That's what gets results

Isn’t it interesting the way things are done differently around the world? The other day I learned from a Swedish lady that, in Sweden, most dog owners – even ‘ordinary’ pet owners - are members of their Kennel Club, and the rules of dog breeding are very much stricter than ours. Over there, deliberate* crossbreeding is anathema, and anyone who does so is immediately ejected from the Kennel Club. And without membership they can’t enter shows, can’t register puppies – they’re out on their ear! This has the result that the vast majority of dogs in Sweden (and indeed most of Scandinavia) are purebred, and until recently, coinciding with the craze for ‘designer’ crosses, the number of dogs in rescue is very small. The only rescue kennel in Stockholm rehomes about 100 dogs a year – compare that to Battersea Dogs Home, which is only one of many rescue kennels in London, and which rehomes about 6000 dogs each year. Also, I’m told, people cannot visit to pick a dog according to looks etc, they have to be assessed FIRST, fill in forms detailing what type of dog they want; size, coat etc, and the home then match them with a suitable dog - and they have waiting lists at all times. And this is in a country where up until 1989 it was illegal to neuter dogs and bitches.

The rescue system in Finland is also reported to be virtually non-existent – because there’s no great need for one. People take responsibility for their own animals and don’t abandon them or allow them to reproduce willy-nilly. Again, most Finnish dog owners are also Kennel Club members. Unfortunately the UK Kennel Club is run on different lines, with limited membership. In fact it’s only in the last 30 years or so that female membership was permitted (I believe Florence Nagle was the first woman elected to membership of those hallowed portals). There’s a lot to be said for having strict rules about dog ownership – it seems to encourage a much more responsible attitude towards ownership and breeding. What a shame we don’t seem able to do the same here. Easy come, easy go?

*note the word ‘deliberate’. They accept that accidents unfortunately happen.