I was reading recently about The British Carriage Dog Society in relation to the trials that it holds in the UK and Ireland
The purpose of the trials is to provide a modern competition through which to demonstrate the Dalmatian dog’s traditional role as a companion to horses and carriages in past times. It is both an endurance and obedience event and all competitors must do a basic obedience test with their dog, from horse or carriage, as part of the Trial. The Bronze classes require a 10kms run, the Silver 20kms and the Gold a staggering 40kms.
The trials demand both control and fitness, as dogs are judged on their obedience and capacity for endurance
One of the winners at this years event was a 9.5 year old veteran and she qualified at the Gold level, after completing the highest level of trials obedience and completing a 40km vetted endurance run !!
There has been a lot of press in relation to Dalmatians not so long ago in relation to Fiona AKA Fiona Fiacre First and Foremost the Dalmatian competing at this years Crufts.
Dalmatians are prone to a build-up of sediment in the urinary system caused by high uric acid levels. Back in the 1970’s a Dalmatian was crossed with a single Pointer in order to introduce the low-uric acid gene into the breed, and fourteen generations later, thanks to careful selection, the descendants of this one-off outcross still carry the healthy gene.
Fiona being a descendant of this out cross caused a major divide amongst Dalmatian owners, and quotes that were maybe taken out of context called her a mongrel.
Reading the above, it proves to me again, there are good, and not so good people / breeders in all types of dog whether they be pedigree dogs or not, and it’s unfair to tar everybody with the same brush.
In my opinion I think it’s absolutely amazing that a 9.5 year old dog can still compete at the above level, especially when there is such a gruelling task to be performed, and in the right hands proves once again that Pedigree Dogs are in fact in great shape.
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