about dogs and showing. Your article is well written, Billy Wheeler. Thank you for standing up for such a great handler as Rebecca Cross.

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  14. AWESOME The KC isa wimpy organization kowtowing to the AR's..Churchill is rolling in is grave knowing how far down his countrymen have fallen a HUGE congrats to the winner..

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  15. Excellent article, Billy Wheeler. These animal rights people need to educate themselves about things before protesting. Terriers tails are used to pull them out of burrows when they are hunting. How could lifting them this way be harmful. Thanks for standing up for Rebecca.

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  16. If you look at the Kennel Club rulebook, Rebecca broke no rules. At least, not according to what I read.

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    1. I agree. I have posted at least 3 times on the Crufts FB page a request to show which rule was broken. I have yet to receive a response.

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  17. Superb article - and yes, it is well past time for the fancy to suck it up and stand up to the ridiculous accusations and attitudes of the animal rights fanatics. They don't care about the welfare of the animals, they simply want to liberate all the "enslaved" animals of the world and free them to run in the grass. Or so they say - in the US PETA just kills everything they can get their hands on, no freedom there.

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  18. I am from Canada and I have never not seen a Scottie lifted by it's tail. I cannot believe this to be an issue. I have Wheatens and we do not do that but they are not bred to be pulled out of holes. This handler loves this dog and it would not be so happy if anything she did was not pleasing to this dog. She would never have won any dog show with and unhappy Scottie!

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  19. A very well written article as a life member of The Kennel Club I abhor their press release. Scotch terriers have been handled at this and all other shows in the UK since I was made a member at the age of 7 until now at the age of 76 they should relish their own history with the regards to the showing of dogs

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  20. if you dont like it here then feel free not to come! Simple!

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  21. Very good article, living with scotties I sign all the things is told about skottis temperament and mode

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    1. Now I'm ashamed to be Finnish 😞

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  22. Everyone is forgetting one vital fact in this issue.The judge who was once the chairman of the UK KC was the very leader who brought all the vets check and other things into the British dog scene and yet here he is awarding top prize at the countries top show to an exhibitor who has done this so called shocking deed.I always understood that the judge was in charge of the ring at all times?Blame must surely be levelled at the judge for supporting something which he and his "club" condone.

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  23. Well said. Unfortunately in Australia we have some idiots that believe it is cruel - usually from other groups and have no sound knowledge of terriers .

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  24. What complete an utter rubbish

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  25. Our rules should not be broken

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    1. Please state the rule that was broken. There was an advisory---not a rule, not a ban, not a DQ offense listed.

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  26. I agree with everyone here. I have been defending and protecting Rebecca and taken harsh bullying.In the UK bullying is the normal way. If you state an opinion then you get bullied. The UK citizens do not know what civil liberties or human rights are. In the UK you have a charity the RSPCA charity number 219099 that does just like Peta killing thousands of cats and dogs a year. The RSPCA also raid animal love homes steal their pets dump them at independently registered charities signed up to use their logo, or kill them The animal lovers of Britain are being treated despicably by the BULLIES who know in reality nothing about dogs, competitions,

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  27. So no freedom of comment on this site. You xan give it out but cannot take it

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  28. If we are such ill informed and spineless internet trolls why bother entering your dogs in the first place. Stay at home and the show will go on, if you don't want to play by UK rules don't enter end of.

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  29. Well stated Billy! Well done Rebecca! Congratulations and enjoy your wonderful win!

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  30. But if the handler was aware that this practice was not allowed at Crufts, why did she ignore the guidelines and carry on regardless? If you enter a show you agree to abide by its rules and unfortunately this lady chose to ignore these and therefore showed total disregard to the British public.

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    1. As she explained and apologized for already, is here in Canada and the US, it is a perfectly acceptable method of showing these types of terriers and was done out of habit. Have you never had a habit that you have been asked not to do and without thinking you just did. Get over it. She is human!!!

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    2. So when I visit your country again and drive on the left out of habit, it won't matter that I kill someone. 'Cos I's human.

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    3. I didn't realize that it killed the dog. lol Actually, I am unable to find a single case report in the veterinary literature that such handling of a terrier has ever caused an injury. DVM

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  31. How is it in a dog's best interests to have a muzzle so short it struggles to breathe; or. legs so short its chest almost scrapes the floor with the prospect of slipped discs and paralysis? THE Kennel Club (yes the first and if you don't like it well, I don't think they're going to change it) are responding not to organisations such as PETA but the RSPCA and The Dogs' Trust - organisations that promote the best possible quality of life for all dogs. You want a dog with erect ears then buy one; by docking a dogs tail you're removing one of the ways they communicate with other dogs - how is that 'love'?
    But OK, insist you're right but the rest of the world will NOT change the rules so you can continue to show elsewhere - but then you already have a 'World Series' where only one country turns up ;)

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  32. It has nothing to do with strong tails or not. There are millions of people watching Crufts and they see a person lifting her dog as if it were a teapot. A thing. An object. She is not pulling her terrier out of a foxhole, no, she is lifting Knopa from a table and there is no need to do that in this way. The people looking at home will think "oh, there are these idiots again who care about nothing else but prizes". The one who was best handler for me was the little boy and his English Toy terrier, they really had a bond and never was he poking at her or grabbing her by the tail and throat. So disrespectful...

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  33. The dog was beautiful and deserved to win, however the lifting of dogs by tail and throat is unneccessary, and wasnt needed in that situation. Cropping of dogs ears and tails for vanity reasons is barbaric. I, m not an animal rights person, just a caring dog owner who believes animals should be treat with respect. UK

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  34. I'm British and a dog breeder..that is not a terrier is is a show dog. It is many many generations away from the working dog it was bred from and the relationship of its body form to a true terrier is remote.. A dogs tail is not a handle it is a tail with ligaments, bone and nerves, it feels pain and can be damaged. The dog was treated as an object and behaved like an object, dull, unresponsive, no tail wagging, unlike several other dogs there who showed genuine excitement. As to trolls and animal right activist...we don't like them either and think they are mis-informed and uneducated , however you will find that in this country most people care about the dogs over the owners winning and see mistreatment of dogs for what it is,,,,uncaring cruelty . If you don't like the British criticising cruelty then I suggest you stay on your side of the pond and carry on abusing your dogs.

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    1. Totally agree with you. When you enter a competition you agree to advise by the rules and GUIDANCE. You may say is what the dog is bred for but it isn't. This dog was bred for showing not scurrying in burrows. The dog is beautiful and his behalf exemplary, however this handling of any animal in this country is unacceptable and barbaric to say the least!

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    2. Barbaric? Cruel? Abusive? Such a charmed life you must lead to use those extreme adjectives for something that I can't find even a single case report in the veterinary literature related to a tail injury being caused by this manner of handling. I am a veterinarian and worked for 6 yrs as an Editor of the most well respected and largest veterinary journal in the world and am unable to recall any such report even being submitted for consideration of publication. I can't find any discussion of an injury being caused by tail handling in any of the current veterinary internal medicine or surgical textbooks. No fractures, no bruising, no nerve damage reported as being associated with "terrier handling". Rather, the vast majority of tail injuries are from long tails with little musculature, such as exists in the Greyhound and Pointers, after banging against furniture (exhuberant tail wagging) or being shut in a door accidentally, which could be considered as justification for tail docking since repair of fractured tails in adults is not simple. In terms of pain, anyone with the least bit of knowledge about terriers and especially Scotties knows that they will surely let you know with their teeth if something is unpleasant. ADMIT that the guideline was there soley to appease john Q public in Europe who have been indoctrinated by the animal rights extremists.

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  35. I felt sorry for that poor little dog..it looked like a statue and not a happy little dog, and she was OBSESSED with prodding it and preening it even AFTER she took the undeserved title..surely way over the top in anyone's eye's? and according to the official crufts statement she was warned by the judge and in the end was overlooked, but that is their problem.. and I am NOT an animal rights activist just a human being who like hundreds of others watched uncomfortably whilst the handler showed all the signs of OCD.

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  36. Go-to-ground terriers are *bred* to be pulled out of the fox or badger lair if they can't draw their quarry. They are supposed to have short or very strong, thick tails for that purpose. The little guys will not back down or give up, and sometimes actually have to be dug out. Picking one up by head and tail is probably barely felt by them. Of course fox-hunting with dogs is also illegal in Britain but is still widely practiced with everyone looking the other way,

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  37. Crufts was held in UK, therefore UK rules apply! Why would anyone want to lift a dog by its tail and neck?

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  38. WELL SAID!

    Personally, I am sick and tired of ignorant pet owners who don't even know how to trim their dog's nails blindly following PETA and passing judgement on professionals who have dedicated their lives to the preservation and perpetuation of purebred dogs.

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    1. PETA have a lot to answer for. If only these silly ppl would go read what they stand for. :-(

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  39. Mr Wheeler,

    Please do not think that by identifying as an anglophile you can neatly exempt yourself from accusations of racism. Britain is not a nation of 'animal rights crazies' which tolerates bullies and trolling: it is a nation of animal lovers. Dismissing the people who were shocked by this incident as 'animal rights crazies' is as small-minded and unfair as if the British people were to universally condemn Americans of being animal abusers. Dog shows today are becoming increasingly international and that requires a spirit of co-operation and inclusiveness between countries, not rivalry and criticism. This argument should not be allowed to descend into racist generalisations and parties on both sides of the US / UK divide are at fault.

    The fact remains that Rebecca was showing in a country that observes strict policies about the treatment of animals. As an exhibitor this year I can confirm that handlers were instructed in the rules not to pick their dogs up by the tail. I don’t believe Rebecca deserves the outright condemnation she has received (I show terriers myself and am well aware that the practise, while not desirable, is not harmful) and it is certainly a shame that her win has been blighted but you must remember that Crufts is the only dog show in Britain broadcast to the general public, the majority of whom are not familiar with the practises of showing (the ‘uniformed British’ as one of the comments so short-sightedly reads). To the ‘uninformed’ eye, picking up a dog by the throat and tail looks like mishandling, hence the outcry from a nation of dog lovers. These people who are so invested in animal welfare don’t deserve to be belittled and dismissed as ‘credential-less, without status, internet thugs’. If dog showing is to have a certain future it needs the support of the general public. Catty, superior comments such as yours do nothing to foster the relationship between those involved in dog showing and the general public – in fact they are extremely detrimental. You should know better.

    Finally, I would just like to point out that your entire article is undermined by your attitude to the ban on docking and cropping in the UK. Those practices are indeed cruel, serve only an aesthetic purpose – whether or not you like the look of an un-cropped Doberman is immaterial – and deserve to be banned. The censure of Rebecca Cross may be underserved but if the showing world (as represented by yourself) still cannot appreciate the necessity of prohibiting such abject cruelty in the name of ‘the dog game’ as you put it, perhaps it is essential that the general public continues to make a fuss over every little misdemeanor until you take notice.

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  40. I believe I saw a picture on facebook today of the judge at Crufts lifting Knopa's rear off the table by her tail - why is no one going after him? Did they not bother to inform the judges that this is not acceptable there? One also has to wonder if any of this would have come up had the BIS winner been a British dog.....

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  41. I hate dog shows, they encourage over breeding of an animal which, as a family pet, should be allowed to be itself, not some overstylised version to be measured and weighed and poked, prodded and hauled about like an object. There are too many dogs in the world without a home, many hundreds are euthenased every day. I don't have a dog, never have, never will, but I do like them, and I do like to see happy animals, this Scottie looked like it was on drugs, completely spaced out, or wishing it was somewhere else! Stop breeding dogs, give homes to the ones that are already on the planet. Purebreeding is not natural, let's have a mongrel dog world, to match the mongrel human world we have now. I am a happy mongrel!

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  42. I can not get over how ignorant some of the comments are on here. People who have absolutely NO understanding of dogs in general. Wow. The AR terrorists have the wool pulled so far over people eyes its atrocious.

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  43. elizabeth thorntonMarch 10, 2015 at 2:41 PM

    have a look at " Terrierman's Daily Dose" for a working terrier man's view of the Crufts winner. His latest blog suggests the present day "show" Scottie cannot work and has a 45% cancer rate - plus much more. He's none too fond of Peta either.....

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  44. British show, British rules......... Not exactly right. Simply because the KC do not have this rule.
    It is advised that they don't lift by the tail, it is not as yet a rule. So therefore no rules broken. So that flies out the window.
    All the "show" slammers need to get a grip, my dogs love being with me and showing off, yes because I ask them to and they want to please. But this young lady did herself no favours with the British show folk with her remark about "not being proper dog ppl" well I consider myself as a "dog" person, and as much I dont personally like this style of handling I loved this Terrier so much about her is right.

    I would also take umbrage at the comment of poorly groomed/handled dogs. Most folks in the UK show dogs as a hobby, we do not have profession handlers. Preferring to take our own dogs in, and winning or not. It's all our own hard work, I would like to think the majority of dogs had been bathed and groomed before going to any show.
    Well done on your brilliant win with a super animal.

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  45. Get over it !!! the dog has won...The fact that it was a bit robotic with no personality does not matter...The judge decides..OK.handler should NOT have used its tail to lift dog off table...RULES are Rules.., and if a handler enters a show, rules should be followed...The judge could have been a bit more forceful about this rule, . However there is no need to start a sparring match between countries over this..it is after all only a dog show, although a very prestigious one..In the end the judges decision is final, and as dog lovers and exhibitors, we should congratulate the winner

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  46. Really? Is this a rule? Here's the actual language of the document provided by the Crufts officials to foreign exhibitors: "Exhibitors are reminded that the kennel club believes that the practice of picking up dogs, often Terriers, by their tails and leashes when lifting them to and from the table when judging is both undesirable and completely unnecessary."

    Where I come from, that's not a rule. It's an opinion. If you tell me that the weather is warm enough that a coat is unnecessary, is it wrong for me to wear a coat anyway? This is preposterous. And, quite frankly, the hysteria generated by this is frightening.
    I assume that the KC, like the AKC, has a set of bylaws and those bylaws undoubtedly describe the process of rule-making. If the KC wants to give us their OPINION on handling terriers, we are free to ignore it. If they want to make a rule, do so and then we will abide by it.

    Frankly, the KC is on very shaky legal grounds to penalize Rebecca for not sharing their opinion on the carrying of Terriers. AND, one more thing. She didn't pick up the dog by the tail and the leash (the actually banned conduct in their little pamphlet), so she has actually not violated this NON-rule.

    Cindy Cooke
    Anstamm Scottish Terriers

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    1. 1) She hasn't been penalised. The KC is not on shaky ground - We still have a stable and fair legal system in the UK.
      2) She was written to and warned not to do it again. She ignored the KCs warning. Its their competition. She chose to ignore a direct instruction.
      3) "Their little pamphlet" Stop being so pathetic. SHE PICKED THE DOG UP BY THE TAIL AFTER SHE HAD BEEN TOLD NOT TO. END OF.
      Leave your faux, poofed up, over preened and disingenuous practices in the USA. We don't want them in the UK. If we did we would do that. Its not a beauticians pagent Its about Fit for Function, healthy and happy dogs. Shame that you cannot say the same.

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  47. Really? Is this a rule? Here's the actual language of the document provided by the Crufts officials to foreign exhibitors: "Exhibitors are reminded that the kennel club believes that the practice of picking up dogs, often Terriers, by their tails and leashes when lifting them to and from the table when judging is both undesirable and completely unnecessary."

    Where I come from, that's not a rule. It's an opinion. If you tell me that the weather is warm enough that a coat is unnecessary, is it wrong for me to wear a coat anyway? This is preposterous. And, quite frankly, the hysteria generated by this is frightening.

    I assume that the KC, like the AKC, has a set of bylaws and those bylaws undoubtedly describe the process of rule-making. If the KC wants to give us their OPINION on handling terriers, we are free to ignore it. If they want to make a rule, do so and then we will abide by it.

    Frankly, the KC is on very shaky legal grounds to penalize Rebecca for not sharing their opinion on the carrying of Terriers. AND, one more thing. She didn't pick up the dog by the tail and the leash (the actually banned conduct in their little pamphlet), so she has actually not violated this NON-rule.

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  48. This arrogant woman blatantly disregarded repeated requests from the show organisers to STOP handling in this unacceptable way.... When exhibiting overseas you are expected to respect the written requests laid down by that country, but this woman ignored the UK Kennel Club by handling in a way that is abhorrent to many within the dog fancy, and the animal loving public. The dog was superb.... a stunning representative of the breed, but this handler left a lot to be desired.

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  49. Have you seen the little boy with his English Toy terrier? Now THAT was superb handling. He should have won. Not someone who tosses her dog around as if it was a lifeless thing. So disrespectful...

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  50. What a load of bunkum! The terrier may have a sturdy tail but it is hasn't developed that way so it can be picked up by it!! She was told on several occasions not to do it, so why did she continue? As for the British Animal rights 'crazies' I applaud the fact that we don't allow Great Danes or Dobermans ears to be cut It looks hideous and is CRUEL! As is docking tails if you are not working the dog. If you don't like this show and its rules, stay away!! Simple

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  51. English uninformed?? we're well informed thank you very much, our dogs are not badly groomed nor badly handled.. you can't say this about all when you do not see or know all!!! and by the way the Doberman was stunning, just because someone didn't see fit to take a knife to the pup at 2 days old doesn't make it any less a stunning well bred and handles animal... Knopa deserved the win but don't start insulting us UK dog showers just because our kinder ways differ from your harsher ones.

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  52. I think it can be said that the feeling is mutual- us British animal rights 'crazies' don't think very much of 'your type' either.
    We have two camps:
    One who thinks that mutilating a dog's ears (which then affects their natural dog body language- something you may not be very familiar with) and docking it's tail is what makes it beautiful and show worthy. A camp that thinks it's acceptable to prod and poke a dog into position, pick it up by vulnerable body parts (you're aware the tail and neck are connected to the spine right?) and basically treat it as an inanimate object so that they can boost their egos and kennel status by winning titles.

    Then you have camp 'crazy': A camp that considers animals to be sentient beings that have emotions and feel pain (this has been proved by science you know!). That animals should be treated with respect, not mutilated for our own preference and that if people have to fly them across the world and put them in stressful situations, such as show rings, that it's done with the utmost respect for the creature.

    If being in camp two makes me crazy then I'm all for it!!

    Now excuse me while I take the time to dote on my lop eared, long tailed, ungroomed mongrel. I know that makes me mentally unstable in your eyes- but over hear it's what owning a pet is mostly about.

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  53. Knopa was a worthy winner but if you don't like the way we show our dogs in the UK, there is one easy solution. Don't come here.
    Billy Whites article is a load of what this website is called. Dog Show Poop (for want of a better word).

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  54. Very well said. Thank you for such a well written article.

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  55. If you have the opinion- state your name
    I expect most of you don't believe in bathing your dog either... Cleaning their teeth or cutting their nails...
    Pfffffft

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  56. http://raibeartscotties.com/HISTORY.php shows a photo of the Scottie who was Reserve Best in Show at Crufts in 1930. Except for the fact, that we let their skirt grown out longer now, they are not that different, and so I would disagree with the Terriermans views. He is biased against dog shows period.

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  57. I clap my hands - or better I am putting my hat off. Very well written article, I like people who can say their opinion. Well done - and I agree with you at all, you are completely right. Crufts 2015

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