Friday 5 February 2010
HAVE YOU read the Bateson independent enquiry into dog breeding? The worrying aspect of it for our breed in general is the insistence on no close inbreeding. We are numerically a very small breed and since the war, the number of male and female tail lines has been drastically reduced. Both Gloria Weiss and Rhalou Kirkby Peace wrote excellent articles on the subject which appeared in Highlights.
It means in effect that the number of ‘lines’ that there are to choose from is small. That is compounded by the scarcity of stud dogs from those lines. Very few pet owners want to use their dogs at stud and most of them have them castrated on veterinary advice – who are the very people castigating the pedigree dog world for inbreeding.
It has also been made worse by the dominance of some studs. This is ensured by the fact that most breeders, until very recently, have been breeding to produce show dogs who win. That is how pedigree dogs become pedigree dogs. We have a Standard to breed to and that is proved in the show ring, without which all dogs would end up mongrels. There is virtually no other window for showing off the breed.
In the last few years, of course, Manchesters has been successful in agility and heelwork to music, which is another welcome show case. Through the show ring we meet each other, assess which dogs have which characteristics we are looking for in our lines, show off the breed to those outside the breed etc. In addition to that, not all dogs are good at stud work, the result being there is very little choice for anyone. The problem is compounded by the human prejudices that we all have as to what makes a good Manchester Terrier.
Bateson says that a close breeding is mother to son, siblings mating, but he writes that “a good rule of thumb is that if the pedigrees of the potential mates include more than two grandparents avoid that mating.” In Manchester Terriers, it is almost impossible to avoid such a mating. Luckily there is some hope for us because the Kennel Club has said that each one will be considered separately.
Inbreeding, according to Bateson and others who criticise pedigree dogs, is the cause of ill-health in our dogs. The Manchester Terrier defies this rule, our breed enjoys very good health. Even von Willebrands is not a problem. Before any of us had even heard of the condition, our dogs healed from cuts and operations quickly, though some of them have been demonstrated to be carriers. Perhaps the breed is the exception that proves the rule or maybe the rule has not been proven beyond doubt.
Another worry that I have, though others may not, is the idea that pups should have had their inoculations before they go onto their new homes and should also be microchipped. I think eight weeks is too young for either of these things to happen to a relatively small pup. It may encourage the new owner to start walking the pup in public places where it cannot at such a tender age cope with the noise and bustle.
The committee must be in contact with the KC to make them aware of Manchester Terriers’ special situation in the world of pedigree dogs. We are after all English, by the KC’s definition ‘endangered’ and a very integral part of the English dog scene.
The BMTC committee has decided to have a conference after the AGM on April 10. It would seem a good place to have a discussion and report on what has been done or is going to be done on this topic,
There was a dog show while all this was rumbling round the dog scene At Manchester Albert Wight awarded BD and BOB to Sarah Leigh’s Sophyla Sorcerer of Mansiya and BB and BP to her M Cosmopolitan. RBD was the Symingtons’ Quixol Havoc and RBB the Carters’ M Wiccan Moon over Afilador.
ELLA EVA, 01628 634955, Ella.eva1@yahoo.co.uk