Swedish Kennel Club Lists 54 Breeds in Trouble

Dirt dogs in Sweden have long blond hair!

The Swedish Kennel Club has issued breed-specific instructions to all judges in an effort to get them to weed out and penalize dogs with exaggerations resulting in predictable health problems.

Read their 31-page judge's guide here (PDF).

What is the Swedish Kennel Club's common-sense standard for health?

• Breathing: All dogs should be able to breathe normally,also when moving.
  
• Eyes: All dogs should have clear eyes without any sign of discomfort.
  
• Skin: All dogs should have healthy skin without any sign of discomfort.
  
• Coat: The coat should not be so extensive as to impede movement.
  
• Movement: All dogs should be able to move naturally without visible effort or pain.
  
• Temperament: All dogs should have good temperament suitable for life in present society. Breed specific behaviour must be noted and allowed, but excessive shyness or sharpness of temperament is not desirable. Aggressive dogs and dogs showing signs
  of panic and/or fear should always be awarded 0 prize.
  
  

BREEDS REQUIRING URGENT ATTENTION (7):

• Bulldog


• Neapolitan Mastiff


• Shar-pei


• Chow-chow


• Basset Hound


• French Bulldog


• Pekingese

BREEDS REQUIRING INCREASED ATTENTION (12):

• Dogue de Bordeaux


• Mastiff


• St Bernard


• Bull Terrier/Miniature Bull Terrier


• Yorkshire Terrier


• Bloodhound


• Clumber Spaniel


• Boston Terrier


• Chihuahua (long-haired and smooth-haired)


• Japanese Chinn


• King Charles Spaniel


• Pug
  

BREEDS REQUIRING ATTENTION (28):

• Collie (rough-haired and smooth-haired)


• German Shepherd Dog (GSD)


• Shetland Sheepdog


• Cardigan Welsh Corgi


• Pembroke Welsh Corgi


• Boxer


• Bull Mastiff


• Break Dane (I think this is the Great Dane?)


• Norwich Terrier


• Skye Terrier


• Staffordshire Bull Terrier


• West Highland White Terrier


• Pomeranian (German Toy Spitz)


• Artesian-norman Basset (similar to old-fashioned basset)


• Bracco Italiano


• Spinone Italiano


• American Cocker Spaniel


• English Cocker Spaniel


• English Springer Spaniel


• Labrador Retriever


• Sussex Spaniel


• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel


• Chinese Crested dog


• Griffons (Brussels, Belgian and Small Brabant)


• Shih-tzu


• Standard Poodle


• Borzoi


• Irish Wolfhound

Astute readers will note that this list of 54 breeds is only warning about visible problems.

Left off are all those breeds which are cancer bombs on four legs, breeds whose members have a greater than 50% chance of having heart problems, breeds plagued by epilepsy, breeds suffering jaw-dropping levels of liver disease, and breeds that routinely have Addisons, catatacts, hip dysplasia, and back problems.


Vikings and their dogs, rock art, 1400 B.C.
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