Posted by Stephanie Zikmann | The Holistic Dog Groomer, The Holistic Grooming Academy Ltd.
What is Crufts and why do people love it as much as they do?
Crufts (formally referred to as 'Cruft's Dog Show') was first introduced by the late Charles Cruft in 1891 - a dog biscuit salesman with a vision to bring together examples of healthy, working dog breeds that would encourage the responsible breeding of dogs, while also demonstrating the amazing bond humans share with our dogs at home.
And while Cruft's vision may have sounded wonderful to most dog lovers, the sad reality is that Crufts causes more harm to our beloved canines, than good.
As you can see on one of the very first public posters for the event, the show was advertised and described as an "exhibition of sporting appliances'.
What does this mean exactly?
Definition of 'appliances' as per Oxford Dictionary:
appliances: a machine that is designed to do a particular thing in the home, such as preparing food, heating or cleaning.
I wonder, what this definition has got to do with a dog show?
Bear in mind that the 18th Century had already welcomed the idea that non-human animals were not machines and actually, incredibly sentient so if these were indeed words used to describe working dogs, I would say that intentions at this point are crystal clear.
Could the words "sporting appliances" be reflecting a subtle, outdated undertone that insinuates that dogs were, even then, considered mere property and objects to perform the commands of humans based on their own needs, desires and of course, entertainment?
For me, Cruft's intentions are somewhat blurred in intention...
Crufts is the biggest dog show in the world.
Despite welfare concerns, the event has proved to be a real success, attracting dog breeders and dog enthusiasts from across the nation as the years have gone on. As it stands today, Crufts is considered the "UK's largest dog event dedicated to the health and welfare of animals" and is famous on an international scale for being an event to promote the health and welfare of dogs.
Whether this is true or not, from a purely business perspective it is without a doubt, the most successful dog show in the world, even bagging a title in the Guinness Book of Records in 1991.
Why are people against Crufts?
A more savvy dog enthusiast can quickly identify several major discrepancies with the way Crufts conducts its event and actively promotes dogs including the advertising and glamourising of unhealthy breeds that do not fit the Kennel Clubs "strict Breed Standards" as seen above.
Sadly, Crufts is not fully dedicated to the health and welfare of dogs any more than a butcher is dedicated to the veganism movement.
Crufts contributes to the dog shelter pandemic.
The first big problem with Crufts is that it seems to not acknowledge the real issue we have with abandoned dogs all around the world. Based on the international study of animal homelessness report that studied 20 countries across the world, there are 143 million stray dogs living on the streets and a further 12 million dogs living in shelters.
Crufts glamourises and celebrates the breeding of more dogs, many that display concerning attributes, which subsequently only adds to the issue with the Kennel Club reported to register more than 250,000 new dogs per year (not taking into consideration the hundreds of thousands more that are not KC Registered).
The event could be described as an aesthetics-focused dog event in many ways, driven by ego and profits often at the expense of canine health and welfare.
Crufts' Sponsors Are Not Truly Dog-Centred Either
2024 sponsor, 'Royal Canin' has had some significant bad press over the years, along with many other pet food brands regarding the quality of their produce especially after high levels of Melamine and other known toxins were found within wheat and rice across many of their wet and dry food ranges.
This led to many reported dog fatalities all because they didn't do the proper testing required to ensure their product was fit for purpose - this specific scandal resulted in a widespread recall across various countries around the world but not before many dogs suffered needlessly. Though Royal Canin continue to remain a "recommended" premium pet food brand, their ingredients are just as low quality as other lower-range pet food brands, proving that they are a profit-driven business above all else.
More on the health considerations of pet food here.
The Negatives of The Kennel Club
The Kennel Clubs introduced "breed standards" in an attempt to safeguard the future health of dog breeds and to encourage dog breeders to breed responsibly. Why then, have we seen countless examples of unhealthy and/or unfit dogs competing and/or being demonstrated to the public at Crufts over the years? Let's not forget that it is financially beneficial for the Kennel Club and dog handlers to glamourise and obtain a champion for additional credibility.
For example, many people will look for a prospective puppy to be "KC Registered" and from "Champion Show Lineage". Many of us assume that puppies who are KC Registered will have been bred to the highest standard and have no health issues when this is often not the case at all.
Dog parents often fail to do any further due diligence before bringing a puppy home, for example asking a breeder:
how a puppy is reared.
how a puppy has been introduced to various stimulus.
how well a puppy has been handled.
how healthy the puppy's living conditions are/were.
Ethical breeders may be in the trade because they have a passion to preserve the history and health of their chosen breed but we must ask ourselves whether it is wise to continue to breed more dogs when we are faced with so many more that have been abandoned and left on the streets and/or dog shelters.
How Dogs Are Handled and Cared For At Dog Shows Is Still Outdated And Dangerous
There is a widespread outdated approach to the handling, care and housing of dogs attending Crufts and many other dog shows. Dogs are often subjected to clear welfare breaches, particularly those described in the Five Freedoms, Animal Welfare Act 2006.
From rough handling, no outdoor access, no constant access to fresh water (as seen above), inadequate and prolonged housing, unattended dogs exposed to unsolicited interaction (there was one reported dog fatality at the 2015 event due to deliberate poisoning while the dog was housed unattended, image below), and/or the improper use of various tools. For example, it's expected that dogs are presented using show collars/slip leads that are often tightly placed on the neck, causing obvious pressure and discomfort on the dog. Furthermore, you can see many handlers holding a dog's head in an unnatural, high-set position while they are being pulled around the ring as well. Note: various studies already reveal that hypertension to the vagus nerve can result in various other systems of a dog's being in a state of dis-ease. In extreme cases, obstruction to this nerve will disrupt the dog's ability to control his blood flow and heart rate while reducing oxygen to the brain, leading to vasovagal syncope (faint). For an event that insists on safeguarding the health and wellbeing of animals, is this sort of handling and approach really appropriate and living up to such ethics?
"Aversive Dog Trainer Attends 2024 Crufts Show"
Crufts has little control in who actually attends exhibits at their event and subsequently whether they comply with their anti-aversive policy.
Since this is an event where dog parents expect to receive sound advice from professionals who are positive and updated in their education, it is worrying to see that instead they can expect an inconsistent and confusing mix of good and bad advice from various pet care "experts" instead. Furthermore, many exhibiting businesses invite "volunteers" to help man their stands, many who have their own pet-related businesses and/or products to advertise over and above the exhibitors, meaning there is a lot of exploitation and rule-breaking that also happens outwith the control of Crufts' officials. We saw the potential damage this rule break can cause this year (2024) when a certain aversive dog training influencer was invited to hand out books as a "friend" of a very popular pet enrichment brand.
This led to an uproar across social media with hundreds of positive-based trainers and behaviourists vocalising their concerns and complaining directly to Crufts. The trainer was subsequently banned as a result. To combat this, perhaps Crufts can insist all volunteers attending are declared upon booking stalls, with basic ID checks carried out on the days of the event prior to them being granted access? Who knows, perhaps they already do this (as I've said, I've never attended personally).
Champion dog dies after being poisoned at Crufts.
There have been several other scandals reported at Crufts over the years from dogs being sedated, poisoned, stolen and dying proving that the event is high-risk of various more severe welfare concerns that have yet to be addressed fully.
Unattended dogs is common and dogs are often left exposed to unsolicited petting from hundreds of strangers throughout the entire duration of the event.
Is it really acceptable to expect that dogs receive as much attention?
How might we be able to change the narrative and help make these events more dog-centred?
How can we make Crufts a more dog-centred event?
At the very least, an event that claims to be all for the welfare of dogs should be able to confidently and competently ensure that all dogs are cared for as per the Five Freedoms and Domains during the four-day event, I'm sorry but:
dogs shouldn't be unattended and exposed to potential harm like Jagger (above)
dogs shouldn't be firmly handled and/or forced to compete if unfit/unhealthy/unhappy
dogs shouldn't win titles when they don't display healthy qualities that are in place for a reason
dogs shouldn't be trapped indoors all day with only a sandpit for toileting
dogs shouldn't be subjected to hours and hours of unsolicited attention from complete strangers
dogs shouldn't be made to wear and be dragged around by tools that pose harmful to their physical and emotional wellbeing
dogs shouldn't be housed in small crates or holding stations with no access to constant fresh water
kennel club standards should consider overall health and wellbeing, and not just what looks good when encouraging the selective breeding of dog breeds (like the GSD photo example from earlier)
What should people consider before attending Crufts?
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To summarise my own investigation into this years event in particular, and by collecting information, images and video footage sent to me from a few trusted sources/attendees (who wish to remain anonymous), here are the things I believe we all might consider before attending any of their future events.
WHY do we want to attend - if you want to go to watch beautiful dogs parade around a show ring while judges continue to break their own strict rules, is this safeguarding and supporting the wellbeing of dogs? Do you really want to support an event whose organisers can't keep their promises? Would it not be worth waiting until they actually do, or finding an alternative event that does?Perhaps you want to make the most of the discounts at the various trade stands, which is fair enough but most exhibitors extend their discounts into their social networks as well these days...
HOW will we use our voice at the event to evoke change - understandably there are many positive-based advocates who choose to attend the event in person in an attempt to plant seeds and spread the word about a more updated and modernised approach to dog care. If you do decide to go, do you have the guts to speak out on behalf of the dogs there? Are you strong enough to politely confront any breach of welfare you witness at the event? It's also worthwhile to think about the fact that being there is fundamentally funding the event as it currently is today, so are you comfortable with feeding into the hype of it all for the greater good? As I said, I've chosen not to attend an event personally because I know I would really struggle seeing so many dogs needlessly suffering.
WHAT alternative ways can we plant seeds - perhaps there is another way to make a positive difference that doesn't involve attending Crufts! While not attending might result in the event being over-run by outdated professionals, is there a way we might combat this risk even then? What about organising a similar event but organising it so that Animal Welfare is at the forefront of all decisions and logistics What about organising a peaceful protest outside the NEC venue and grabbing the attention of Crufts attendees before they enter the building? What about kickstarting a petition that forces Crufts to do the right thing and reassess their events processes once and for all so that we can all attend and enjoy it going forward.
While I can appreciate that it may not be realistically possible for Crufts organisers to guarantee all attendees are fully compliant to the rules, surely there could be some form of risk-assessment policy in place to successfully address it. Perhaps thinking about designated (and positive-based) animal welfare officers assigned with the task to actively patrol and monitor the various halls to keep everyone on track (I would certainly be up for taking on that role!).
Crufts - it's time for change!
If Crufts should ever aspire to win over the hearts of the positive-based community, they would take heed of the feedback they receive from the individuals who are reputable and up-to-date in their conduct and approach to pet care.
It's all incredibly frustrating that after 133 years of Crufts we can see very little progress regarding their Animal Welfare policies and procedures.
Instead, they choose to ignore the advice and pleas from positive and experienced pet professionals, some who even attend themselves to try and make the event better in their stead!
I see an event that continues to use their influential platform to glamourise and encourage a more damaging side of living with and loving dogs - a side where human desire and unrealistic expectation takes precedence over and above a dog's individual needs and wants.
Ultimately, we are a nation of dog lovers.
Many attend Crufts believe that it represents everything that they profess to be - ethical, dog-centric and positive-based.
It is because of a widespread lack of an updated education across the pet care industry that many dog lovers don't seem to realise how unethical, anti-dog and profit-driven the event is.
My problem is with the unwillingness of Crufts as an organisation and entity to address the various discrepancies with its event that has been brought to their attention for several years.
To read another interesting and brutally honest opinion piece about Crufts written by a fellow positive-based pet pro, Freya Locke who actually did attend this year's event, check it out here.
You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow, by evading it today - Abraham Lincoln.
Disclaimer: I hope that if you are a dog parent or positive-based dog professional reading this piece you understand that I do sincerely believe that we all have the very best interests at heart, and that I do not intend to shame the community of dog lovers who do support a positive and ethical approach to dog care, nor take away from the many years and pounds you may have spent spoiling and loving your dogs. This is an opinion piece focused purely on the business side of Crufts and all it represents.
Bibliography
(Accessed May 2024)
I have also attached various external links throughout this article that is highlighted and underlined in pink - these will take you to the sources of my information for further clarity on the various topics covered within this post.
If you have any concerns or you believe that some of the information within this piece is inaccurate or misrepresented, please contact me via: woof@stephaniezikmann.coach with your thoughts and I will address this as soon as possible.
@theholisticdoggroomer