#RidgebackClub #HealthyPuppies #PedigreeDogsExposed #BBC
🐶 Did you know? In a shocking revelation, the Ridgeback Club of Great Britain once mandated the killing of all healthy ridgeless puppies. But thanks to the outrage sparked by BBC’s “Pedigree Dogs Exposed”, they were forced to backtrack on this cruel practice. Now, the club has stated that “no healthy puppy will be culled”. Learn more about this eye-opening story and the impact it has had on the world of dog breeding.
### The Controversy Unveiled
In 2008, BBC aired a documentary titled “Pedigree Dogs Exposed”, which shed light on the dark truths of dog breeding practices in the UK. One of the most shocking revelations was the Ridgeback Club of Great Britain’s policy of euthanizing all healthy ridgeless puppies.
The ridge – a distinct feature of the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed – was deemed so important by the club that any puppy born without it was considered unsuitable for breeding and therefore required to be put down. This practice, which had been in place for years, sparked outrage among animal lovers and activists alike.
### The Turning Point
Following the backlash from the public and the media, the Ridgeback Club of Great Britain was pressured to reconsider their stance on culling healthy puppies. In a statement released after the documentary aired, the club announced that they would no longer euthanize any healthy puppies, ridgeless or otherwise.
This change of heart was a direct result of the widespread condemnation of their previous policy and a testament to the power of public opinion in shaping ethical standards within the dog breeding community.
### The Legacy of “Pedigree Dogs Exposed”
The documentary “Pedigree Dogs Exposed” not only brought attention to the inhumane practices within the Ridgeback Club of Great Britain but also highlighted broader issues within the dog breeding industry as a whole. Some of the key takeaways from the film include:
1. **Health Concerns**: The documentary raised awareness about the health problems faced by many pedigree dogs due to years of inbreeding and genetic manipulation.
2. **Ethical Practices**: It put a spotlight on the need for more ethical breeding practices that prioritize the well-being of the animals over conforming to arbitrary standards.
3. **Regulatory Oversight**: The film sparked discussions about the need for stricter regulations and oversight within the dog breeding community to prevent abuses like the culling of healthy puppies.
### Moving Forward
In the years since “Pedigree Dogs Exposed” aired, there have been significant strides made towards improving the ethical standards of dog breeding in the UK and beyond. Organizations and breed clubs are now more transparent about their practices, and there is a growing emphasis on promoting the health and welfare of pedigree dogs.
As a result of the outcry over the Ridgeback Club of Great Britain’s policy, the club has taken steps to distance itself from its past practices and has committed to ensuring that no healthy puppies are culled in the future. This shift in attitude is a positive sign that change is possible when the public holds breeding organizations accountable for their actions.
### Conclusion
The story of the Ridgeback Club of Great Britain’s mandate to cull healthy puppies serves as a stark reminder of the importance of ethical breeding practices and the role that media and public pressure play in shaping industry standards. The legacy of “Pedigree Dogs Exposed” continues to influence the conversation around responsible dog breeding and the need for greater transparency and accountability within the industry. It is up to all of us to advocate for the well-being of our furry companions and ensure that their best interests are always put first. Together, we can create a future where no healthy puppy is ever at risk of unnecessary harm.
Swear to God, every time I hear something about these clubs, it gets worse
These clubs are where the eugenicists went to hide aren’t they?
My second ridgeback had a defective tail, with a 90-degree bend about four inches from the end, known occasional congenital defect in ridgies. As a result we got him at a bargain price and he turned out to be a lovely dog, as did the rest of the litter.
I was horrified when I later found out that his breeder had culled a couple of his littermates because they had no ridges. That kind of fanaticism deeply alarms me: why kill a healthy animal that would have made someone a great pet. It’s, well, kind of fascistic if you ask me.
But dog breeders can be weird AF. When tail docking was banned in Australia I heard of boxer dog enthusiasts who decided to give up breeding them. FFS, they’re the same dog, they just now look happier.
Why am I reminded of the line in Blazing Saddles ” Nah – too Jewish ” 🙂🙂
Ridgeless puppies are re homed with registration documents at rearing costs only with a contract stipulating that they will be spayed or castrated within a specified time period
Show dog people are the *worst*.
Yeah they’ll talk freely about “bucketing” pups with the wrong markings or whatever, then cry when you say that’s wrong and disgusting, it’s just how they are.
Ridgebacks are such great dogs. We have had one for almost a decade with our Aussies and he’s just the sweetest big ol’ meathead. Some assholes tried to make him a fighting or bait dog before we found him. Luckily he lives the good life now.
We’ve never been ones to own purebreds. All of our dogs were shelter dogs before the last 2 Aussies. But breeders can be weird psychos so it pays to do the work if you want a good breed that is well cared for.
I got a ridgeless pup. What a dog. If it keeps the show dog people away from you, count your blessings
What authority does a kennel club have to dictate the culling of certain puppies?
Explains why I sometimes saw pictures of ridgeback looking dogs without the ridge, I didn’t know they could not have ridges.
We owned one when I was kid. Terrible dog. In hindsight, part of the problem was that my mom isn’t actually a good dog trainer. Didn’t realize until I saw the difference between the lab I helped raise and the one I didn’t.
A shocking number of breeders I’ve met over the years are trash humans. There some really good ones out there, but some of them I’ve just wanted to report for a psychopath watch list
We had a ridgeless ridgeback and she had so much character. Stubborn and strong-willed yet loyal and gentle.
Rather put down those club members who agreed to it
Hardcore dog breed purists are basically just animal Nazis. Weird fucks.
In fact, worse than animal nazis, at least the Nazis wanted their kids to be healthy.
Honestly the kennel club can get fucked. They have a lot to answer for.
Companies do this kind of thing all the time and you never hear about it! Every male or “undesirable” female chick gets blended alive just so the others can make eggs. I agree, stuff like this is horrifying
When breeders lose sight of animal well-being we get beakless pigeons and shit like this. Like, animal husbandry is one of the most amazing things we have done as a species, but it can go so nasty.
It’s not only a vile practice, it’s also pretty *useless* from a breeding perspective. The ridge is a dominant trait, and its lack is recessive. Unless you were to eliminate both of the ridgeless puppy’s parents from breeding as well, you’ll still have carriers passing on the ridgeless trait. Fucking breed purists and their obsession with maintaining their precious Breed Standards…
Then again, it shouldn’t surprise me. I’m a geneticist for a lab that does tests for animals, and it’s mind-blowing how little some breeders actually understand about genetics.
Same has been done with the white GSD puppies in Germany. Since white is a fault in the GSD breed. Some breeders culled the white puppies so that no one knew that their lines carried the white gene.
Don’t know if this is still done as the White GSD now is a separate breed with its own standards.
Heard a genetics professor once say “There is no issue with inbreeding as long as one aggressively culls”
The TV show was 16 years ago and the Ridgeback club got widely slammed for its decision. Its a great doco and still worth watching, it certainly exposed a bad situation for many breeds, some of which are still ongoing. However many breeds dont have these issues and their dogs are as healthy and happy as other dogs. Many breeders are highly ethical, many are quite dubious.
Dog breeding:
“Hey, this one’s hair is messed up.”
“That’s kinda cool. Let’s kill all of them that aren’t cool like that.”
My mother bred Ridges in rural CA on our horse ranch. She put the smooth pups into the horse troughs immediately. Us kids interfering was not an option as she’d have no problem cracking you with a lunge whip for pissing her off. And making her feel bad about drowning puppies would definitely make her feel bad.
It’s insane what is allowed to happen because people refuse to acknowledge the problem of mass producing animals. You can’t prioritize empathy and profit equally and it’s pretty damn clear what the majority of people choose to prioritize. It’s not much different for me finding a healthy shar pei instead of the puffy wrinkly messes they’re shoving at people who want a living squishmellow.
Whenever people guilt trip me for being NC with my mother I drop a gem from my time with her and they suddenly start understanding why I won’t expose my children to her.
Wasn’t entirely sure what makes a Ridgeback a Ridgeback so had to Google it…
It’s a strip of fur… that’s it… People killing puppies because it doesn’t come with a pre-installed fucking cosmetic item…!
Imagine euthanising your kid because they use the wrong skin on their CoD guns?
Absolute cunts.
Never heard of a ridgeback. I’m reading this wondering what a ridge is, and why the lack of one would be a problem. Turns out it’s hair.
And that’s pretty fucking stupid.
The mainstream Ridgeback breeding community has condemned this lady for breeding Ridgeless dogs to prevent genetic deformity
https://www.rhodesian-ridgeback-pedigree.org/articles-informations/breeding-and-genetics/avoiding-the-gene-defect-ds/
I grew up with a mother who only wanted purebred dogs. But she didn’t want to pay purebred prices. One of the dogs we had was a Chow Chow who had already won several shows before a particularly knowledgeable show judge spotted her congenital hip defect that was considered disqualifying—not because it would affect her or cause her any pain/mobility problems, but because the Chow Chow breeders were working to eradicate the issue in the breed (some dogs could be crippled by their third year). So, my mother got a fantastic price to adopt one of the most beautiful Chow Chows most show judges had ever seen. There was only one condition: that she be spayed within 90 days of adoption. This is how you cull puppies with undesirable birth “defects”. Although let’s all agree that a structural hip defect is far more important to eliminate than a hair-growth pattern.