|
The following is a slightly revised version of an article that appeared in Dog World last week. It is posted here with the permission of the Dog World editor.
I was saddened by the news that the Native Dog Breeds Trust has folded. I suspect that this will be scant comfort to those involved in the trust. I wasn’t a member and never attended a meeting. My practical support amounted to nothing more than handing out some of their promotional material at a couple of shows. I felt that the trust was doing important work but I didn’t put myself out to help them.
Whenever any group collapses the recriminations start flying about. I don’t want to discuss the personalities involved with the NDBT except to say that as far as I’m concerned anyone prepared to give their time to promote our vulnerable native breeds deserves sincere thanks.
The real problem the NDBT faced was that key people within the breeds simply did not share their vision for the future. Some breed clubs have never accepted that they have a problem and remain convinced that their breeds can keep going indefinitely with tiny populations.
Other clubs might genuinely want to increase the popularity of their breed but they still send out mixed messages to any potential newcomers. Individual breeders often see themselves as guardians whose job is to protect their breed rather than promote it. This view could never sit happily with the NDBT’s aims of marketing our vulnerable native breeds to the public at large.
Of course there were many people within the breeds who enthusiastically supported the aims of the trust. The shame was that they always had to struggle against ambivalence and apathy.
I believe there has to be a balance. We are all inclined to think that our breed is special and needs special owners. It is natural to want only the best people in our breed. We must accept, however, that when numbers become critical we have a clear duty to encourage new people to come in.
I don’t deny that owning any “heritage” breed, the new term suggested for vulnerable native breed, and is a challenge. We should, however, try to keep the difficulties in perspective. There are feisty terriers among these breeds but are they really more of a handful than a popular terrier like the Staffy? There are self -willed Spaniels among these breeds but are they really so much more obstinate than the popular gundogs of any of the popular hounds?
If there was sometimes less than wholehearted support for widening the ownership of heritage breeds then there was often definite resistance for increasing the number of breeders.
There are many valid reasons for endorsements but when we are talking about breeds that register fewer than 300, sometimes fewer than 50, puppies per year we need to think very carefully before taking any healthy individual out of the breeding pool.
Breeding need not be all about producing Champions. There has to be a place for the occasional home breeder producing healthy dogs for good pet homes. To some this is devaluing the breed, lowering the standard and taking potential customers away from the top breeders. I accept that there are valid concerns and would never argue for welfare standards to be compromised. I just can’t help believing that, given the precarious state of these breeds, we should be encouraging potential breeders rather than putting a full stop to their breeding aspirations.
This can be viewed as a fight between those who look at quality in the show ring as defining the strength of their breed and those who think quantity is an important factor too. I make no excuse for saying that numbers are important. It goes well beyond the obvious necessity to keep a viable breeding population. No breed can be preserved purely as a show dog. It would be like turning the breed into a museum exhibit. All breeds need as wide a range of owners as possible. It is important to have good show homes but good working homes, good agility homes and good old fashioned family pet homes are vital too.
The breed clubs for new foreign breeds understand that they are in a battle for market share. They see their job as promoting their breed, winning over owners and developing potential breeders. The NDBT was fighting back on behalf of our native breeds. Who will take up that challenge now?
A new initiative, British Heritage Dog Breeds has stepped into the void. Its excellent website aims to be a forum for all those interested in native breeds. The focus is on inclusion with all views welcome. It’s a noble attempt to build a consensus rather than a club or society pushing its own agenda.
I’m an unashamed agenda pusher. I believe that only the KC can give our heritage breeds the boost they need. How about practical measures like reduced registration fees or a Heritage Breed class at Crufts? Not just a parade, a final day class held in the main ring featuring the BOBs of all heritage breeds. The Kennel Club’s commitment to securing the future for our heritage breeds would be an ironic but fitting legacy for the Native Dog Breeds Trust.
Kevin Colwill
|
