This Thesis Has Been Submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirements for a Postgraduate Degree (E.G

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

This Thesis Has Been Submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirements for a Postgraduate Degree (E.G This thesis has been submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for a postgraduate degree (e.g. PhD, MPhil, DClinPsychol) at the University of Edinburgh. Please note the following terms and conditions of use: This work is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights, which are retained by the thesis author, unless otherwise stated. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the author. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author. When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given. ‘For the Good of the Breed’ Care, Ethics, and Responsibility in Pedigree Dog Breeding Chrissie Wanner PhD in Social Anthropology University of Edinburgh 2017 1 Declaration I declare that this thesis has been composed solely by myself and that it has not been submitted, in whole or in part, in any previous application for a degree. Except where states otherwise by reference or acknowledgment, the work presented is entirely my own. Signed: Date: 2 3 Abstract This thesis examines how the ethics of caring for pedigree dogs differ in the contexts of dog showing and veterinary practice. By highlighting conflicts around the shared use of ‘ordinary language’, I show how tensions between show‐world and veterinary perspectives relate to divergent understandings of ‘health’. Canine bodies speak to vets and breeders in conceptually different ways, so much so that breed‐specific features can be considered ‘perfect’ in the show‐ring yet ‘pathological’ in the veterinary clinic. Developing the emergent anthropological perspective that care is both a moral and an embodied practice, I argue that the qualities of moral virtue and aesthetic virtu are inextricably linked in the care practices by which breeders aim to produce and sustain canine bodies in their idealised forms. Also fundamental to show‐world notions of care is the understanding that care for dog and care for breed are one and the same. In sharp contrast, veterinary practice attends to dogs as individuals rather than members of breeds. Here, I examine how breeders and vets respond to the multiple and conflicting demands of caring for pedigree dogs in the course of encounters often fraught with unresolved tension. Asking how seemingly irreconcilable notions of what counts as good health play out in these negotiations, I argue that care can depend on the ability to transcend – or at least overlook – different ethical orientations. In practice, I argue that negotiations between breeders and vets are often non‐verbal and based on a mutual understanding that the ability to work together in performing care relies not only on clear communication but, at times, on a knowing silence. Under ever‐increasing pressure to engage with veterinary notions of health, many show‐breeders now deem ignorance of veterinary knowledge – and silence in the face of disease – ethically virtuous. I therefore conclude that deliberate silence and selective ignorance enable breeders and vets to temporarily reconcile their different understandings of what is good, thus allowing both parties to meet their respective responsibilities of care. 4 Lay Summary This thesis examines how the ethics of caring for pedigree dogs differ in the contexts of dog‐showing and veterinary practice. It focuses on how differently breeders and vets understand their responsibilities of care. In 2012, following a series of public scandals over pedigree‐dog health, veterinary surgeons were for the first time invited into the show‐ring to give their professional opinions on the wellbeing of some of the world’s most successful show‐dogs. My research follows events before, during, and after these veterinary health checks were introduced, examining what counts as health and disease in the show ring and in the veterinary clinic. Central to my thesis is the claim that, although breeders and vets both use the terms ‘health’, ‘fitness’, and ‘dog’, these terms often mean very different things in the context of their respective practices. Yet my argument goes beyond the claim that breeders and vets are simply at odds over divergent use of shared language. In both cases, practice‐specific concepts of health and fitness come with particular understandings of what counts as disease, why disease occurs in pedigree dogs and – crucially – who is at fault. Yet while veterinary concepts of responsibility and care clash with breeders’ views, vets and breeders are nonetheless mutually reliant and must find ways to work together in daily practice. Hence, I argue that in both the clinic and the show‐ring, silence and the willingness to make ethical compromises are key to providing ‘good’ care for pedigree dogs. Key Terms: Ethics, Care, Responsibility, Pedigree Dogs, Dog Showing, Breeding, Nature, Veterinary Medicine, Human‐Animal Relations, Health. 5 Table of Contents Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 10 A History of Tensions ............................................................................................................... 20 The Show‐World ........................................................................................................................ 27 Pedigree Dogs: Responsibility, ethics, and care ........................................................... 33 The Ethics of Care across Species Lines ........................................................................... 43 Methodology ................................................................................................................................ 45 Field Site ................................................................................................................ 51 Ethics ..................................................................................................................... 52 Terminology .......................................................................................................... 54 Chapter Summaries .................................................................................................................. 56 Chapter One ‐ Setting the Standard: What is a Good Dog? ........................................... 62 The Importance of the Pedigree .......................................................................................... 67 Standard‐Fitting Show Dogs ................................................................................................. 74 Breed Histories ........................................................................................................................... 81 The Image of a Breed ................................................................................................................ 91 Fit for Function ........................................................................................................................... 92 Dogs, or members of breeds? .............................................................................. 94 The ‘Problem’ of Unregistered Dogs .................................................................................. 97 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 100 Chapter Two – Good Breeders: Maintaining the Standard ........................................ 104 6 Good Breeders – The Virtue of Sacrifice ....................................................................... 113 The Virtue of Skilled Practice ............................................................................. 116 Judging – Maintaining the Standard ................................................................................ 120 Cultivating a Judge’s Vision ................................................................................ 122 Cultivating Distance ............................................................................................................... 126 Relations in the Show‐Ring ................................................................................. 129 Relations in the Kennel ....................................................................................... 132 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 135 Appendix ............................................................................................................. 139 Chapter Three – The Art of Breeding .................................................................................. 142 Rules and Regulations ........................................................................................................... 148 The Art of Skilled Breeding ................................................................................................. 152 The Limits of Inbreeding ..................................................................................................... 161 Culling as a Practice of Care ................................................................................................ 165 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • Fox Domestication and Pet Ownership
    FAUX FOXES: FOX DOMESTICATION AND PET OWNERSHIP HONORS THESIS Presented to the Honors Committee of Texas State University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Graduation in the Honors College by Noelle Marie Brooks San Marcos, Texas May 2015 FAUX FOXES: FOX DOMESTICATION AND PET OWNERSHIP Thesis Supervisor: ________________________________ Harvey Ginsburg, Ph.D. Department of Psychology Second Reader: __________________________________ Bob Fischer, Ph.D. Department of Philosophy Approved: ____________________________________ Heather C. Galloway, Ph.D. Dean, Honors College COPYRIGHT by Noelle M. Brooks 2015 FAIR USE AND AUTHOR’S PERMISSION STATEMENT Fair Use This work is protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States (Public Law 94-553, section 107). Consistent with fair use as defined in the Copyright Laws, brief questions from this material are allowed with prior acknowledgement. Use of this material for financial gain without the author’s express written permission is not allowed. Duplication Permission As the copyright holder of this work I, Noelle Marie Brooks, authorize duplication of this work, in whole or in part, for educational or scholarly purposes only. DEDICATION This study is dedicated to the memory of the companion foxes that have lost their lives due to the fear, misunderstanding, negligence, and restrictions of humans and the owners whom loved and cared for them. To Anya, Vader, Valo, and Miko, and their owners Kay, Tara and Eric, Chloe, and Anda, may this honor the bonds you shared and the lives you created together. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Dr. Harvey Ginsburg, this project would not exist without your guidance. I thank you for agreeing to mentor me as my Thesis Supervisor and for allowing me your time and thoughts.
    [Show full text]
  • Dog Breeds of the World
    Dog Breeds of the World Get your own copy of this book Visit: www.plexidors.com Call: 800-283-8045 Written by: Maria Sadowski PlexiDor Performance Pet Doors 4523 30th St West #E502 Bradenton, FL 34207 http://www.plexidors.com Dog Breeds of the World is written by Maria Sadowski Copyright @2015 by PlexiDor Performance Pet Doors Published in the United States of America August 2015 All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording, or by any information retrieval and storage system without permission from PlexiDor Performance Pet Doors. Stock images from canstockphoto.com, istockphoto.com, and dreamstime.com Dog Breeds of the World It isn’t possible to put an exact number on the Does breed matter? dog breeds of the world, because many varieties can be recognized by one breed registration The breed matters to a certain extent. Many group but not by another. The World Canine people believe that dog breeds mostly have an Organization is the largest internationally impact on the outside of the dog, but through the accepted registry of dog breeds, and they have ages breeds have been created based on wanted more than 340 breeds. behaviors such as hunting and herding. Dog breeds aren’t scientifical classifications; they’re It is important to pick a dog that fits the family’s groupings based on similar characteristics of lifestyle. If you want a dog with a special look but appearance and behavior. Some breeds have the breed characterics seem difficult to handle you existed for thousands of years, and others are fairly might want to look for a mixed breed dog.
    [Show full text]
  • Broadcast Bulletin Issue Number
    O fcom Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 148 21 December 2009 1 Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin, Issue 148 21 December 2009 Contents Introduction 4 Standards cases In Breach Appeal for Manchester Muslim Centre and Mosque NTV, 27 August 2009, 19:20 5 Appeal for Somers Town Islamic Cultural & Education Centre Bangla TV, 27 August 2009, 17:15 7 Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix Competition ITV1, 2 November 2008, 16:00 9 News Today Radio Faza, 25 September 2009, 09:15 11 People from Space The Unexplained, 30 October 2009, 15:00 13 Flashing images in programme content DM Digital, 22 September 2009, 12:06 and 12:17 15 Advertising minutage cases In Breach Advertising minutage Q, 30 October 2009, 22:00 17 Note to Broadcasters Guidance on Rule 9.13 19 Fairness & Privacy cases Partly Upheld Complaint by the Kennel Club made on its behalf by Schillings Pedigree Dogs Exposed, BBC1, 19 August 2008 20 Complaint by the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of Great Britain made on its behalf by Mrs Kirsteen Maidment Pedigree Dogs Exposed, BBC1, 19 August 2008 58 2 Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin, Issue 148 21 December 2009 Complaint by Mrs Virginia Barwell Pedigree Dogs Exposed, BBC1, 19 August 2008 75 Complaint by Mr Andrew Flynn Mischief – Your Identity For Sale, BBC3, 11 September 2008 85 Complaint by Miss Autumn Bryan Mischief – Your Identity For Sale, BBC3, 11 September 2008 93 Not Upheld Complaint by the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club made on its behalf by Mrs Lesley Jupp Pedigree Dogs Exposed, BBC1, 19 August 2008 101 Complaint by Mr Michael Randall Pedigree Dogs Exposed, BBC1, 19 August 2008 131 Complaint by Ms Penny Mellor Panorama: A Very Dangerous Doctor, BBC1, 1 June 2009 138 Complaint by Miss Sandeep Bhardwaj London Tonight, ITV1, 3 June 2009 156 Other programmes not in breach 160 3 Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin, Issue 148 21 December 2009 Introduction The Broadcast Bulletin reports on the outcome of investigations into alleged breaches of those Ofcom codes which broadcasting licensees are required to comply.
    [Show full text]
  • Inbreeding Purge of Canine Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
    Preprints (www.preprints.org) | NOT PEER-REVIEWED | Posted: 2 August 2020 doi:10.20944/preprints202008.0027.v1 Article Effects of Long Term Selection in the Border Collie Dog Breed: Inbreeding Purge of Canine Hip and Elbow Dysplasia Virág Ács1, György Kövér2, János Farkas2, Árpád Bokor3, István Nagy4 1Department of Animal Nutrition, Kaposvár University, Kaposvár, H-7400, 40, Guba S. str., Hungary; 2Department of Mathematics and Informatics, Kaposvár University, Kaposvár, H-7400, 40, Guba S. str., Hungary; 3Department of Hippology, Kaposvár University, Kaposvár, H-7400, 40, Guba S. str., Hungary; 4Department of Animal Science, Kaposvár University, Kaposvár, H-7400, 40, Guba S. str., Hungary; *Corresponding author: [email protected] Simple Summary: For dog breeders, health is one of the main criteria when choosing a breeding animal, thus selection for good anatomy is the key to reduce orthopedic disorders. In many dog breeds, radiographic screening for canine hip and elbow dysplasia is a compulsory test for breeding, however, these multifactorial traits are determined by genetic and environmental factors. Therefore, it is really hard to eliminate these disorders from the population. In natural selection, such traits can “purge” out of the with inbreeding. The study aimed to examine the inbreeding-purge of canine hip and elbow dysplasia in the border collie breed. The main conclusion was, that with over-representation of homozygous individuals may have a positive effect on hip and elbow conformation. Abstract: Pedigree data of 13 339 border collie dog was collected along with hip and elbow dysplasia records (1352 CHD and 524 CED), and an inbreeding-purging (IP) model was created to detect possible purging.
    [Show full text]
  • The Price of a Pedigree
    The Price of a Pedigree DOG BREED STANDARDS AND BREED-RELATED ILLNESS The Price of a Pedigree: Dog breed standards and breed-related illness A report by Advocates for Animals 2006 Contents 1. Introduction: the welfare implications of pedigree dog breed standards 2. Current and future breeding trends 3. The prevalence of breed-related disease and abnormality 4. Breeds affected by hereditary hip and elbow dysplasia 4.1 The British Veterinary Association/Kennel Club hip and elbow dysplasia schemes 4.2 International studies of the prevalence of hip and elbow dysplasia 5. Breeds affected by inherited eye diseases 5.1 The British Veterinary Association/Kennel Club/ISDS Eye scheme 5.2 Further breed-related eye problems 6. Breeds affected by heart and respiratory disease 6.1 Brachycephalic Upper Airway Syndrome 6.2 Increased risk of heart conditions 7. Breed-related skin diseases 8. Inherited skeletal problems of small and long-backed breeds 8.1 Luxating patella 8.2 Intervertebral disc disease in chondrodystrophoid breeds 9. Bone tumours in large and giant dog breeds 10. Hereditary deafness 11. The Council of Europe and breed standards 11.1 Views of companion animal organisations on dog breeding 12. Conclusions and recommendations Appendix. Scientific assessments of the prevalence of breed-related disorders in pedigree dogs. Tables 1 – 9 and Glossaries of diseases References 1. Introduction: The welfare implications of pedigree dog breed standards ‘BREEDERS AND SCIENTISTS HAVE LONG BEEN AWARE THAT ALL IS NOT WELL IN THE WORLD OF COMPANION ANIMAL BREEDING.’ Animal Welfare, vol 8, 1999 1 There were an estimated 6.5 million dogs in the UK in 2003 and one in five of all households includes a dog.2 Only a minority (around a quarter) of these dogs are mongrels or mixed breed dogs.
    [Show full text]
  • Hip Dysplasia Scheme Breed Specific Statistics 2019
    Hip Dysplasia Scheme Breed Specific Statistics 2019 The below table outlines the median hip score for each breed screened under the CHS Hip Dysplasia Scheme. The breed median score is the ‘middle’ score for all dogs’ in that breed (i.e. an equal number of dogs in that breed have scored higher or lower than the median score). Hip scores should be considered along with other criteria as part of responsible breeding programme. It is recommended that breeders choose breeding stock with hips scores around, and ideally below, the 5-year breed median score. By representing dogs scored in the last 15 years, a more accurate reflection of each breed’s current state of health and improvement is given. The 5-year median here refers to dogs scored between 1st January 2015 and 31st December 2019. Hip dysplasia status of the parents, siblings and progeny for Kennel Club registered dogs should also be considered, and these together with a three generation Health Test Pedigree may be downloaded via the Health Test Results Finder, available on the Kennel Club's online health tool Mate Select. In addition, estimated breeding values (EBVs) are available for breeds in which a significant number of breeds have been scored, via the same link. Tested 15 15 years 5 years Breed Tested 2019 years Mean Min Max Median Mean Median Affenpinscher 40 0 17.9 8.0 90.0 13.0 23.8 23.0 Afghan Hound 85 33 12.3 4.0 73.0 10.0 12.6 10.0 Airedale Terrier 910 58 13.9 4.0 77.0 11.0 13.8 11.0 Akita 883 27 7.7 0.0 58.0 6.0 8.0 7.0 Alaskan Malamute 1242 25 11.7 0.0 78.0 10.0 10.1 9.0
    [Show full text]
  • AIS-Pennhip-Manual.Pdf
    Training Manual Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction and Overview ............................................................................................... 5 Brief History of PennHIP ........................................................................................................................................5 Current Status of CHD ...........................................................................................................................................5 Requirements for Improved Hip Screening ............................................................................................................6 PennHIP Strategies ................................................................................................................................................7 The AIS PennHIP Procedure .................................................................................................................................8 AIS PennHIP Certification ......................................................................................................................................8 Purchasing a Distractor ..........................................................................................................................................9 Antech Imaging Services........................................................................................................................................9 Summary ............................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Registration Regulations Empowerment
    New Zealand Kennel Club (Inc) (Affiliated with The Kennel Club, England) (Associated with the Federation Cynologique Internationale) REGISTRATION REGULATIONS (Reprinted with Additions and Amendments, to 1 April 2021) Headquarters Prosser Street, Porirua. New Zealand Kennel Club Private Bag 50903 Porirua 5240 Copyright - New Zealand Kennel Club (Inc.) Page | 1 CONTENTS Principles of the Registration System Section I - Registration Regulations Empowerment ........................................................................................................................ 4 Definitions .............................................................................................................................. 4 Charges, Fees, Forms and Signatures. ................................................................................. 4 The Executive Council, Registry and the Administration ........................................................ 5 The Register .......................................................................................................................... 5 Executive Council Powers ...................................................................................................... 6 Registry Details ...................................................................................................................... 6 Litter Notification .................................................................................................................... 6 Registration of Dogs. ............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Maintaining Momentum Through a “Systems Thinking” Approach
    Canine health and welfare: Maintaining momentum through a “systems thinking” approach. Philippa Robinson October 2012 Abstract: Dog breeding, acquiring and owning has become contested ground in terms of ethics, health and welfare. The Advisory Council on the Welfare Issues of Dog Breeding is working on a programme of projects aimed at reforming many welfare problems. This article reviews some of the assumptions on which the Council is formed and suggests a fruitful way forward for debate and exchange might be found in the managerial discipline of systems thinking. Philippa Robinson has owned a purebred German wirehaired pointer which she campaigned in the show ring for a short while and now lives with a GWP/Weimaraner cross. Having lost the purebred to familial idiopathic epilepsy in 2006, she began finding out more about inherited diseases and what to do about them. Her philosophical position on dogs is that of humanitarian anthropocentric welfarism. Her approach to these debates is from a pluralist perspective. In 2011 she set-up The Karlton Index which attempts to look at the progress being made in breed health on a systematic basis. She is completing her Masters in Human Resource Management at Sheffield Business School which prompted her interest in systems thinking and learning. I am very grateful to several canine experts who have made comments on my first draft which I have now incorporated in this final version. © P Robinson The Karlton Index ltd 2012 1 Canine health and welfare: Maintaining momentum through a “systems thinking” approach. “We begin by eschewing the role of specialists who deal only in parts.
    [Show full text]
  • A Retrospective Study on Findings of Canine Hip Dysplasia Screening in Kenya
    Veterinary World, EISSN: 2231-0916 RESEARCH ARTICLE Available at www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.8/November-2015/10.pdf Open Access A retrospective study on findings of canine hip dysplasia screening in Kenya Peter Kimeli1, Susan W. Mbugua1, Roger M. Cap2, Gilbert Kirui1, Tequiero O. Abuom1, Willy E. Mwangi1, Ambrose N. Kipyegon1 and John D. Mande1 1. Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Kangemi, Kenya; 2. Sercombe Veterinary Surgeons, P.O Box 24878-00502, Nairobi, Kenya. Corresponding author: Peter Kimeli, e-mail: [email protected], SWM: [email protected], RMC: [email protected], GK: [email protected], TOA: [email protected], WEM: [email protected], ANK: [email protected], JDM: [email protected] Received: 15-06-2015, Revised: 27-09-2015, Accepted: 14-10-2015, Published online: 22-11-2015 doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2015.1326-1330 How to cite this article: Kimeli P, Mbugua SW, Cap RM, Kirui G, Abuom TO, Mwangi WE, Kipyegon AN, Mande JD (2015) A retrospective study on findings of canine hip dysplasia screening in Kenya, Veterinary World 8(11): 1326-1330. Abstract Aim: The current study was undertaken to evaluate the findings of canine hip dysplasia screening in Kenya. Materials and Methods: Records for 591 dogs were included in this study. The data was obtained from the national screening office, Kenya Veterinary Board, for the period between the years 1998 and 2014. Monthly screening records were assessed and information relating to year of evaluation, breed, sex, age, and hip score captured. Descriptive statistics of hip scores was computed based on year, sex, age, and breed.
    [Show full text]
  • The American Kennel Club : No Longer “T He Dog ’S Champion ?”
    THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB : NO LONGER “T HE DOG ’S CHAMPION ?” AKC SHOULD STAND UP FOR DOGS , NOT PUPPY MILLS The AKC has historically billed itself as “The Dog’s Champion,” the gold standard registry for purebred puppies. The AKC's mission includes advocating for advances in “canine health and well- being” and working “to promote responsible dog ownership.”* 1 Yet with all its emphasis on proper dog and puppy care, in recent years the AKC has opposed the majority of initiatives designed to prevent cruelty at large-scale breeding facilities known as puppy mills. In contrast to its vague public statements condemning substandard kennels, over the past 5 years the AKC has opposed more than 80 different bills and ordinances designed to require large-scale puppy producers to adhere to stronger care standards or oversight, and has even supported bills that would weaken current puppy mill regulations. While the majority of breeders who register dogs with the AKC uphold high standards and are in compliance with the law, the AKC seems to spend an inordinate amount of time and resources covering up for the bad apples among them – resources that could be better spent focusing on promoting healthy well-raised dogs and high- quality breeders. In 2012, The AKC’s Government Relations Department rallied its supporters to oppose bills like the following: • Bills in West Virginia, Iowa, Ohio and several other states that would have required puppy producers to comply with basic care This breeding operation was closed by North Carolina authorities in May standards, such as regular feeding, cleaning, 2012.
    [Show full text]
  • Heritability and Epidemiology of Canine Hip-Dysplasia Score and Its Components in Labrador Retrievers in the United Kingdom J.L.N
    Preventive Veterinary Medicine 55 (2002) 95±108 Heritability and epidemiology of canine hip-dysplasia score and its components in Labrador retrievers in the United Kingdom J.L.N. Wood*, K.H. Lakhani, K. Rogers Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Newmarket, Kentford CB8 7UU, Suffolk, UK Received 26 June 2001; accepted 26 June 2002 Abstract Hip-dysplasia (malformation of the coxofemoral joint) in dogs is a major health problem. Under the British Veterinary Association/Kennel Club's voluntary hip-dysplasia scheme, dog-owners/ breeders submit radiographs from animals >1-year-old, to ensure adequate skeletal maturity. An overall hip score quanti®es the degree of malformation in the hip joints of these animals, by summing the scores for nine components of the radiographs of both the left and right joints. The hip score data for 29,610 Labrador retrievers (registered with The Kennel Club, UK) were merged with the Kennel Club pedigree database for 472,435 Labrador retrievers. The merged data included the animal's identity, date of birth, sex and hip score and similar records for the dog's relatives, including the hip score if the relative had been tested. In recent years, breeding had been increasingly from tested parents. The mean hip score for male Labradors was signi®cantly higher than that for females. Regression modelling showed a signi®cant, positive dependence of the hip score of the offspring upon the hip scores of its sire, dam and grandparents. Genetic heritability (using data from 13,382 Labrador retrievers comprising 718 litters) was highly signi®cant: 0.34 from the two parents, 0.41 from sire alone and 0.30 from dam alone.
    [Show full text]