Comments on: Lab analysis: How healthy are Labrador retrievers? http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/07/14/lab-analysis/ The Web blog of the Pet Connection, a pet-care feature syndicated internationally by Universal Press. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:52:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Lisa http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/07/14/lab-analysis/#comment-316703 Lisa Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:35:35 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2670#comment-316703 "The gist of what I get from Lab breeders is basically that they don’t want the dog to look like it did in decades past because that would mean they weren’t making 'progress'." ***** Well, indeed. The longtime breeder who sold me my first Scottie, a dog so badly afflicted with Scottie cramp that he can barely walk, had emblazoned on the paperwork generated by her pedigree program the legend "Striving to improve the breed." This is a woman who denied ever having seen cramp--or any other problem--in any of the puppies she had produced over 30+ years. Denial is a powerful thing, and it has powerful consequences for both pedigreed dogs and the people who love them “The gist of what I get from Lab breeders is basically that they don’t want the dog to look like it did in decades past because that would mean they weren’t making ‘progress’.”
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Well, indeed. The longtime breeder who sold me my first Scottie, a dog so badly afflicted with Scottie cramp that he can barely walk, had emblazoned on the paperwork generated by her pedigree program the legend “Striving to improve the breed.” This is a woman who denied ever having seen cramp—or any other problem—in any of the puppies she had produced over 30+ years. Denial is a powerful thing, and it has powerful consequences for both pedigreed dogs and the people who love them

]]> By: Eucritta http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/07/14/lab-analysis/#comment-316433 Eucritta Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:03:36 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2670#comment-316433 <i>They were designed to be water dogs, not land retrievers so they can swim great (using that broad underline like a boat bottom)</i> Um. Yeah, because like, all boats are barges ... *headdesk.* They were designed to be water dogs, not land retrievers so they can swim great (using that broad underline like a boat bottom)

Um. Yeah, because like, all boats are barges … *headdesk.*

]]> By: Susan Fox http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/07/14/lab-analysis/#comment-316431 Susan Fox Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:59:40 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2670#comment-316431 Well, too many humans in this country don't "need some groceries" and seem to be overfeeding/badly feeding their dogs, too. I would imagine that anyone in shelter work has seen what I have, abandoned, decently-kept, but overweight dogs, like our fairly regular guest "sausage labs". No wonder vets tell people not give their dogs people food. Look at the garbage people eat these days and give to their pets. I hate to think what it does to the dogs. Yuk. The lab folks need to "progress" to what is best for the dogs, not their egos. Well, too many humans in this country don’t “need some groceries” and seem to be overfeeding/badly feeding their dogs, too. I would imagine that anyone in shelter work has seen what I have, abandoned, decently-kept, but overweight dogs, like our fairly regular guest “sausage labs”. No wonder vets tell people not give their dogs people food. Look at the garbage people eat these days and give to their pets. I hate to think what it does to the dogs. Yuk.

The lab folks need to “progress” to what is best for the dogs, not their egos.

]]> By: Deanna http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/07/14/lab-analysis/#comment-316416 Deanna Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:11:03 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2670#comment-316416 How many of us have heard comments in the show ring about our very fit retriever dogs that they "need some groceries"? Makes me crazy. Damn Flabradors. How many of us have heard comments in the show ring about our very fit retriever dogs that they “need some groceries”? Makes me crazy. Damn Flabradors.

]]> By: K. A. S. http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/07/14/lab-analysis/#comment-316412 K. A. S. Wed, 16 Jul 2008 01:42:25 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2670#comment-316412 Chris Zink has a lot to say on the subject of breed types requiring obesity in the show ring. The Westminster video = room full of fat dogs! Chris Zink has a lot to say on the subject of breed types requiring obesity in the show ring.

The Westminster video = room full of fat dogs!

]]> By: Gina Spadafori http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/07/14/lab-analysis/#comment-316306 Gina Spadafori Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:33:08 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2670#comment-316306 Good to know. I'm making REAL progress personally, then, since I have seven inches and 100 pounds on my darling little grandmother (passed away in '95). Good to know. I’m making REAL progress personally, then, since I have seven inches and 100 pounds on my darling little grandmother (passed away in ‘95).

]]> By: slt http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/07/14/lab-analysis/#comment-316303 slt Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:26:20 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2670#comment-316303 The gist of what I get from Lab breeders is basically that they don't want the dog to look like it did in decades past because that would mean they weren't making "progress". The gist of what I get from Lab breeders is basically that they don’t want the dog to look like it did in decades past because that would mean they weren’t making “progress”.

]]> By: H. Houlahan http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/07/14/lab-analysis/#comment-316292 H. Houlahan Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:56:13 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2670#comment-316292 Funny thing, when I saw the picture, I thought "Well, that one is not as fat as a lot of them ..." It's true, we really, really are NOT exaggerating. Watch and weep: http://video.westminsterkennelclub.org/player/?id=217241 The bitch being handled by the little girl really did make me want to cry, in particular. <i>They were designed to be water dogs, not land retrievers so they can swim great (using that broad underline like a boat bottom)</i> So's how come the dogs that actually perform that function -- the ones out there retrieving from water -- all have waists? As do goldens and Chessies and IWS and PWD and (wait for it ...) flatcoats? How's come the barge-shaped show Lab wasn't around 30 years ago? When did a pickle-barrel suddenly become the "correct" structure? I used to have a Yahoo photos folder with pictures of Labs -- old breed standard and ring champion pics, old and current pics of working Labs. Up until 30 years ago, they looked basically the same. Unfortunately that folder disappeared when Yahoo photos did, and I don't have time to reconstitute it. Basically, they all look like the Labs here: http://www.ponderosakennels.com/photos.htm Funny thing, when I saw the picture, I thought “Well, that one is not as fat as a lot of them …”

It’s true, we really, really are NOT exaggerating. Watch and weep: http://video.westminsterkennel.....?id=217241

The bitch being handled by the little girl really did make me want to cry, in particular.

They were designed to be water dogs, not land retrievers so they can swim great (using that broad underline like a boat bottom)

So’s how come the dogs that actually perform that function — the ones out there retrieving from water — all have waists? As do goldens and Chessies and IWS and PWD and (wait for it …) flatcoats?

How’s come the barge-shaped show Lab wasn’t around 30 years ago? When did a pickle-barrel suddenly become the “correct” structure?

I used to have a Yahoo photos folder with pictures of Labs — old breed standard and ring champion pics, old and current pics of working Labs. Up until 30 years ago, they looked basically the same. Unfortunately that folder disappeared when Yahoo photos did, and I don’t have time to reconstitute it.

Basically, they all look like the Labs here: http://www.ponderosakennels.com/photos.htm

]]> By: slt http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/07/14/lab-analysis/#comment-316291 slt Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:54:47 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2670#comment-316291 Pat - How about a paper towel? I'm on a budget here! What's funny about the photo Gina put up is that when I first saw it, I thought "Well at least they found a photo where the Lab isn't AS fat". Then I read the description, hehe. Pat - How about a paper towel? I’m on a budget here!

What’s funny about the photo Gina put up is that when I first saw it, I thought “Well at least they found a photo where the Lab isn’t AS fat”. Then I read the description, hehe.

]]> By: Eucritta http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/07/14/lab-analysis/#comment-316276 Eucritta Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:19:46 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2670#comment-316276 I don't pay much attention to dog shows, so I'd wondered what was meant when I read here about how fat show dogs had become. Now I know. Here I'd thought you were overstating the case, but clearly not -- that dog is in no shape to even play hard, let alone work. I don’t pay much attention to dog shows, so I’d wondered what was meant when I read here about how fat show dogs had become. Now I know. Here I’d thought you were overstating the case, but clearly not — that dog is in no shape to even play hard, let alone work.

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