RallyValley Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 I don't know if this is happening to anyone else but I am always feeling sad to see, read and hear such anti pure bred rubbish in the media and also from the uneducated general public. Is there anyway possible to start a group independant of the ANKC to promote purebred dogs? Several members here have mentioned they have media contacts or if they can debate the way they post (looking at you poodlefan) would make excellent radio/tv representatives. We need voices and examples out there contradicting the false facts and showing pedigree dogs in a better light. I would be willing to give around $50-$100 a year to support the group, I would also be willing to give time and anything else I might be possibly able to give. (I can make some nice charts comparing the COI of pedigree dogs to that of Royal Family members ;) ). I am sure that there would possibly be others who feel the same way. Is it feasable that something like this could exist? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 I don't know if this is happening to anyone else but I am always feeling sad to see, read and hear such anti pure bred rubbish in the media and also from the uneducated general public. Is there anyway possible to start a group independant of the ANKC to promote purebred dogs? Several members here have mentioned they have media contacts or if they can debate the way they post (looking at you poodlefan) would make excellent radio/tv representatives. We need voices and examples out there contradicting the false facts and showing pedigree dogs in a better light. I would be willing to give around $50-$100 a year to support the group, I would also be willing to give time and anything else I might be possibly able to give. (I can make some nice charts comparing the COI of pedigree dogs to that of Royal Family members ;) ). I am sure that there would possibly be others who feel the same way. Is it feasable that something like this could exist? I thinks more feasible (and arguably more desireable) to do it under the auspices of the ANKC than to create a separate advocacy organisation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RallyValley Posted June 30, 2011 Author Share Posted June 30, 2011 I don't know if this is happening to anyone else but I am always feeling sad to see, read and hear such anti pure bred rubbish in the media and also from the uneducated general public. Is there anyway possible to start a group independant of the ANKC to promote purebred dogs? Several members here have mentioned they have media contacts or if they can debate the way they post (looking at you poodlefan) would make excellent radio/tv representatives. We need voices and examples out there contradicting the false facts and showing pedigree dogs in a better light. I would be willing to give around $50-$100 a year to support the group, I would also be willing to give time and anything else I might be possibly able to give. (I can make some nice charts comparing the COI of pedigree dogs to that of Royal Family members ;) ). I am sure that there would possibly be others who feel the same way. Is it feasable that something like this could exist? I thinks more feasible (and arguably more desireable) to do it under the auspices of the ANKC than to create a separate advocacy organisation. Would that mean upping membership or donating for a dedicated, national media liason? It would be awesome (but unfeasble) if the ANKC had a national magazine like the AKC does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 I don't know if this is happening to anyone else but I am always feeling sad to see, read and hear such anti pure bred rubbish in the media and also from the uneducated general public. Is there anyway possible to start a group independant of the ANKC to promote purebred dogs? Several members here have mentioned they have media contacts or if they can debate the way they post (looking at you poodlefan) would make excellent radio/tv representatives. We need voices and examples out there contradicting the false facts and showing pedigree dogs in a better light. I would be willing to give around $50-$100 a year to support the group, I would also be willing to give time and anything else I might be possibly able to give. (I can make some nice charts comparing the COI of pedigree dogs to that of Royal Family members ;) ). I am sure that there would possibly be others who feel the same way. Is it feasable that something like this could exist? I thinks more feasible (and arguably more desireable) to do it under the auspices of the ANKC than to create a separate advocacy organisation. Would that mean upping membership or donating for a dedicated, national media liason? It would be awesome (but unfeasble) if the ANKC had a national magazine like the AKC does. Whatever happens, its going to take money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toy dog Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 (edited) i really think that there is no one out there keeping an eye on the media and responding to all this negative tripe. its up to the members to email/write a letter and ask to have someone to respond to all this, sort of like a voice of reason. they had a guy from ANKC, forgot his name and all he said was inbreeding can produce bad traits as well as good. very weak argument we need something a bit stronger i believe. the problem is that these reporters and the people they get to state things have no idea about what makes a healthy dog and then they run with the negatives. getting peter hitchener to be patron from channel 9 is a good start in Victoria though. I know that VCA have got a media group or something keeping an eye on media but as has been said for years we need a well known personality to really get in there and start responding positively to these negative crap stories about the pedigree dog. ETA: the VCA invited in the past for members to tell them if they see anything about pedigree dogs so they can respond. So i emailed them asking them to respond. if we can get alot more people asking to respond maybe they might listen Edited July 1, 2011 by toy dog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Flying Furball Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 I often feel that the whole debate needs to stepout of purebred versus crossbreeds (often generalised as the results of BYB, puppy mills etc. just as purebreds are often sited as the result of close inbreeding and looks prioritised over the purebreds health). I honestly think that the healthy breeding conversation needs to evolve beyond this dichotomy/ polarity and embrace an ethical breeding approach. Afterall, the majority of dog owners are pet owners and want healthy companions. I believe the world will also always have dogs that are both purebred and crossbreeds and myths and gross generalisations occupy both sides of conversation. The debate over breeding will stay stuck in this "versus" and not address what I see as the underlying concern: ethical breeding of the healthiest dogs possible. I hope that this isn't seen as a hijacking of this thread as it is not intended to be so Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RallyValley Posted July 1, 2011 Author Share Posted July 1, 2011 Yes but why should the ANKC or the like argue on the behalf of crossbreds/unregistered dogs? I agree with your sentiment and wish the media would choose that tact Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agility Dogs Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 i really think that there is no one out there keeping an eye on the media and responding to all this negative tripe. its up to the members to email/write a letter and ask to have someone to respond to all this, sort of like a voice of reason. they had a guy from ANKC, forgot his name and all he said was inbreeding can produce bad traits as well as good. very weak argument we need something a bit stronger i believe. the problem is that these reporters and the people they get to state things have no idea about what makes a healthy dog and then they run with the negatives. getting peter hitchener to be patron from channel 9 is a good start in Victoria though. I know that VCA have got a media group or something keeping an eye on media but as has been said for years we need a well known personality to really get in there and start responding positively to these negative crap stories about the pedigree dog. ETA: the VCA invited in the past for members to tell them if they see anything about pedigree dogs so they can respond. So i emailed them asking them to respond. if we can get alot more people asking to respond maybe they might listen Like or loathe the RSPCA I think the pure bred dog world could learn a lot from their approach to the media. I'm not sure about the other states, but I know in Queensland Michael Beatty (sp?) from the RSPCA gets an incredible amount of coverage with largely positive angles. The challenge I see for purebred dogs is that the world is so disjointed and although there are peak bodies their purpose (stated or otherwise) seems to be more about maintaining stud books and administration than it is about worrying what the wider population think of pedigree dogs. That said I did like the change in tone of the Dogs Qld magazine this month. Until such time as one of the peak bodies takes this on board and runs with it I can't see a lot changing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakway Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 Governing Dog Bodies of each state should be addressing this problem for and on behalf of its members. The greatest problem is that we do not have a single controlling body for Australia. Until we have a single controlling body that has clout and bit of nous we shall get nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Flying Furball Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 Yes but why should the ANKC or the like argue on the behalf of crossbreds/unregistered dogs? I agree with your sentiment and wish the media would choose that tact I think that the direction I am taking could not be done by the AKNC. I do see your point now regarding purebred awareness and what you were getting at, through what Oakway has posted and thinking about my own pet choices the purebreeds certainly enrich the variety of dogs available for different ownership circumstances and the reliability of the breed standards to know what you are getting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RallyValley Posted July 1, 2011 Author Share Posted July 1, 2011 I just did some sums... there are 33,460 ANKC members. If each paid a $5 "Promotion Levy" that would give the ANKC a budjet of $167,300 per year for promotion. Surely that is enough to empoly someone and work on stratigies to promote purebreds, I am sure people would be happy to volunteer ideas/time/services too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasha Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 Well trained, well socialised and model citizen purebred dogs should be an advertisement in themselves. While there are purebred dogs out there being dog aggressive, high maintenance, harrassing the public and then people see the little mongrel dog being well behaved and friendly and being portrayed in ads and media as a good family pet, people will migrate away from purebreds. Obviously this is a very broad assessment but that is the general drift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MalteseLuna Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 I really think this needs to be done as well - as a concerted effort across all purebred dog owners, breeders, organizations etc. Get vets onside, get scientists onside, get media personalities onside. If people see more scientists, vets and "famous" people on the "purebred" side or proud of their purebred dogs the tides may start to turn. Of course one of the major issues is that people simply don't understand about inbreeding or breeding dogs or genetics so if someone they "trust" tells them "all purebreds are inbred etc" they will believe it. In reality purebred dogs aren't all that inbred in comparison to many endangered species, humans (particularly royal families) etc. Inbreeding isn't a problem unless there are lots of "bad" mutations/genes - then your doubling up on bad mutations, but then this doubling up can occur if you outbreed as well... just depends on the gene pool. There are lots of domesticated animals - sheep, cattle, horses, chickens etc that are inbred with no/few issues. The other issue is that the public thinks that they should be guaranteed to have a healthy dog, unfortunately sometimes this isn't possible no matter how much health testing you do things crop up, but as people see dogs as a "product" they are buying they want a guarantee. Bit odd as we don't ridicule the parents of sick children and stop them from breeding again etc (perhaps we ask them to do some genetic testing) but everyone knows that there is no guarantee when humans have a child and that not every child will be sick (unless its a really rare and nasty condition)...apparently when dogs breed there is a magical guarantee that comes into effect All animals are inbred anyway - remember Adam and Eve and Noah's arc? ... okay joking... more realistically the finding that all humans can be traced back to the descendants of one woman (or maternal family) ... at least this is what I remember reading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dory the Doted One Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 I've only owned a few cross breeds and happily they have been relatively healthy my main problem is a few food or grass allergies that are easy to keep under control. Are there any DOL members with crossbreeds with health problems? Maybe they should be emailing the media and telling them their tragic cross breed puppy health disaster stories. Just for a bit more balance. It seems Joe Public loves to hang off the sad stories rather than the happy healthy stories...so lets give them a list of crossbreeds gone wrong. Wouldn't have thought it would be that hard to find some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumabaar Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 I just did some sums... there are 33,460 ANKC members. If each paid a $5 "Promotion Levy" that would give the ANKC a budjet of $167,300 per year for promotion. Surely that is enough to empoly someone and work on stratigies to promote purebreds, I am sure people would be happy to volunteer ideas/time/services too. Enough to employ someone- I am not sure about it being enough to actually do enough advertising though.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agility Dogs Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 It seems Joe Public loves to hang off the sad stories rather than the happy healthy stories...so lets give them a list of crossbreeds gone wrong. Wouldn't have thought it would be that hard to find some. I think this is really dangerous. The prevailing feeling amongst the community rightly or wrongly is that CB's are more robust than pedigree dogs. Pedigree dog owners making assertions like this smacks of self interest and is unlikely to have much credibility - true or otherwise perception is reality. What I think would be required is a concerted effort to point out the activities that PB dogs are involved in and the happy stories from there. THEN once this has gained a little traction you could start talking about CB owners who have had a disaster and moved into the PB world. Contrary to popular belief media outlets are consistently looking for stories like that (happy ones). True, they don't make the front pages of papers or headlines of news bulletins, but the greater population is news weary and good stories do strike a chord with people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 WA had a committee which is no longer running due to lack of people. Vic has appointed there new patron who is a dog person & well known media person Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumtoshelley Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 If purebreds so bad why are there more crossbreds in the pound then purebreds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 Can I just state for the record that any program of denigrating crossbred dogs to promote the interests of purebred dogs must be doomed to failure. Pointing the finger somewhere else will not change the issues confronting the purebred dog fancy and frankly paints pro-purebred dog people as a bunch of elitist snobs with our heads shoved firmly up our bottoms. Stick to the issues peeps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raineth Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 I personally think the problem is that not all registered breeders are good breeders. The not so good ones do produce unhealthy dogs. This problem needs addressing before we can really go out and promote dogs from registered breeders. Because at the moment you really can't say to someone "go to a registered breeder" without also saying "but it needs to be a registered breeder that health tests, is honest about any problems in their lines..." the list goes on. Good breeders are worth there weight in gold and it's awful that they can have their reputation besmirched by the fact that there are registered breeders doing a very poor job, and producing unhealthy dogs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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