Pedigree Dogs Exposed: Three Years On
| Pedigree Dogs Exposed: Three Years On | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Jemima Harrison |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Passionate Productions |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC Four |
| Original release | 27 February 2012 |
| External links | |
| Website | |
| Production website | |
Pedigree Dogs Exposed: Three Years On is a 2012 follow-up to the 2008 BBC One documentary, Pedigree Dogs Exposed (PDE). While this second programme looks at the positive changes made since the original film, it focuses on investigating areas of continuing concern. The programme concluded that it was time to call a halt to suffering created by breeders. It states that as long as The Kennel Club (KC) tolerated human whim leading to dogs that cannot run, breathe, or see freely, dogs would continue to suffer, but featured that, in fact, KC would continue in the vein, suggesting that the organisation has a conflict of interest in juggling its commitments to breeders and to dogs – when the interest of dogs does not match up with that of breeders, the dogs suffer. It also called on dog fanciers to stop being consumers of 'freak-show" appearance, the driving factor in developing dogs to physical extremes. KC refused to participate in the production. The programme aired on 27 February 2012 in the United Kingdom.
There is a diminishing gene pool from which dogs are bred, so the viability of entire breeds are at risk. The KC admitted it could stop registering dogs that are closely inbred, but rejected the idea that there is scientific evidence that preventing inbreeding will produce better, healthier, longer-lived pets.
Breeding for looks and success in the show ring has led to some dogs being burdened by disabling physical exaggerations. Showing has nothing to do with health and temperament. Some puppies that don't meet breed standards are culled.
The KC's new code of ethics, produced three weeks after the programme, forbids culling of healthy puppies. They reviewed every breed standard to remove clauses that could lead to physical extremes two months after the programme aired. Later they banned mother to son, father to daughter and brother to sister matings.
A fundamental problem that inhibits progress is the way the dog world is run and regulated. The stated goal of the KC is "to promote in every way the general improvement of dogs"; the main function of the KC is as a registry that records the lineage of purebred dogs, and to run dog shows. It is breeders who run the breed clubs, that judge each other's dogs in the show ring and that sit on rule making committees in the Kennel Club. Without regulatory bodies prioritizing animal welfare, progress has been slow or ineffective in this field.
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