Backs to the future

Spectators were shocked by the German shepherd with a pronounced sloping back that was best of breed at Crufts, but the Kennel Club is taking action

OVER THE YEARS I have got the impression that the Kennel Club is as effective as a toothless tiger. True, it may growl and threaten, but rarely does it bite. You may recall that at Crufts this year a German shepherd bitch, Cruaghaire Catoria, won best in breed, despite being in such poor shape physically that she could hardly stand or run. Questions were asked as to whether that dog should ever have been at Crufts, let alone the winner of its class. Surprisingly, the Kennel Club’s vet had passed the dog as having a clean bill of health, despite her sloping back and apparently weak hocks.

Stung by the criticism in the national press, the Club’s secretary Caroline Kisko responded at the time by saying: “It’s very disheartening to see one breed looking so very peculiarly out-of-step with the others. We need to sort out certain judges who are disregarding what we are asking them to do. The ultimate sanction would be to remove the breed from the competition. That would be an extreme step but it’s certainly something the Kennel Club will consider if necessary.”