March 8, 201016 yr Culled from today's Daily Telegraph C:\Documents and Settings\Webmaster\Desktop\Crufts on alert for dogs in make-up - Telegraph.mht Crufts on alert for dogs in make-up Organisers of Crufts have warned dog owners not to break competition rules amid concerns some are resorting to using make-up and beauty treatments such as coat dye and hair removal creams on their animals. By Alastair Jamieson Published: 9:00PM GMT 06 Mar 2010 The Kennel Club has warned that it will be introducing extra checks at this week's event in addition to its usual random tests. It has also written to some breed clubs for dogs where there is particular concern about the use of beauty products. Although competition rules do not specifically ban the use of cosmetics and other beauty treatments on dogs, they do forbid anything that alters an animal's appearance during dog shows, to gain extra marks from judges, who award prizes for entries that best match the "ideal" characteristics of each breed. The Kennel Club said it was aware some owners were exploiting this grey area to circumvent the rules and said it would not hesitate to disqualify anyone caught cheating. The warning comes days before Britain's biggest dog show gets under way at the NEC in Birmingham, and is the latest controversy to hit the event, after rows about the health dangers of pedigree breeding. The use of cosmetics is becoming increasingly common among non-competition dogs. One British company, HUB International, based near Reading, now offers nose paint, black and white dyes to change the colour of the dog's coat, as well as hairspray and make-up. The firm warns customers that these products should not be used in competitions. A recent article in the magazine Dog World even gave advice about using the acne cream Clearasil, to treat spots on animals. Lipstick and eyeliner is also used on some dogs. Some owners are even using female depilatory cream to neaten the appearance of hairless breeds such as the Chinese Crested dogs. The growing use of such treatments has led to the new crackdown on all breeds by the Kennel Club. It has written to the two clubs responsible for Chinese Crested dogs in Britain to stress their opposition to the use of hair removal products. Both organisations insisted their members would not be breaking the rules. Caroline Kisko, a spokeswoman for the Kennel Club, said: "Anything that gives a dog an unfair advantage in its appearance is not allowed. We certainly would not allow the use of hair removal creams. "We do carry out spot checks, including hair samples, but while it is easy to find colour dye it can be very hard to prove that removal cream has been used on a hairless dog. "However, we will be particularly vigilant this year and we have written to the Chinese Crested clubs to remind their members about the rules." Cathy Urquhart, co-owner of the HUB Internation, denied that their cosmetics were being used in competitions. However, Beverley Cuddy, editor of Dogs Today magazine, said: "Ordinary pet owners simply do not put make-up on their pets or chemicals on their dog's nose. "This sort of trade is becoming more commercial and the demand must surely be coming from people entering shows. "Dog shows shouldn't be about winning at all costs. The whole world of dog shows needs a deep clean and until now the Kennel Club has just been looking the other way." Stuart Payne, secretary of the Chinese Crested Club of Great Britain, said: "I do not believe that any exhibitor of the breed would do anything to cause any discomfort to their pets. "Anyone coming to see the breed at a dog show can see they are healthy, happy and in excellent condition. "It is very easy to abide by the rules, as there is absolutely no need to break them in order to prepare a dog for the show ring." The cosmetics controversy is the latest to overshadow Crufts. Last year, the BBC decided not to cover the event in the wake of a 2008 television documentary that exposed breeding techniques it was claimed led to genetic illnesses affecting pedigree dogs. The RSPCA also pulled out of the show. Last year, The Sunday Telegraph also revealed some 'size zero' dogs were being starved in order to meet strict weight limits at shows. Animal campaign group PETA, which believes pedigree inbreeding is "morally unjustifiable", will target this year's Crufts with a poster featuring a white Maltese with a black comb on his upper lip to look like Adolf Hitler. The caption reads: "Master Race? Wrong for People. Wrong for Dogs. Boycott Breeders". In response to welfare concerns, the Kennel Club has promised a 'doggy dating' website to help breeders find a healthier match between pedigrees using the organisation's unrivalled database of genetics. It hopes the Mate Select site, which seeks to reduce instances of pedigrees mating with close relatives, will be running by the end of the year. However critics have said the project is unlikely to work because it is not compulsory With the amount of money to be made in the breeding business, I am surprised that this has not come to light many years ago. A friend of mine breeds some sort of small dog, don't ask me what, and gets several thousand pounds for some of his pups. So, although it is just a hobby, (he also worrks in Oil & Gas overseas), he is well set for retirement.
March 8, 201016 yr Humph, I'm skeptical of your citation. I checked your source link (C:\Documents and Settings\Webmaster\Desktop\Crufts on alert for dogs in make-up - Telegraph.mht) and the file doesn't exist! (Yes, okay - hat and coat time... again!) .
March 8, 201016 yr Author Humph, I'm skeptical of your citation. I checked your source link (C:\Documents and Settings\Webmaster\Desktop\Crufts on alert for dogs in make-up - Telegraph.mht) and the file doesn't exist!(Yes, okay - hat and coat time... again!) . I realise you spoke in jest young sir, but for those doubting thomasii that might mis-understand your weird sense of humour, here is the original thread - not the one on my computer. http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/peterwed...t-dope-testing/
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